SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT

In 2004, the Social Service Department was involved in the provision of service in 18 program areas. These programs are designed to impact on the neediest clients covered under public assistance as well as those clients with the most serious need with the least resources.

SERVICE GOALS

County Welfare Agencies (CWAs), under statutory authority, provide services to families with children and adult individuals for the purpose of minimizing dependency and institutionalization, maximizing self-sufficiency, and prevention or protection from abuse, harm and exploitation. As generic public service agencies, CWAs work toward the coordination and integration of service systems.

TARGET POPULATIONS

The primary recipients of service are the poor, with a focus on people who are vulnerable and lacking in natural support systems. This population includes people eligible for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), General Assistance (GA), Food Stamps and Medicaid. Additionally, the working poor, Social Service Block Grant Income Eligible and all residents of congregate living facilities under the purview of the Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979 receive services. Adults in need of protective services and individuals in need of information and referral are served without regard to income.

MEANS

Specific services are delivered in accordance with the needs and resources of each client, in the least restrictive setting. The basic social work methodology in these efforts follows the case management model of assessment, intervention through service provision or purchase, appropriate follow-up and timely termination.

The following represents a listing of the Social Service programs available in 2004. It also describes how the Departmental units implement the programs identified.

ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES (APS)

The Adult Protective Services component operates under a New Jersey Law passed in 1994. This program has regulations, legal mandates and a centralized statewide report registry. The program accepts referrals for adults 18 years of age and older, living in a community setting, who are alleged to be abused, neglected (including self-neglect) or exploited. Services provided include immediate investigations, supportive counseling, and legal services, including guardianship, conservatorship and power of attorney.

The Adult Protective Services program is funded by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services through a contract between the Board and the Mercer County Office on Aging. This contract provides funding for two social workers and also provides limited funding for necessary services not covered by other resources or contracts.

The Adult Protective Service Program (APS) also addresses the needs of elderly and disabled persons requiring services to remain in the community or to support their basic needs. Services range from direct intervention, such as assessment, counseling referral, linkages to other community agencies and purchase of service when there is need for a home health aide, respite care or other essential services to remain in the community.

There are two APS units comprised of 9 direct social workers and 2 social work supervisors. These units receive referrals for supportive services to the elderly or disabled residents of Mercer County who are not institutionalized. Both direct and purchase of service is provided.

The Board has allocated funding from the Social Service Block Grant to provide home health aide services to the eligible population. Because of the need, the Board also contracts with the Division of Youth and Family Services and the Mercer County Office on Aging for funding in the area of home health aide services.

Further, the Board has contracted with the Mercer County Office on Aging to provide Safe Housing Services, Family Caregiver Services and Emergency Response Services to those in need.

The Board uses all funding received through the County and DYFS contracts to purchase necessary services for its APS clients. The service department was responsible for acquiring approximately $451,622.00 in contracts to provide necessary services to one of the most vulnerable populations.

The workers in the APS units carry an average caseload of 85 cases per month. In 2004, 478 new cases were activated from Service Intake. Additionally, Adult Protective Services registered 228 cases in 2004.

ROOMING AND BOARDING HOME PROGRAM

Under the auspices of the Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979, the Board is charged with the investigation of any allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation concerning residents at Residential Health Care Facilities, Boarding Homes and Rooming Houses. The agency is also charged with outreaching residents to ensure that their rights are understood and offering services to meet their needs. Two social workers provide services to Boarding Home residents.

The Boarding House Act of 1979 requires that outreach occur yearly for Rooming Houses and twice a year for Boarding Homes and Residential Health Care Facilities. A resident listing must be provided and appropriate information related to resident rights must be posted within the facility. The social worker must also ensure that the Personal Needs Allowance is properly documented by the owners of the Boarding Homes and Residential Health Care Facilities.

The workers are responsible to investigate any allegation of abuse, neglect or exploitation of the residents within the facilities. Results of the investigation are sent to the Department Community Affairs, Division of Family Services and Division of Health and Senior Services.

In 2004, Mercer County had 25 Rooming Houses, 12 Boarding Homes and 3 Residential Health Care Facilities representing 846 beds. From 2003, there was a decrease of 70 beds in these facilities.

