Common use of Strategies for reducing the need for Temporary Assistance Clause in Contracts

Strategies for reducing the need for Temporary Assistance. District’s strategies for reducing the need for Temporary Assistance are described below: OCDSS has an up-front Applicant Orientation for all individuals applying for Public Assistance. Staff from the Employment and Training conduct this orientation. Orientations are conducted in groups and include the following information offering alternatives to assistance:‌ • Information regarding the temporary nature of public assistance with emphasis on time limits • Alternatives to Temporary Assistance • Information on childcare in lieu of TA • Information on one-time payments • Available tax credits and Child care assistance • Job search/placement assistance Non-exempt Family Assistance and Safety Net applicants determined “work ready” after Employment Assessment are placed on a job search and assigned to job readiness training workshops in an attempt to assist applicants to secure employment prior to case opening. Failure to participate in this results in a case denial. Applicants are required to contact a minimum of five (5) employers per week. They are required to document these contacts on a job search contact record. We anticipate that each contact will be one-hour long. Therefore, we expect clients to spend a minimum of five (5) hours per week on job search. The type of contacts are based on the applicant’s individual needs and may include contacts made in person at a business/employer, on-line application, application/resume by mail, or telephone. A business/employer contact will not count more than once every three (3) months, unless deemed necessary by the employer. The Employment and Training unit staff will meet with applicants on a bi- weekly basis to review these contacts. Non-exempt applicants who are not determined work ready are assigned to appropriate work shop(s) and/or referred to other services to address identified needs. Employment staff will continue to monitor services and work with the applicant to address the work readiness issue. Those applicants who fail to participate in assigned workshops/services would go throughthe conciliation process. Once the individual is determined “work ready”, s/he is assigned to job search. Every applicant for temporary assistance is screened at intake to determine if external resources are available to meet their needs.

Strategies for reducing the need for Temporary Assistance. ‌ District’s strategies for reducing the need for Temporary Assistance are described below: OCDSS has an up-front Applicant Orientation for all individuals applying for Public Assistance. Staff from the Employment and Training conduct this orientation. Orientations are conducted in groups and include the following information offering alternatives to assistance:‌ • Information regarding the temporary nature of public assistance with emphasis Diversion payments may be made on time limits • Alternatives to Temporary Assistance • Information on childcare in lieu of TA • Information on a one-time payments • Available tax credits basis to assist an individual to obtain or retain employment rather than opening an on-going Temporary Assisance case. All applications for diversion services will be interviewed and Child care assistance • processed by the Eligibility Team. A request must be initiated by the individual indicating what services are needed. The eligibility worker investigates the availability of resources in the household (checking, savings, etc.) or if any outside resources are available (funding from another agency, family that can lend a hand, etc.). If any resources are available, the client will be responsible to access those resources first. If resources are available and the application is denied, a notice (LDSS 4002) "Action Taken on Your Request for Assistance to Meet an Immediate Need or a Special Allowance" is sent. If there are no available resources to meet the need, the client is advised to obtain documentation which may include estimates. When all required information is received, the worker evaluates the most cost effective means that will meet the client's needs. If a diversion payment is being made, the client may be required to write out a plan on how they will pay for future needs. The client is informed of the decision using client notice LDSS 4002. SN and FA non-exempt applicants are referred on a first come first served basis and until the orientation is full to the OTDA Jobs Program for Supervised Job search/placement assistance Search upon submission of their application. The goal is to divert the applicant from the use of Temporary Assistance funds and reconnect individuals to the workforce. The Jobs Program staff works closely with the HHS staff to coordinate any diversion or supportive service funds that may be needed to get the applicant employed and to keep them employed. The Jobs staff provides a weekly Jobs Program orientation for one hour. At that time, each applicant is assigned to complete 10 job search contacts. Each applicant is scheduled for a weekly one on one session to review their job search contacts. After the first week, applicants are assigned to complete 5 new and 5 follow-up job search contacts each week. The Jobs staff continues to meet with each applicant until their case is determined and makes a follow up contact