County of San Bernardino Subsidized Employment

1. County of San Bernardino Subsidized Employment ECF Technical Assistance Regional Training August 24, 2009 Human Services Transitional Assistance Department Nancy Swanson, Director Michael De La Rosa, Deputy Director Mary Chase, Program Development Division, Presenter

2. Three Approaches • The Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) has three approaches for subsidizing employment for CalWORKs customers: • County/TAD administered for county agencies only. • Implemented in FFY 2004. • Workforce Investment Act (WIA) administered for private and public employers, under contract with TAD. • Implemented in FFY 2009. • Private/public sector administered for private and public employers, under contract with TAD. • RFP in progress, anticipate implementation in FFY 2010.

3. TAD Administered Program • Subsidized employment for CalWORKs customers was implemented by TAD in FFY 2004. • CalWORKs single allocation used to fund subsidies. • Limited to a small number of positions designated for this purpose (not “regular status” employees). • County agencies already engaged as Work Experience sites were targeted for this program. • Focus is on skill development; no expectation that county will hire upon completion of activity. • Now open to all county agencies, on a request basis. • Today there are about 400-450 filled positions.

4. TAD Administered Program,continued • FFY 2009 estimate $4.8 million • 500 filled slots/month increase by 4th quarter. • FFY 2010 Estimate $6.7 million • 500 filled slots/month for all quarters. • WPR (as an indicator of program cost/benefit) • Distance Learning pilot project cases = 84.67% Note: Pilot project cases (261) were drawn exclusively from Subsidized Employment and Work Experience customers and WPR was NOT validated by the same methods used for reporting on the State sample.

5. TAD Administered Program,continued • Subsidized positions are approved for 6 months. • Additional 6 months may be authorized. • Subsidized employees are paid State minimum wage, and only for the hours worked. • County Human Resources and payroll system are used to process subsidized employees. • Includes pre-employment paperwork and other requirements, such as backgrounds and physicals. • County is responsible for Workers’ Compensation and other insurance coverage.

6. WIA Administered Program • TAD contracts with WIA to develop subsidized employment with private sector employers. • Employer is reimbursed at 130% of the position wage. • Subsidy is for 6 months (1040 hours maximum). • Employer pays for all drug/background checks and is responsible for Workers’ Compensation and insurance. • WIAhandles all employer communications/paperwork. • WIA invoices TAD monthly for wage reimbursement and administrative costs. • Administrative costs may not exceed 10% of the total MOU for the term of the MOU, which ends 9/30/2010.

7. WIA Administered Program,continued • Subsidized Training and Employment Program (STEP) implemented on 8/4/09. • As of 8/20/09: • 17 employers with open positions available to TAD. • 4 positions filled and 2 in second interview process. • FFY 2009 estimate $142,000 • 30 filled slots/month in 4th quarter only. • FFY 2010 estimate $1.6 million • 90 filled slots/month increase for 2nd-4th quarters.

8. Private/Public Sector Administered • Request for Proposal (RFP) for “organizations or firms” to develop subsidized employment positions with private sector employers. • Like WIA contract with following differences: • Contractor is reimbursed at 80% of the wage, benefits, insurance and administrative costs. • Administrative costs to be negotiated. • Contractor or subsidized employer must be the employer of record and is responsible for the 20% share. • Target is a minimum of 100 positions per contractor per month (maximum of 700 for all contractors).

9. Private/Public Sector Administered,continued • Six responses to RFP received from temporary employment agencies and a community college. • Selection, contract negotiation and Board of Supervisors approval required. • Target 10/1/09 implementation date. • Contracts will terminate 9/30/2010. • FFY 2009 estimate $0 • FFY 2010 estimate $5.2 million • 200-500 filled slots (two quarters at each level)

10. AB 4 and ECF Impacts • AB 4 authorized use of AB 98 funding to meet the State’s FFY 2007 base expenditures on subsidized employment required to receive ECF funding. • The pending CDSS County Fiscal Letter is expected to confirm: • Counties with subsidized employment expenditures in FFY 2007 will receive an equivalent amount of their FFY 2009 and FFY 2010 base expenditures, funded at 100% with state general fund (SGF). • Counties that exceed their base expenditures in FFY 2009 and FFY 2010 will be reimbursed 80% of the portion that exceeds the base with ECF funds.

11. AB 4 and ECF Impacts,continued • San Bernardino County base expenditures for FFY 2007 is $2.3 million. • County expects to get 100% of $2.3 million in FFY 2009 and 2010, and then 80% for expenditures beyond that amount.

12. Contact Information • For contract or financial information contact: • Michael De La Rosa, Deputy Director • mdelarosa@hss.sbcounty.gov • (909) 252-4858 • For program information or policy material contact: • Mary Chase, Program Development Division • mchase@hss.sbcounty.gov • (909) 383-9654