SOCIAL SERVICE INTAKE

The Social Service Intake unit, consisting of 11 Social Service staff, is responsible for all initial requests for services at the Board. If the request is one that can be handled within a 72 hour period, the unit provides the actual service. Where the service request requires a more intense response, the case is activated into any one of the other service units. In 2004, 7927 cases were activated for more intense services across all program areas. An additional 2644 cases were handled at the Intake level.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (EA)

Emergency Assistance provides emergency services to eligible Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and General Assistance (GA) recipients. Emergency services include, but are not limited to:
  1. Emergency housing, with an emphasis on keeping the family or individual in an apartment or house by paying rent arrears or mortgage, utilities and temporary rental assistance;
  2. Emergency temporary placement in transitional housing, shelter and as a last resort, motel/hotel. Again, the emphasis is to move the individual into an apartment or house by providing a security deposit, advanced rent and temporary rental assistance;
  3. Emergency food, clothing and/or furniture.
At activation, the Service Department is responsible to provide necessary emergency services to the TANF and SSI recipients. Those activated under the GA program are serviced within the Income Maintenance Department.

There are four Family Service units, comprised of 14 Social Service staff, whose function is to provide concrete and supportive services to those eligible TANF and SSI recipients who are in need of emergency services. The most pressing problem is that of the unaffordability of housing within Mercer County.

The social workers within Family Service are required to make weekly face-to-face visits with anyone who is placed in motel/hotel. An emergency assistance plan is developed with all recipients of EA, which details services available as well as the client’s responsibility related to receipt of EA.

During 2004, two Family Shelters opened in Mercer County. These shelters are able to temporarily house 37 families. They provide supportive services and a safe haven. Obviously, EA recipients are better served within the shelters, rather than in motels/hotels. The number of families placed in motels/hotels has decreased by 22 families from December 2003 to December 2004 as a direct result of the shelter openings.

Also, a new EA computer tracking system developed at the Board in 2003 provides a mechanism to the worker and supervisor to better control the volume of work and therefore allow the social worker more time to better serve the EA clients.

The average caseload within the four Family Service units in 2004 was 140 cases per worker, an increase of 20 cases per worker from 2003. A total of 2131 new cases were activated into these units by Service Intake. This represents a 13% increase in case activations from 2003.

EARLY INTERVENTION (EIU)

The Early Intervention unit was developed to prevent loss of life. This unit was the direct result of two families suffering child fatalities during the winter of 1997. The Board decided to take a proactive approach to families at risk by providing intensive case management services with the object of reducing the risk factors.

The Early Intervention unit is comprised of one social worker who primarily acts as a case manager and referral specialist to community resources. Specific cases are targeted for referral to the social worker. Cases include, but are not limited to, those with multiple relocations within a year, suspected drug or alcohol abuse cases or utility shut-off.

An assessment and evaluation is completed with necessary services provided or referral to agencies that can provide the necessary services. When appropriate, referral to DYFS or the police are made. In 2004, the EIU social worker provided services to 170 clients.

FAMILY VIOLENCE OPTIONS (FVO)

In coordination with Womanspace, this offers those who present as victims of family violence the option of postponing mandates of work, child support enforcement, etc., while receiving necessary counseling services.

Employees of the Board who have client contact are responsible to present the options available under this program to all applicants and recipients of TANF, GA and SSI. Under this option, the individual/family who identifies as a victim of family violence is referred to Womanspace for an evaluation and assessment of needs. The purpose of providing this option is to address the needs of the individual/family as they relate to family violence, so that the goal of self-sufficiency may eventually become attainable.

Social Service staff is responsible for the administration of this option and coordinates all referrals between the Board and Womanspace. In 2004, 282 individuals were referred to Womanspace under this program. This represents a decrease from 2003 of 23 individuals requesting service.

MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION (MTS)

The Board provides medical transportation to eligible Medicaid or General Assistance recipients through a contract with Medi-Transport, Inc.

Two units, comprised of 15 Social Service staff, are involved in the provision of this service.

In 2004, the average caseload per worker was 226 cases. A total of 991 cases were activated from the Service Intake unit. A total of 88,144 trips were provided. This represents an increase of 10,894 trips from 2003.

HOMELESS HOTLINE

In 2004, the Board contracted with the County of Mercer Human Service Department for the Homeless Hotline to provide emergency placement, assessment and referral services to individuals or families who find themselves homeless in Mercer County.

