community stakeholder meeting agenda september 20 … · community stakeholder meeting agenda...

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Washington State

Department of Social

& Health Services

Community Stakeholder

Meeting Agenda

September 20-30, 2011

Topic / Discussion Time

Welcome and Introductions 10 Minutes

ESHB 2082 Presentation 20 Minutes

ESHB 2082 Open Discussion 20 Minutes

Break 10 Minutes

WorkFirst / ESSB 5921 Presentation 25 Minutes

WorkFirst / ESSB 5921 Open Discussion 30 Minutes

Closing 5 Minutes

Washington State


& Health Services

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2082

(Chapter 36, Laws of 2011, 1st

Ex. Sess.)

An Act Terminating the

Disability Lifeline Program

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Washington State


& Health Services

ESHB 2082

Terminates the Disability Lifeline cash program effective

October 31, 2011.

Establishes three new programs effective November 1,

2011.

• Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) cash assistance

program;

• Pregnant Women (PW) assistance program; and

• Housing and Essential Needs (HEN).

Medical benefits and coverage are not affected by the

termination of the Disability Lifeline cash program.

Implementation of ESHB 2082 takes the coordination

and collaboration of three state agencies.

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Washington State


& Health Services

Aged, Blind, or Disabled

Cash Assistance Program

The Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD) cash assistance

program provides a monthly cash grant for adults who

are:

• Aged 65 or older;

• Blind, based on SSI standard; or

• Likely to meet the SSI disability criteria.

The grant is proposed at $197 maximum a month for

one person.

To meet SSI disability criteria, a person must have a

mental or physical impairment that prevents them from

working for at least 12 months.

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Washington State


& Health Services

Aged, Blind or Disabled

Cash Assistance Program

Clients who receive medical based on age or disability

will receive Aged, Blind, or Disabled cash assistance in

November 2011.

Eligible clients will be notified in October that they will

receive cash in November 2011.

What’s New

Starting

November 1,

2011?

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Washington State


& Health Services

Pregnant Women Assistance Program

The Pregnant Women (PW) assistance program

provides cash assistance to women who are not

otherwise eligible for TANF and are pregnant.

Women eligible for these benefits are typically women

who will have received 5 years of TANF assistance and

are not eligible for a time limit extension.

The grant is proposed at $197 maximum a month.

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Washington State


& Health Services

Pregnant Women Assistance Program

Pregnant women who are otherwise eligible will

receive Pregnant Women assistance in November

2011.

Eligible clients will be notified that they will receive

cash assistance in November 2011.

What’s New

Starting

November 1,

2011?

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Washington State


& Health Services

Housing and Essential Needs

Overview

Commerce is required to disperse funds to local governments or

other community-based organizations to provide Housing and

Essential Needs services. Funding includes:

• The budget is set at $64 million over two years;

• $4 million is set aside for essential needs; and

• Remaining funds divided between housing assistance for homeless

clients and those clients at “substantial risk” of becoming homeless.

People who receive Medical Care Services and are homeless or are

at “substantial risk” of becoming homeless may qualify for Housing

and Essential Needs services. HEN does not provide a monthly

cash grant.

Housing and Essential Needs may provide assistance with rent and

utility payments, personal health and hygiene items, cleaning

supplies and transportation (e.g., bus passes).

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Washington State


& Health Services


Grants

Grantees were selected in each county across the state. Award

letters were sent to grantees in early September 2011.

DSHS is working with Commerce to tailor access to a web-based

verification system (Benefits Verification System) so that Housing

and Essential Needs grantees can confirm a client’s eligibility for

HEN assistance.

Grantees cannot issue rent, utility, or essential needs assistance

prior to November 1, 2011 – however, potential clients can start

contacting the providers to learn more about intake and services.

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Washington State


& Health Services


Eligible Medical Care Services (MCS) clients will need to contact

their local Housing and Essential Needs provider (local grantee) to

discuss the availability of HEN assistance and the process for

accessing these benefits.

Recipients of ADATSA or the ABD cash program who are receiving

MCS will not be eligible for Housing and Essential Needs assistance.

HEN does not provide a monthly cash grant.

What’s New

Starting

November 1,

2011?

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Washington State


& Health Services

Communication with Clients

September 2011

Recipients of the Disability

Lifeline program will

receive an informational

pamphlet about the

upcoming changes.

October 2011

Recipients of the Disability

Lifeline program will

receive a letter about the

termination of the DL cash

program and information

regarding assistance they

may be eligible for in

November 2011.

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Washington State


& Health Services

Application Process

DSHS and HCA are developing a new concurrent process

for determining disability and incapacity for the ABD cash

and MCS medical programs.

The standard of promptness (timeframes) for completing

applications will not change.

A review of medical evidence by contracted doctors will

continue to be included in the process of determining

eligibility for potentially disabled individuals.

The intent of the new process is to connect people with the

correct benefits as quickly as possible.

Washington State


& Health Services

ESHB 2082

Open Discussion

Questions

Ideas

How can we partner to communicate these

changes to you and those affected by these

changes?

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Washington State


& Health Services

Break

~ 10 Minutes ~

Washington State


& Health Services

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5921

(Chapter 42, Laws of 2011, 1st

Ex. Sess.)

An Act Relating to Social Services

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http://www.workfirst.wa.gov/

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Washington State


& Health Services

Legislative-Executive Task Force

Determine outcome and accountability measures.

Make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature.

Task Force members include:

• Members from House of Representatives:

Representatives Ruth Kagi, Tina Orwall, Mark Hargrove,

and Maureen Walsh.

• Members from Senate: Senators Joseph Zarelli, Debbie

Regala, Mike Carrell, and Nick Harper.

