HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_2225IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WELFARE REFORM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MINUTES & BRIEFING MINUTES
AUGUST 17 1999
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, August 17, 1999, at 4:00 p.m.,
for the purpose of providing oversight for the Welfare Reform Plan. The meeting occurred in the
Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street,
Statesville, NC 28677.
Present: Chairman Sara K. Haire
Vice Chairman Steve D. Johnson
Tommy E. Bowles
Alice M. Stewart
Absen : Alice T. Fortner
Staff Present: County Manager Joel Mashburn, Finance Director Susan Blumenstein, Clerk
to the Board Jean Moore, DSS Director Don Wall, DSS Income Maintenance Administrator Lynn
Deal, DSS Work First Supervisor Linda Bledsoe, DSS employees Debbie Miller, Marie Nesbit,
Darlene Bell, and Dyane Carey.
Record & Landmark Reporter Ginger Guy also attended the meeting.
CALL TO ORDER by Chairman Sara K. Haire
Second Level Hearing Officers
Wail recommended that David Boone, David Culpepper, and David Poston be appointed as
second level appeals hearing officers for the electing Work First Family Assistance Program. The
three individuals are willing to serve, and they are familiar with the program since they served on
the Welfare Reform Committee. Wall said that it would be difficult to predict the volume of
appeals, and that more hearing officers might be needed.
Overview of Work First Plan
Deal said the intermediate mission statement for the plan was that, "All able-bodied welfare
recipients would be required to work and be given opportunities and supportive services to enable
them to gain permanent full-time employment and become tax -paying citizens." Mrs. Deal said
the actual implementation of the plan occurred in April of this year. She said the caseload had
decreased; however, the workload remained constant and just as heavy. Deal said the state's
philosophy was that no one should be excluded from working. She noted, however, that there were
barriers for some people, i.e., mentally low -functioning, crime convictions, housing problems, day
care problems, transportation, and substance abuse.
Implementation/Impact of the Electing County Plan
Bledsoe said several changes had occurred during the last few months. She requested that
the board of commissioners make one change to the plan. This pertained to eligibility review.
Previously, it was established that the staff would review cases every three months. This has proved
to be too cumbersome. The staff s recommendation is to follow the standard county plan which
is:
-For families with an adult included, a review to occur once every 12 months
-For child -only cases, within six months of the date of application and once every 12 months
thereafter. (Both reviews to be face to face.)
The county manager asked how the electing county welfare reform plan could be changed.
Wall said the board of commissioners would have to approve the revisions and then send to the state.