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Commissioners Timothy F. Hagan Jimmy Dimora Peter Lawson Jones

Commissioners Timothy F. Hagan Jimmy Dimora Peter Lawson Jones. Employment & Family Services Community Forum February 22, 2010. Purpose of Forum Provide an update on Employment & Family Services Discussion on county’s role in hunger and food insecurity. Employment & Family Services

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Commissioners Timothy F. Hagan Jimmy Dimora Peter Lawson Jones

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  1. Commissioners Timothy F. Hagan Jimmy Dimora Peter Lawson Jones Employment & Family Services Community Forum February 22, 2010

  2. Purpose of Forum • Provide an update on Employment & Family Services • Discussion on county’s role in hunger and food insecurity

  3. Employment & Family Services Joseph Gauntner, Director Jacquelon Ward, Manager of Participant Services Yolanda Squire, Assistant Manager of Participant Services

  4. Client & Staffing Trends • The number of Cuyahoga County households enrolled in one or more benefits (Medicaid, Food Stamps, OWF Cash or Child Care) has risen 76% from 87,211 in October 1997 to 153,341 in December 2009 • 2010 is expected to bring further growth across all benefit types with program expansions • In 2009, EFS experienced more than a 28% reduction in staff • SFY 2011 budget will require further cuts

  5. Public Assistance Allocations for Cuyahoga County

  6. Source: ODJFS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) Program

  7. The number of Food Stamp Households has increased nearly 20% in the last year.

  8. EFS caseload continues to rise as staffing levels decrease Over the past decade, caseloads increased nearly 60% while staffing has decreased close to 50%

  9. Other Metrics • All Data through December 2009 • OWF Work Participation Rate • 23.3% (Goal of 50%) • Food Stamp Accuracy Rate • 96.3% • Customer Satisfaction Rate • 81.4% (2009 average)

  10. 2009 Services and Benefits Cumulative Value (in millions) 2009 cumulative totals represent an 11% increase from 2008

  11. Cumulative Value and Composition of Benefits Provided • Medical Assistance is the greatest portion and Cash Assistance is our smallest portion of the months expenses • Over the course of a year, these benefits generate a significant economic impact for the community at large. • This economic impact, on an annual basis, contributes over $3 billion in output, $1 billion in earnings, and supports 35,000 jobs. $2.3 Billion 2009 year end

  12. The Road Ahead • Continuing implementation of phone interviews for benefit redetermination • Extension of benefit eligibility periods to 12 months • Continuing caseload growth and increasing caseload size • More state cuts in SFY 2011 • Continuing review of service locations • HHS levy on May ballot • County restructuring effective January 1, 2011

  13. Direct Service Initiatives • Continuing focus on workflow simplification and quality customer service • “No wrong door” policy • Implement results of change worker pilot • Child care access

  14. Review of Telephone Redetermination Process • Began implementation of the telephone reapplication process in fall 2009 • Customers are no longer required to come toaNeighborhood Family Service Center to complete a reapplication interview • A reapplication packet is mailed to the customer’s address with a pre-addressed envelope for returning required verification • Customers have up to 45 days to complete the reapplication process • New applicants are still required to complete a face-to-face interview for the initial appointment

  15. County Role in Hunger and Food Insecurity Current Responsibilities • Maintain the largest SNAP enrollment base in Ohio, serving 230,000+ individuals • Only county in Ohio to use local tax dollars to buy food for local distribution-$1 million annually • County dollars have assisted with the local foodbank, pantry and hot meal providers, information and referral services, nutrition education and food assistance outreach Local Need Issue • 17% increase in 2009 in the # of households receiving food assistance • Food Assistance caseload will continue to grow in 2010 • Suburban recipients have increased 39% in the last four and a half years • Not limited to inner-ring suburbs

  16. County Role in Hunger and Food Insecurity Other Communities • Coordination of community response to hunger-the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force was created by the state legislature to facilitate collaboration with state agencies, businesses, nonprofits, public officials and local communities • Supplement USDA and other governmental food sources with private sector food donations • Data collection to identify targeted areas of need • Food coalition members include a diverse mix of both private and public representation

  17. County Role in Hunger and Food Insecurity What changes, trends or emerging issue do you see regarding hunger and the local food assistance system? What should county government be doing to address current or future needs?

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