Starting in 2008, Siskiyou County
will have a new Director of the Human Services Department – Michael Noda. Mr. Noda
previously worked in Yuba County.
Recently, Interim Director Kate O’Shea and Debbie Walsh, Program
Director for CalWORKS, provided a program update to the Board of Supervisors. CalWORKS is
the “welfare to work” program. TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
provides cash aid to eligible California families who are U.S. citizens. Monthly
assistance payments are determined by household size and income. Recipients are
co-eligible for Medi-Cal and food stamps. Eligible
adults have a 60 month cumulative cap on aid. In the state of California, adults may
“max out,” but aid will continue for children. Although the program is a
federal/state initiative, it is operated locally by County welfare departments.
The CalWORKS program has work requirements. In one parent families,
the adult is required to work a minimum of 32 hours a week. In two parent families the
minimum is 35 hours a week. Welfare-to-work services provided include vocational and
skills training; GED (General Educational Development) test preparation; childcare;
transportation; employment and job retention services; mental health and substance abuse
treatment; domestic violence intervention; referrals to a social worker; community
services and work experience referrals.
Since 1996 when welfare reform was first introduced, Siskiyou County
has reduced its CalWORKS caseloads by 50%.There are 808 recipients currently. 137 are
“timed out” cases where the adults have maxed out aid and continue to receive
benefits for their children. Because Oregon and Nevada do not continue aid for children
after adults have maxed out, Siskiyou County has been drawing out of state timed-out
families. The California legislature is currently looking at this issue.
Of the 808 recipients, 73 people are in “sanction,” where
they have qualified, but have not participated in the welfare to work programs required.
Social workers provide outreach to try and determine the reason and if barriers to
participation – such as transportation or childcare, can be overcome. There is less
than a 24% success rate in outreach efforts. Sanctioned individuals do not receive adult
aid, although they may still receive aid for their children
Walsh reported that there are many issues in Siskiyou County
impacting the success of the program. Many participants have limited employment skills and
there are few low income jobs in the County. Illiteracy is a huge issue, and there are
difficulties in dressing in a business manner, completing job applications and
understanding appropriate job behaviors. To address these issues, participants may enter
into a contract with Human Services staff. Job
Connection (JC) is a three week job readiness course. This includes resume writing,
preparing for a job interview, life skills, goal setting and job search skills. Since
October of 2006, 37 people have enrolled in JC, 20 people have completed the course and
18.5% of graduates have found employment. To help individuals keep their jobs, a Job
Retention Service (JRS) contract is available. Last year, more than 118 parents received
JRS.
CalWORKS can site many success stories from participants who took
advantage of the support and help offered. |