• Executive Agency Members: Susan Dreyfus (DSHS),

Bette Hyde (DEL), Paul Trause (ESD), Charlie Earl

(SBCTC), Rogers Weed (Commerce), and Alexis Oliver

(for OFM).

First task force meeting is scheduled for late September

2011.

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Washington State


& Health Services

July 2011 Implementation

Participation Suspension

In alignment with WorkFirst core tenets, parents will be

encouraged to participate but are placed in suspension

upon request.

Clients were sent information about the new suspension

policy July 6, 2011.

In July 2011, 6,937 families were choosing a participation

suspension.

Phased re-engagement will begin in July 2012.

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Washington State


& Health Services

July 2011 Implementation—Support

Enforcement Services for Recipients of

WCCC or other Subsidized Child Care

Applicants for child care subsidy programs (without good

cause) are provided an application to participate with

DCS on Child Support Enforcement services.

Eligible applicants have 30 days to apply for Support

Enforcement services. Child care subsidy is provided

during this period.

Child care assistance is terminated for children whose

parents do not cooperate in the collection of child support.

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Washington State


& Health Services

WorkFirst Redesign

July 2011 Implementation—Career Scope

Employment Security—Six Career Scope Pilots

Four-phased approach to employment service delivery.

Flexible, participant-centered approach.

Supports engagement in an education pathway.

Next Steps

WorkFirst Career Scope Readiness Self-Assessment.

Spokane Pilot site visit by ESD Commissioner and DSHS

leadership is scheduled for 9/28/2011.

ESD Labor Market and Employment Analysis Division

begins pilot evaluation.

• Evaluation of 4 phases of model in October 2011.

• Evaluation of pilot outcomes in early 2012.

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Washington State


& Health Services

Commerce WorkFirst Programs

DSHS Referral to Commerce contractor

• Focus on employment barriers for hardest to serve participants

• Up to 6 months of subsidized wages

• Full-time countable activities

• Combines basic skills, vocational, or employment specific training

• Incorporates barrier management activities

• Provides supportive workplace experience & training in community worksites

Community Jobs (CJ)

• Work experience supports career goals

• JC provides up to 3 months of paid work experience & skill development

• Career Jump provides paid work experinece with an employer who agrees to hire

• Stacked activities support employability & may include mentoring (peer & professional), Job Club, Work Ethic Training, Job Hunting & Readiness Activities

Community Job

Connection (JC) &

Career Jump

• Unpaid work experience to support the education pathway

• Program length aligned with education pathway up to 12 months

• Work experience supports education goals

• When possible, worksites co-located oncampus

• Core work activity that increases participation to full-time (within FLSA)

• Peer mentoring activities

• Coaching/support for work related issues

Career Development

Progression:

Unsubsidized employment

Job Search

Progression:


Job Search

Progression:


Job Search

Job Connection/Career Jump

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Washington State


& Health Services

Coordinated Case Management and

Service Delivery

Motivational Interviewing

Child Welfare Housing Project

Chemical Dependency Pilot

Predictive Modeling

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Washington State


& Health Services

September 2011 Implementation

Child-Only TANF Time Limit

4,814

153

9,174

104

Child-Only Cases with Parent in the Home as of

April 2011

Applies to child-only cases with

a parent in the home. Does not

impact child-only cases with a

relative or other caretaker.

Institutes 60-month limit.

Parents may be eligible for a

hardship extension.

Interviews will be conducted

with each affected family in

September and October 2011.

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Washington State


& Health Services

November 2011 Implementation

Means Testing Child-Only TANF

Applies to child-only TANF cases

without parents in the home.

A sliding scale between 200% and

300% FPL determines maximum

benefit amount:

0 to 200% $305.00 maximum

201% to 225% 20% reduction




Over 300% Ineligible

4-Person Household Gross Income

200% FPL $3,275/mo or $44,700/year

300% FPL $5,588/mo or $67,050/year

9,312

1,078

Non-Parental Child-Only TANF Cases as of April 2011

Kinship Legal Guardian

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Washington State


& Health Services

Additional ESSB 5921 and

WorkFirst Program Initiatives

Permanent Disqualification for Non-Compliance Sanction

Report and Recommendations Regarding Child Care

Tracking and Service Delivery and Other Child Care

Updates

• DSHS and DEL have coordinated Seasonal Child Care

outreach events with the Mobile CSO in Mount Vernon,

Kennewick, Pasco, Wenatchee, Mattawa, Sunnyside,

Oroville, and Moses Lake.

• DSHS is scheduled to release 1,200 names per week from

the WCCC wait list.

Financial Literacy Plan and Fee Disclosure

Employee Incentive Pilot (January 2012)

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Washington State


& Health Services

ESSB 5921

EBT, Fraud, and Accountability Initiatives

Location prohibitions include:

• Taverns and nightclubs;

• Beer/wine specialty stores and contract liquor stores;

• Bail bond agencies;

• Gambling establishments;

• Tattoo, body piercing, or body art shops; and

• Adult entertainment venues with performances that contain

erotic material and any establishment where persons under

age 18 are not permitted.

EBT purchase and use prohibitions include:

• Tattoos, body piercing, or body art;

• Cigarettes or tobacco products;

• Liquor or alcohol;

• Gambling, lottery tickets, pari-mutuel wagers;

• Bail bonds; and

• Adult entertainment.

Washington State


& Health Services

WorkFirst/ESSB 5921

Open Discussion

Questions

Ideas

Concerns

How can we partner to implement these changes and

meet the needs of people who will be impacted by them?

How can we partner to communicate these changes to

you and those affected by these changes?

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Washington State


& Health Services

Thank you for coming!

Look for our next meetings in late

January 2012.

Please send additional feedback or

comments to:

• For 2082: [email protected]

• For 5921: [email protected]

community stakeholder meeting agenda september 20 … · community stakeholder meeting agenda...

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