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www.ohiofoodbanks.org
www.ohiobenefits.org
SNAP and WorkJason Elchert, deputy [email protected]
Dustin Speakman, director of community [email protected]
September 24, 2015
What Happened to Our Waiver?
Ohio had been operating under a full statewide waiver until September 30, 2013.
August 30, 2013, Ohio Governor John R. Kasich’s office contacted the association to tell us they were declining the waiver for all but 16 Appalachian counties.
The waiver would end September 30 and the 3 month time limit would go into full effect.
2
The Political LandscapeImpacted hungry
Ohioans
Ohio Governor John Kasich assisted with writing this law into
welfare reform
There appeared to be national political
pressure behind this decision as well
The administration after several meetings would still not accept continuing the wavier
The association requested the
administration take a thoughtful approach to implementing a
work program
The media and general public were
not always supportive of the association – as
the association was portrayed as anti-work
3
Who are These People? Does Data Exist?
4
There was no data at the state level
There was no data at the county level
Many of these cases had been worked at only a very shallow level since 2007 because of the waiver
State and county were unable to provide any demographic profile
The number of impacted individuals was unknown
In short – we started to cut benefits off without knowing any information
Who, What, Where, and Why…
It started in Franklin County Ohio – Columbus, the first week of October 2013 with the Ohio Association of
Foodbanks and the Franklin County Department of Job and Family
Services. We each knew this was bad policy and would impact our
community substantially considering there could be up to 12,000 that may not be exempted immediately. People need to eat and we started building an ABAWD bicycle and trying to ride it at
the same time…
5
Partners
• Franklin County Job and Family Services provided funding to the association - $450,000. • $200,000 for operations• $250,000 to be used for participants
only
• Ohio Association of Foodbanks• Columbus Public Library• Community and Faith Based
Organizations 6
False Start
Initially beginning in the
first week of November, the
association was setting up at
public libraries across the city and county to conduct paper assessments.
• Franklin County would provide referrals and we would be at the library on specific days waiting for ABAWDs
• Paper assessments took a long time• No library consistency in dates – individuals would
randomly show up a day no one was there – libraries not happy
• Between the association and Franklin County an organization reported to the state the exemptions were being applied too liberally to felons.
• This resulted in homeless individuals no longer being exempted, felons no longer exempted, caregivers that did not have the individual in their home no longer being exempted and a host of others
7
County Operational IssuesLack of understanding the ABAWD E&T rules
Training issues on SNAP E&T in general for caseworkers
Staffing with Medicaid expansion influx – already in overtime mode
No tracking system of reporting compliant and non-compliant individuals
No reporting system, data collection system, or any system of any kind
Conflicts within Ohio Administrative Code throwing off case managers and administrators
8
Process 2.0
9
Meet with individual
upon approval at the welfare office for
assessment
Individual is provided
information on the program, assessed for
variety of barriers and information collected
Individual is provided clinic date at the end of the month –
during the clinic they are
background checked, legal aid provides
services, apply for other benefits
Individual is provided
opportunity for men and women's
suiting and any other
placement site clothing/safety
needs
Upon completion of background check they
are placed at a volunteer site for 23 hours per month.
Assessment and Data
When Franklin County Job and Family Services caseworkers make the determination that a individual is an ABAWD and is considered work required, the individual is referred to their local opportunity center to be assessed by an Ohio Association of Foodbanks WEP Assessment Specialist.
Each specialist completes an in-depth interview with the individuals using a series of questions on the Work Experience Assessment Portal.
The assessment can be located at wep.ohiofoodbanks.org however we ask that you DO NOT submit any information
Questions go over a wide variety of demographic, employment, disability, education, and criminal justice encounters
10
Assessment in TBB Pro
• The association programmed the assessment into TBB Pro and will begin using the module in November 2015• Improved security• Capitalize on other benefit applications
in TBB• Transfer case to counselor-assisted/self-
serve after client exits program
• Reporting on individuals will enable counselors to work better with clients and CDJFS
11
Assessment in TBB Pro
12
Assessment in TBB Pro
13
Assessment in TBB Pro
14
Assessment in TBB Pro
15
Assessment in TBB Pro
16
Assessment in TBB Pro
17
Assessment in TBB Pro
18
Assessment in TBB Pro
19
Assessment in TBB Pro
20
General Findings
21
Male62%
Female38%
Phone Number Email Address Mailing Address0
50010001500200025003000350040004500 Types of Communication
No
Yes
By the Numbers4,145 individiuals assessed since 11/201334 – average age17% have filed for SSI/SSDI56% have reliable transportation10% are currently working10% are performing in-kind work15% need supportive services at assignment (LEP)
Employment & Other Barriers
22
Felony Convica-
tions
Physical or Mental Health
Condition
No Diploma or GED
OhioMean-sJobs Regis-
tration
Non-Custo-dial Parents
Valid Driver's License
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
35%31% 30%
26%24%
39%
Impact?
23
April
May
June Ju
ly
Augus
t
Sept
embe
r
Octob
er
Novem
ber
Decem
ber
Janu
ary
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
389
275
614
298
489
543
475
309266
292
Non-Compliant Individuals Exiting the Program by Month
Conclusion…
24
• We are doing our best. There is not enough money in SNAP E&T to make huge impacts.
• We are helping to maintain benefits in many cases, but nothing more than that.
• This is a difficult population to engage with as they can be transient, lower functioning, and are not able-bodied.
• You can do this and help make your state and partners aware of what this provision means to our communities.