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Benefits Enrollment Coordination:ARRA and Beyond
Presented byThe National Association for
State Community Services ProgramsWith
Akm Rahman (Massachusetts)Jessica Simon (Washington)
www.nascsp.org 1
www.nascsp.org 2
Each year more than $54 billion in work supports available under existing government-
funded programs are unclaimed by eligible Americans who do not apply.
Source: The Work Supports Initiative
www.nascsp.org 3
The National Governors’ Association identifies inconvenience and time off from work as
primary reasons why eligible households do not apply for work supports.
www.nascsp.org 4
OMB Memorandum M-10-21 Change comes from the community level and often through partnership; complex problems require flexible, integrated solutions.
The Administration must break down Federal “silos” and invest in such a way that encourages similar coordination at the local level. To make the Federal government a more effective and nimble partner, agencies also should pursue opportunities to engage State, local, and tribal governments, faith institutions, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community members at-large as collaborators. Effective collaboration rests on developing shared agendas for action, strategies that are smart, success measures that make sense, and implementation focused on results.
www.nascsp.org 5
Center for American ProgressCoordinate and ConsolidateFederal programs often perform similar functions, serve the same people, or have resources that could help other programs achieve better results. These programs would benefit from closer coordination and in some cases consolidation. Yet executive branch agencies and programs frequently exist in their own separate silos, with little communication between them.
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Efforts Outside of the CSBG Network
• Stakeholders Outreach Initiative (SOI)– Connecting small businesses to federal
government contracts– www.sba.gov/fedcontractingtraining/
• Seedco’s EarnBenefits– Facilitates enrollment services to connect low-
wage workers to a range of income-enhancing public and private benefits, such as tax credits, food stamps, health insurance, and bank accounts.
www.nascsp.org 7
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
“…1 percent of the funds made available to each State from this additional amount shall be used for benefits enrollment coordination activities relating to the identification and enrollment of
eligible individuals and families in Federal, State, and local benefit programs…”
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Amount of Funds
• $9,733,039 total for Benefits Enrollment and Coordination Activities.
• $37,000 – smallest amount (Alaska)• $891,500 – largest amount (California)
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Outreach, Education, Marketing• 41 States– Educational Materials (brochures, pamphlets)– Earned Income Tax Credit– Individual Development Accounts– Referrals to partners– Debt Assistance, Budgeting courses– Foreclosure Prevention
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Technology Enhancements• 25 States– Creation/Enhancement of online eligibility systems– Streamlining Information and Referral Processes– Integrating State-wide data collection systems
www.nascsp.org 11
Coordination of Benefits Providers and Other Stakeholders
• 14 States– Coordinating with Federal, State, local, and private
organizations– Assessment of barriers to benefits enrollment,
information sharing, coordination of benefits enrollment criteria or procedures
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Percentage of Funds by CategoryTechnology
Enhancements31%
Coordination of Benefits Providers and Other
Stakeholders14 States
5%
Other24%
Outreach, Education, and Marketing Activities
40%
Coordination of Benefits Providers and
Other Stakeholders5%
Benefit Enrollment & Coordination of
Services – How to Use the Cyberspace to
Create Partnerships
Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community DevelopmentDivision of Community Services
Presented by: Akm Rahman, Senior Information & Program CoordinatorThe 2010 Community Action Partnership Annual Convention, Boston, MassachusettsThursday, September 2, 2010
Akm Rahman, DHCD
The Landscape – On the Surface
Community Action Agencies Fuel Assistance and Energy Efficiency
Providers Regional Career Centers Housing Consumer Education Centers Regional Homelessness Prevention
Network Housing Authorities Regional and Local Non-Profit
Organizations
Akm Rahman, DHCD
The Landscape – Let’s drill down
Over 1,000 Community Action Agency Programs.
Many Major Common Programs. Fuel Assistance is a Gateway to Home
Energy Assistance & Energy Efficiency. Homeownership Counseling and
Foreclosure Prevention. Housing Stabilization through the
Homelessness Prevention Network. Health Insurance Enrollment.
Akm Rahman, DHCD
The Landscape – Let’s Drill-Down More
Over 290,000 households or 600,000 unduplicated individuals receive services through CAAs.
Fuel and Energy Assistance for 220,000 households.
About 8,000 – 10,000 families indicated homelessness as an issue.
About 50,000 tenants in subsidized housing.
CSBG ARRA and ARRA-WAP added close to 50,000 families.
CAAs created over 250 CSBG-ARRA funded jobs.
Akm Rahman, DHCD
MA Benefit Enrollment and Coordination of Services – Why?
Institutionalize State Plan concepts. Sustain effects of CSBG ARRA Funding. Create New Access Points or Modify
Current Access Points. Transform program silos to a Multi-Service
Model. Create Synergy (2+2) > 4 Bring down barriers to services. Provide customized assessment and
referral. Initiate cross-functional communication.
Akm Rahman, DHCD
MA Benefit Enrollment and Coordination – Hub and Spokes?
