AG 1998 04 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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[CABARRUS COUN~I TO: Frank Clifton, County Manager FROM: J~m Cook, Social Services Dlre~tor~ DATE: 4-14-9 8 SUBJECT: April Agenda: Work First Block G/~t Plan Recommendations / Request I am writing to provide the Board of Commissioners recommendations concerning the County's Work First Block Grant Plan and to request the Board approve changes to the Plan at its April meeting. Backeround Under recent State legislation, counties were permitted to request either "standard status", in which they would follow statewide Work First Program policies, or to request "electing status", which would permit them, if selected by the State, to implement individual county pilot project welfare reform programs. In the Block Grant Plan approved by the Board earlier this year, the Board requested electing status. It had been our recommendation that the Board do this to preserve its options, as electing counties would be able to request a change to standard status later, but not vice-versa. Electing status was the likeliest avenue at that time for helping to assure that Cabarms could continue its successful Work Over Welfare demonstration program and that it could implement a "pay for performance" policy for welfare recipients. Electing status did, however, involve financial risks (e.g., if assistance costs exceed county block grant amounts, if counties have to defend lawsuits), additional costs (e.g., for conducting all second-level client appeal heatings, for additional data processing costs), and no substantial financial incentives for counties. The Cabarrus Plan stipulated that the County might request a change to standard status if some of the policies disadvantaging electing counties are not changed. Following its initial review of county plans, the State requested some minor clarifications and one minor change to the Cabarrus Plan. The change required was a Department qf Social Services F'.C Box 668 · Concord, NC 28026-0668 · (704) 786-7141