Linkages Expansion Outreach, Engagement and Intervention with New Target Populations

Panel Introductions Fresno County Johnny Alaniz, Co-Linkages Coordinator, CalWORKs Lindsay Harris, Eligibility Worker Enia Leon, Job Specialist Los Angeles County Gloria Rojas-Jakini, Linkages Coordinator, CalWORKs David Yada, Linkages Coordinator, CWS Hilda Sanchez, Back-Up Linkages Coordinator, CalWORKs Jackie Mizell-Burt, Central Support Manager, CalWORKs 2

Fresno Overview Target Population – Individuals with Prior Felony Drug Convictions Fresno County Practice ◦ Identification ◦ Informing ◦ Implementation ◦ Linking clients to services 3

Fresno County Assembly Bill 1468 has repealed the existing exclusion of individuals convicted in state or federal court after December 31, 1997 of a drug related felony from CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility. (ACL ) Effective April 1 st, 2015, AB1468 ensures CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility to individuals with a prior drug felony conviction, so long as the individual is compliant with the terms of his or her probation or parole. (ACL ) Due to the enactment of this new legislation, Fresno County has identified approximately 996 potential newly eligible individuals. Expanding Linkages and Engaging New Target Populations: Implementation of Assembly Bill

Implementation of AB 1468 February 2015: All CalWORKs cases were reviewed in order to identify those containing individuals with a prior felony drug conviction. ◦ Temp 3005 (12/14) Temp 3005 (12/14) The effected individuals were notified of the change in state law and will become eligible to receive CalWORKs and additional various supportive services effective April 1, 2015, provided they also meet the remaining eligibility requirements. Outreach and Eligibility Determination 5

Implementation of AB 1468  Adults with a prior felony drug conviction who are added to the AU as a result of AB 1468 will be subject to Welfare to Work (WTW) requirements, eligible for supportive services, and may qualify for WTW exemptions like any other CalWORKs recipient. (ACL )  These newly added individuals are currently being screened for open Child Welfare (CW) cases. The list of individuals who have an open CW case will then be provided to the Linkages Job Specialists to review for Linkages eligibility.  Once these cases are identified, the JS will then proceed with the regular Linkages process, depending upon whether the case was determined Family Reunification (FR), Family Maintenance (FM), or Voluntary Family Maintenance (VFM). Outreach and Welfare to Work 6

Implementation of AB 1468 Linking services to our newly eligible individuals A list of CalWORKs cases containing the newly eligible individuals is sent to Linkages Job Specialist (JS) JS will determine if case is a Family Reunification, Family Maintenance or Voluntary Family Maintenance If there is an existing case where a spouse is active in Linkages, the JS will review the Coordinated Case Plan (CCP) for current services JS will complete an amended CCP to include newly allowed Drug Felon and contact assigned Social Worker If there is no current CCP, the JS will schedule an appointment and complete a CCP with assigned Social Worker and newly aided adult Engagement and Linkages Coordinated Case Plans 7

Implementation of AB 1468 Challenges Encountered Individuals may be otherwise ineligible to cash aid: ◦ In violation of parole/probation (Fleeing Felon) ◦ Reached their CalWORKs 48 Month Time-Limit ◦ WTW Sanctioned Individuals eligible to a WTW exemption opted in and decided against voluntary participation in WTW services. Individuals agreed to attend WTW orientation or appointment to cure WTW sanction, but failed to attend the required appointments. 8

Linkages and the Target Population 996 Total Number of Potentially Eligible Individuals Identified 274 Individuals automatically added into the CalWORKs AU effective 4/1/ Additional individuals from existing Linkages cases have been identified on this list 2 Individuals have now been engaged in WTW through Linkages 18 Individuals have been identified as newly eligible to Linkages services and are currently being contacted by the Linkages JS Many cases were unable to update automatically via the mass update; (Currently being manually reviewed by Eligibility staff) Individuals found to be eligible will be added into the CalWORKs AU effective 4/1/2015 and registered for WTW services These will be cleared for a linking Child Welfare case, and those linked cases will then be reviewed by the Linkages JS *Fresno County’s status as of May 8 th,

Questions? Thank You, Johnny Alaniz Lindsay Harris Enia Leon 10

Los Angeles County Youth Self-Sufficiency Project What message would you like to send other Group Home Youth? “You can do it too, no matter what your past was,” “Stop partying and getting involved with the wrong friends” 11

Supportive Transitional Youth LA County Total Population: 10,053,995 Exiting Youth Data

Supportive Transitional Youth LA County Total Population: 10,116,705 Exiting Youth Data

Youth Self-Sufficiency Introduction & Background Initiated by a Board Motion, Summer 2013 ◦ Collaborative effort among participating Departments and external stakeholders Welfare to Work Goals 1.Participation in Child and Family Team Meetings in a Pilot Child Welfare Office 2.Provide a Specialized Job Club for youth and place 70% in Subsidized Employment 3.Place at least 25 non-Child and Family Team Youth from Child Welfare and Probation into Subsidized Employment 14

Youth Self-Sufficiency Planning & Implementation Strong Leadership Shared Vision, Mission, Goal Training Pre-Implementation Launch 15

Lessons Learned Leadership Support ◦ Executive and Local levels ◦ Partner “Buy-In” is imperative On-going Communication ◦ Partner follow-through Challenges ◦ Serving a new population  Youth commitment / Follow-through ◦ Logistics  Serving populations outside of county service area 16

Youth Self-Sufficiency Project Success Met/Exceeded Pilot Goals Chairman’s Challenge Award Top Eight out of over 100 project entries throughout all County Departments Project Extension 17

Questions?? Thank you! LA Linkages Central Support Team Gloria Rojas-Jakini, WtW ◦ Dave Yada, CWS ◦ Hilda Sanchez, WtW ◦ 18