Akm Rahman, DHCD
MA Benefit Enrollment and Coordination of Services – Why This Way?
In a traditional sense “benefit enrollment” refers to benefits offered by employers.
A 165% growth in web-based technology for benefit enrollment – paper > stand alone servers > web-based systems.
A web-based system is needed to support data exchange between legacy systems, disparate databases, and the future…
Meets today’s security standards. Builds upon MA’s progress in web-based
systems.
Akm Rahman, DHCD
MA Benefit Enrollment and Coordination of Services
LIVE DEMONSTRATIONDHCD – CAA E.GOVERNMENT NETWORK
MA BENEFIT ENROLLMENT AND COORDINATION OF SERVICES
WWW.MASS.GOV/DHCD
WASHINGTON STATE CSBG
September 2, 2010CAP Convention
BENEFITS ENROLLMENT COORDINATION: ARRA AND BEYOND
Washington State CSBG Office
• Department of Commerce mission:
“Grow and Improve Jobs in Washington State.”• CSBG office is in the Community Services &
Housing Division• 30 community action agencies statewide covering
39 counties• CSBG ARRA funds: $11,916,784, of that $119,167
for benefit coordination.
CSBG ARRA Benefit Coordination Projects
• Benefit Coordinator at Free Tax Prep Sites - $50,000
(5 grantees x $10,000 each)• Washington Information Network 211 - $40,000• Community Voice Mail National - $2,750• Benefit Coordinator at local food banks - $26,417
(3 grantees x $8,805.66 each)
Free Tax Prep Sites Pilot
• 5 agencies, multiple tax sites• January – April (tax season)• CSBG ARRA invested in:• part time salary and benefits for Benefit Coordinator
position• computer equipment
• Benefit Coordinator helps individuals determine eligibility for benefits available• Final report of outcomes
Closer Look at Free Tax Prep Sites: Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners
• Temporary, part time position: January 25-April 24• 254 people received referrals at 5 tax prep sites from
January 30-April 15• Followed up with 151, of those 63 received a benefit• The documented cash benefit received for 45 people
was $14,433 (36 people receiving energy assistance)• Completed a desk manual for the next person hired in
the Benefit Coordinator role
Closer Look at Free Tax Prep Sites: Lower Columbia Community Action Council
• Part time Benefit Coordinator attended 4 tax sites weekly• Assisted 284 clients with general benefits
information• Websites used for benefits checkup:• www.benefitscheckup.org• www.withinreachwa.org
• Advertised the Benefit Coordinator available at sites
• www.ParentHelp123.org• www.needymeds.org
Tax Prep Sites Pilot Successes and ChallengesSuccesses
• “The cost of the project was small compared to the amount of visibility it gave to the working poor of the benefits and resources available to them.”
• “The Community awareness of benefits and resources was increased and more clients received benefits because of the project.”
• People came in for services long after they received the referral at the tax site.
Challenges
• Individuals reluctant to share information at tax site due to the lack of private space.
Tax Prep Sites Pilot Suggestions for Future
• Have a separate private place at the tax prep site OR set up appointments for a later date at the CAA.• Recruit bilingual benefit coordination staff.• Introduce/integrate Benefit Coordinator into target
communities prior to initiation of tax preparation services.• More time spent bringing together resource
organizations in order to facilitate more successful referrals.
Washington Information Network 211 (WIN 211)
• CSBG ARRA invested in supporting the WIN 211 system in their role as partners in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach campaign and to assist callers with general benefit coordination information.• WIN 211 to join with other statewide EITC campaign
partners to assess what worked and what did not and provide recommendation for the next year.• January-May total tax prep/tax assistance calls totaled
12,275.
Community Voice Mail (CVM) National: Broadcast message
• Broadcast message to direct CVM clients to call WIN 211 for general benefit information and free tax prep sites• Two messages were sent, March 12 and April 4• Approximately 3,708 messages were left each time• In King County (Seattle area) 111 receiving free tax
prep heard of the service through the CVM broadcast message. (approximately 1,086 people in King County using CVM.)
Local Food Banks Pilot
• 3 agencies, multiple food banks• CSBG ARRA invested in:• part time salary and benefits for Benefit Coordinator
position• computer equipment• advertising (radio/TV/newspaper ads)
• Final results due October 30, along with a desk manual for the Benefit Coordinator position.
Closer Look at a Local Food Bank Pilot Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston County
• Mason County targeted—high rate of eligible individuals, but a low rate of enrollment in programs• 5 food banks• Food banks have strong concerns of privacy and
confidentiality• All meetings with individuals held off site• Introduction of Benefit Coordinator to clients while in
line at food bank
Closing
• Projects were innovative and new for the agencies that participated• Projects thus far met their goals• Learned what worked and what did not for the
future
“The Community awareness of benefits and resources was increased and more clients received
benefits because of the project.” tax site
Contact Information
Jessica Simon, CSBG Specialist
Washington State Department of Commerce
360-725-2850