every 90 days and 180 days. Section 4 Support Services (Reference 18 NYCRR 385.4)‌ Section 4.1 TA and Non-exempt TA SNAP Applicants and Recipients in Work Activities Approved by the District‌ a. The social services district will provide childcare in accordance with the childcare section of the district’s Child and Family Assistance and Safety Net applicants determined “work ready” after Employment Assessment are placed on a job search and assigned to job readiness training workshops in an attempt to assist applicants to secure employment prior to case openingCounty Services Plan. Failure The district will also provide for participants the following expenses which the district deems necessary for the individual to participate in this results in a case denial. Applicants orientation, assessment, employment planning, approved work activities and activities to restore self-sufficiency: Supportive services (Attachment F) include, but are required to contact a minimum of five (5) employers per week. They are required to document these contacts on a not limited to: entrepreneurship/business start-up; motor vehicle repair; vehicle insurance; vehicle registration; transportation; professional licenses and fees; tuition, books and fees; tools and equipment; job search contact record. We anticipate that each contact will be one-hour long. Therefore, we expect clients to spend a minimum of five (5) hours per week on job searchrelated safety equipment/clothing; and driver's license and permits. The type of contacts District may also provide any other supportive services, within regulation, which are based on the applicant’s individual needs and may include contacts made in person at a business/employer, on-line application, application/resume by mail, or telephone. A business/employer contact will not count more than once every three (3) months, unless deemed necessary by the employer. The Employment and Training unit staff will meet with applicants on a bi- weekly basis to review these contacts. Non-exempt applicants who are not determined work ready are assigned to appropriate work shop(s) and/or referred to other services to address identified needs. Employment staff will continue to monitor services and work with the applicant to address the work readiness issue. Those applicants who fail allow individuals to participate in work activities, assist individuals at risk of needing Temporary Assistance to improve their opportunities for employment or to maintain their employment, or to assist employed Temporary Assistance recipients to improve their opportunities for employment which will move them to self-sufficiency. b. The district will use the following approach to assist those participants who need transportation to and from an approved work activity site, including any applicable mileage reimbursement rate, and the method used by the district to arrive at that reimbursement rate. OTDA policy establishes a mileage reimbursement rate of no less than the IRS established rate for medical/moving purposes. In all instances, should the actual cost of transportation needed to participate in an assigned workshopswork activity exceed the reimbursement rate determined by the district, the district will reimburse for the actual costs based on reasonable documentation submitted by the work activity participant. Please check all that apply: Bus pass/services would go throughthe conciliation processtoken Gas card/voucher Mileage reimbursement at IRS Business rate, (effective 1/1/17 is 53.5 cents/mi) Mileage reimbursement at IRS Medical/Moving rate, (effective 1/1/17 is .17 cents/mi) Other mileage rate, (please explain methodology used to establish reimbursement rate): HHS will reimburse for transportation for FA and ▇▇ ▇▇▇ recipients who reside more than one mile from their assigned work activity site. Once If the individual is determined “work ready”recipient resides within one mile, s/he is assigned to job search. Every applicant for temporary assistance is screened at intake to determine if external resources they are available expected to meet their needsown transportation requirements. HHS will reimburse for transportation for SN Non-MOE recipients who reside more than two miles from their assigned work activity site. If the recipient resides within two miles, they are expected to meet their own transportation requirements. If documentation is received and it is determined medically necessary, the case manager has the discretion to approve transportation for FA and ▇▇ ▇▇▇ recipients who reside less than one mile from their assigned work activity site, and for SN Non-MOE recipients who reside less than two miles from their assigned work activity site. The case managers will assist recipients in making transportation arrangements. Schedules will be adjusted to accommodate those recipients who must rely on car- pooling or public transportation to get to and from worksites and child care. The Chautauqua County Rural Transportation System (CARTS) offers fixed routes from 6:00 a. m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the south county and from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the north county as well as demand-response service for times and routes not served by fixed route buses. The County also provides mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate (for medical/moving) for individuals who must use private vehicles.