AG 1998 04 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ae How will this goal be met: Cabarrus Cotmty will make strong efforts to reduce the Work First caseload. In order to be most successful, this must be dealt with on a number of fronts, without concentrating on a single tactic. Before a client applies for Public assistance, we will attempt to meet initial needs and remove barriers that would ultimately cause them to apply. Once they have applied and are on assistance, the following measures will be used to reduce the caseload. First, all mandatory Work First clients will be entered into Employment Programs, and case managed by either a social worker or an IMC, with active participation in Job Search. This will involve the development of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (MRA) between the client and the worker., It is our plan to enter into five hundred (500) MRA 's during the fiscal year. Second, ESC will work with all active, intake, and pre-intake clients in order to place them into employment as quickly as possible. Third, clients will be referred to any job for which they are qualified, even ff they are over- qualified or are not particularly interested in that line of work. Any job is beneficial, and can be used as a stepping stone toward a better job and self-sufficiency. Fourth, Work First orientations will be held on a regular basis. All potential mandatory clients will be required to attend this meeting or face termination of benefits. Fifth, Diversion Assistance will be investigated at all intakes, as an alternative to taking an application for WFFA. Sixth, 1 ~t Stop, with ESC, will be utilized, in order to register chents for work. This will be a si~ificant part of their WFFA applicatiOn process, and they must register with ESC for work before the W'FFA application can be completed. Seventh, child support will be pursued up fi'out, as this will be a means to reduce or eliminate the need for cash assistance. Eighth, pay for performance will be implemented. This will benefit the client more than the present system~ and will provide more incentives for seeking and maintaining employment. The pay for performance aspect will only allow for a cash payment after the client has submitted a record of successful partcipafion in employment or employment-related activities. Failure to comply will result in the removal of the entire WFFA check for a one month period. If the client complies with requirements, then the Wi*FA check is restored the following month. This eliminates the situation of three month and longer sanctions, where a client may begin to comply, but still be faced with months of sanctioned benefits. We feel that it is most likely that this system will provide the incentive for clients to remain employed and reduce the overall caseload.