The Hotline is handled by Social Service staff at the Board during normal work hours. After hours, Social Service staff is involved on a rotating and voluntary basis in providing the necessary services.

A one time emergency placement within a calendar year can be made for one night or until the next business day, if a weekend or holiday is involved. Because this is a short term placement, appropriate referrals are then made in an attempt to help permanently resolve the problem.

In 2004, a total of 529 calls were received by the Hotline. Of this number, a total of 307 adults and 336 children received 1022 nights of placement.

WORK FIRST NEW JERSEY

Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) is designed to offer work activities and assure that necessary supports are available to assist clients in obtaining their goal of self sufficiency. Until July 1, 2004, the Board had sole responsibility for providing these services through subcontracts with outside agencies. On July 1, 2004, the New Jersey Department of Human Services and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development consolidated responsibility and authority for significant elements of WFNJ program’s employment directed activities.

All TANF WFNJ participants deemed mandatory for participation are now referred to the One Stop Career Center for placement into a WFNJ activity, unless their social needs preclude participation. The Board has assigned 3 case managers to be outstationed at the One Stop Career Center to assess and refer clients into appropriate activities to help them to become self-sufficient.

Case management functions related to WFNJ program requirements and ‘social needs’ such as housing, mental health or substance abuse remain the responsibility of the 7 case managers located at the Mercer County Board of Social Services. Staff here is responsible for ensuring that all supports such as transportation and child care are available to assist the participants in obtaining their goal of self-sufficiency. Additionally, Board staff is responsible for updating activities in the OMEGA computer system.

The changes in the WFNJ program responsibility in 2004 also brought changes related to Career Advancement Vouchers for employed post TANF WFNJ clients. Previously, this program was provided by Board staff. Now employed post TANF clients wishing to enhance their skills for advancement are referred to the One Stop for assistance in obtaining a Career Advancement Voucher.

The remaining post transition services provided by Board staff are listed below:
Transitional Child Care – for up to two years after leaving the welfare rolls due to employment.

Extended Work Pass – a program designed to provide the post-TANF client with a subsidized bus pass for up to six months following termination from the welfare rolls due to earnings from employment. A total of 835 passes was issued in 2004 through this program.
The Board also has been involved in providing services to the TANF population through contracts and grants, based on specific targeted populations or the needs identified. The following represents a description of these services:
Work First New Jersey Special Initiative Services – through the WFNJ Contract, the Board was able to hire 1 social worker to provide case management services to employed post TANF clients who needed temporary assistance to help them maintain employment and thus remain off the TANF rolls. Services provided included, but were not limited to, financial assistance of up to $2,000.00 per client for such issues as car repair, housing needs, transportation or car insurance.

TANF/AWEP Contract – this is a contract funded by the Mercer County One Stop Career Center. The contract funds three staff who are charged with re-engaging clients who have been sanctioned for non-compliance with WFNJ requirements. From January through December, 2004, 424 clients were re-engaged and referred to WFNJ activities to help them become self-sufficient.

Supportive Assistance to Individuals and Families contract - this is a contract funded by the Division of Family Development to provide intensive case management services to clients who have reached their lifetime limit of 60 months for receipt of TANF/GA benefits and who are in extended or exempt status. Mercer County Board of Social Services serves as the lead agency to provide services to a 5 county region which includes Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union counties. The contract funds three social workers at this agency who provide services to clients in Mercer and Monmouth counties and two social workers who provide services in Middlesex and Union counties. Ocean County receives a small stipend to provide services to its very small population.

Early Employment Initiative (EEI) -This is a program whereby applicants for TANF who are not in immediate need, who have worked full time for four months in the past 12 months and who do not meet the criteria for deferral must participate in EEI where they receive assistance in obtaining employment, and are thus diverted from the TANF program. Applicants who have worked 4 consecutive weeks in the past twelve months may volunteer to participate in EEI. Once they volunteer for the program they become mandatory participants. During 2004, a total of 328 families were referred to this program. Of that number, 56 became employed and did not enter the welfare system. This program was previously provided as part of the WFNJ contract at the Board. However, when the One Stop Career Center took over responsibility for the WFNJ program in July of 2004, they subcontracted the EEI contract to the Board.

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