INTAKE

The Intake Department through its integrated intake process in responsible for completing initial and reapplications for the various assistance programs administered through the Mercer County Board of Social Services. These programs include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps, General Assistance (GA), and the numerous Medical assistance Programs (e.g. Family Care, Jersey Care, Aged Blind and disabled, etc.).

Comprised of three units of professional and support staff, the department offers application services to the community at the Board of Social Services and three full-time outstation sites:
Additional services are provided through part-time efforts at Princeton Hospital, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, and other community based sites as needed.

Utilizing the Unified Application Process, (UAP), the intake staff is able to take the majority of applications on-line. The exceptions are Medicaid programs, which are scheduled to be brought on-line in the near future.

A pre-screening program further facilitates the application process that assists clients in determining what programs fit their needs. Clients are screened either by phone or at the Appointment Desk. The New Jersey State Department of Human Services has also introduced a web based screening program, NJHelps.org. Additionally, an appointment process, and effective use of the mail help to greatly reduce what would other wise be lengthy and complex application procedures. This year due to this process we have been able to streamline our appointment scheduling and reduce client wait time. We have also added personnel to the Appointment Desk, which helped facilitate screening and appointment scheduling. The Appointment Desk also is participating in a 2-year pilot with the NJ Department of Human Services to assist in the development of the online Food Stamp application.

In 2004, 14,422 applications were taken and processed through the Intake Department. This number included 2976 TANF, 3897 Food Stamp, 3660 General Assistance, and 3889 Medical Assistance applications. These numbers represent approximately 2000 more applications taken in 2004 over 2003.

The increased applications taken by the Intake Department can be attributed to two sources: the introduction of the new web based Food Stamp application and expanded outreach efforts.

Challenges and Goals for 2005


Meeting the real and anticipated increases in public demand for timely access to varied assistance programs will continue to be the primary challenge of the Intake Department for 2005. Fortunately, the Department has been able to effectively address this challenge in the past year. The Department expects to continue to be responsive because of flexibility in its administrative design, and the fluid nature of its procedural evaluative process.

The Intake Department has experienced an increase in requests for Immediate Need and Expedited issuances last year. The department will work with the Income Maintenance Department to assess the need for these services and seek to develop procedures to effectively meet this demand in a timely manner in the year ahead.

This year will also bring about the expansion of the Card Registration program to include updating of all cases by UAP Clerical. This must be implemented without causing a delay in the processing of cases. An Appointment Scheduling component will also be added and will be piloted by the Appointment Desk.

The following goals have been established for 2005.

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