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CommissionersTimothy F. HaganJimmy DimoraPeter Lawson Jones

Employment & Family Services

Community Forum

February 22, 2010

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Purpose of Forum

• Provide an update on Employment & Family Services

• Discussion on county’s role in hunger and food insecurity

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Employment & Family Services

Joseph Gauntner, Director

Jacquelon Ward, Manager of Participant Services

Yolanda Squire, Assistant Manager of

Participant Services

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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

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Public Assistance Allocations for Cuyahoga CountyFinal Initial Increase/

PA Allocations SFY ’09 SFY ‘10 Decrease

TANF $43,195,463 $32,711,649 ($10,483,814)

Income Maintenance $15,734,402 $14,078,416 ($1,655,986)

Child Care County $6,754,943 $4,302,784 ($2,452,159)

Child Care Quality $608,853 $281,491 ($327,362)

FSET $375,811 $520,380 $144,569

Federal Social Services $5,269,761 $5,432,058 $162,297

Title XX Transfer $8,073,499 $9,033,680 $960,181

Social Services Operating $1,193,374 $888,037 ($305,337)

Adult Protective Services $71,842 $61,191 ($10,651)

Refugee $238,585 $362,975 $124,390

Help Me Grow $7,689,039 $0 ($7,689,039)

Total $89,205,572 $67,672,661 ($21,532,911)

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

Cuyahoga County Annual Unemployment Rates

4.1 4.55.6

6.2 6.2 5.9 5.6 6.17

10.9

0.0

3.0

6.0

9.0

12.0

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

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

Food Stamp Households

69,958 74,07483,489 83,241 87,258

114,704

95,615

0

25,000

50,000

75,000

100,000

125,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

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EFS caseload continues to rise as staffing levels decrease

Over the past decade, caseloads increased nearly 60% while staffing has decreased close to 50%

83,70390,515

133,749

119,853114,170

1,4301,411

727

974997

0

30,000

60,000

90,000

120,000

150,000

1999 2000 2007 2008 20090

300

600

900

1,200

1,500

Cases Staff

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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)

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2009 Services and BenefitsCumulative Value (in millions)

2009 cumulative totals represent an 11% increase from 2008

$542.54

$1,146.23

$1,721.01

$2,355.78

$0.00

$500.00

$1,000.00

$1,500.00

$2,000.00

$2,500.00

March June Sept Dec

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Medicaid

Child Care

Food StampsCash Assistance 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.

Cumulative Value and Composition of Benefits Provided

$2.3 Billion

2009 year end

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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

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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

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Review of Telephone Redetermination Process

• Began implementation of the telephone reapplication process in fall 2009

• Customers are no longer required to come to a Neighborhood 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

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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

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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

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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?