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Rowan County Department of Social Services' Work First
program got a more than satisfactory rating from the state.Social Services Director Sandra Wilkes couldn't conceal her
joy as she delivered her presentation to board members about the long-awaited report card
on the Work First program.
Wilkes explained to the board when the Welfare
Reform materialized in 1997, the state set goals and implemented a new grading system in
eight areas for each county. The goals were based on population, number of Work First
participants, the economy of the county and other criteria.
Of the eight goals, four goals were graded and
became known as the Report Card. The ratings or grades given are:
A -- The county had to make 110 percent of its assigned goal.
B -- 90 to 109 percent of the assigned goal.
C -- 80 to 89 percent of the goal.
The first of four goals was to reduce the number of families receiving Work First in 1997
by 30 percent in 1999. The department had 1,179 cases by the end of its fiscal year in
July 1997 and were required to reduce that number by 354 families.
The department scored an A, reducing the number of families in the Work First program by
704 cases -- or 40.3 percent.
The next goal was to help families find jobs.The department's assigned goal was to put 318
adults to work, and the staff placed 550 adults in jobs, earning another A.
The third goal measured the number of former recipients who stayed off welfare. The goal
was to keep 85 percent of former recipients from returning to Work First. Since 1997, 88
percent of those who left Work First in Rowan County have not returned to the program,
earning the department a B in that category.
The fourth goal was to measure the amount of child support collections from Work First
recipients. The goal was to increase collections by 10 percent. The Rowan County
Department scored 105.54 percent of the goal, earning another B.
The report card, which is scored by Governor Jim Hunt's staff, is the state's first
attempt to ensure each department is making progress in these important areas.
Social Services board members commended Wilkes and her staff for the scores and their
"outstanding" efforts. Wilkes commended the staff for diligently carrying out
the Welfare Reform plan. Wilkes said other agencies and businesses contributed to the
successful efforts by employing the clients. She also commended the participants for their
role.
The department will have new goals to reach next year.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, staff and board members recognized longtime retiring foster
parents Charles and Carolyn Withers and Christine and Johnny Bernhardt, who have cared for
more than 127 children and served more than 50 combined years.
The couples smiled modestly at the words of appreciation.
In other action, board members:
- Discussed plans and agenda items for a board retreat
scheduled for Oct. 29, a Friday, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Camp Dogwood.
- Tabled a request from Clayton Jones, Adoption/Foster
Home Licensing unit supervisor, to increase stepparent adoption fees.
Jones said currently the fee for stepparent
adoptions is the same -- $200 -- for one child or or four
children. He said he would like to see a $50 increase for each child involved in the
adoption process, because of the extra time required.
A few board members debated the issue, asking what incentive a graduated fee
schedule would provide for adoption workers who spend long hours in processing these
adoptions. Members wondered if an increase in cost would deter those adoptions.
Jones said neither the current fee nor the proposed fee actually pay for the time needed
to complete the adoptions, but he said it was more of an equity issue. Jones also said the
agency can waive adoption fees if parents have a hardship.
The board said they needed more time to research the issue before making a decision. |
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