DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style.

The GAIN Sanction Home Visit Outreach (GSHVO) project provides DPSS staff with an additional opportunity, beyond those available to the Case-Carrying (CC) GAIN Services Worker (GSW)/Contracted Case Manager (CCM), to establish contact, engage participants in identifying and accessing the appropriate services to overcome barriers enabling them to complete their Welfare-to-Work (WtW)/Refugee Employment Program (REP) activities and move towards self-sufficiency.

When the CC GSW/CCM initiates non-compliance, the case is referred to the GSHVO Unit for assistance in resolving the compliance issues. The CC GSW/CCM continues to respond to participant inquiries and maintains responsibility for all other WtW/REP case management functions.

Outreach

The project provides outreach to participants who are at-risk of being sanctioned or who are currently sanctioned. Outreach activities include telephone calls, mail home visit letters, and if necessary, conduct home visits. GSHVO GAIN Services Supervisors (GSSs)/Contracted Supervisors (CSs) access a list of participants who go into non-compliance or are sanctioned on a daily basis for distribution to GSHVO staff.

GSHVO staff begin outreach activities upon receipt of the daily report with the goal of reaching a positive resolution to the participant's compliance and sanction issues, which may include the granting of an exemption or Good Cause (GC), participation in a WtW/REP activity, or linking to an appropriate activity including a Specialized Supportive Services (SSS) provider and/or Family Stabilization (FS) program. CC GSWs/CCMs continue to maintain the participants' cases and are responsible for the compliance process while GSHVO staff perform outreach services. GSHVO staff are responsible for notifying the CC GSWs/CCMs promptly of the outcome of the outreach activities.

GSHVO staff are also responsible for determining if the non-compliance is valid by checking if the non-compliance was initiated timely, all appropriate notices were sent, the notices contained accurate information, the Cause-Determination appointment was scheduled within seven, and no later than eight days, and the appropriate California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) pages were updated correctly.

Cases in Sanction Over 90 days

Cases in a sanction status over 90 days have a negative impact on the Cal-OAR Performance Measures. These cases shall be assigned or reassigned to the GSHVO GSW/CCM for outreach. When a successful contact is made, GSHVO staff must arrange to register the participant into WtW/REP by working with the Scheduling Clerk to update the participant's program status from "Sanction" to "Non-Compliance-In Process of Curing a Sanction" in CalSAWS and assigning the case to the appropriate CC GSW/CCM.

In 2005, Los Angeles County had one of the highest sanction rates in the State. Two studies on WtW/REP sanctions by the Los Angeles County Chief Administrative Office's Service Integration Branch-Urban Research Division resulted in three key findings:

• Almost two-thirds of the sanctions are due to failure to attend Appraisal;
• The most prevalent reasons for sanctions were lack of adequate transportation, child care, and failure to receive notices in a timely manner; and
• Long-term sanctioned participants face barriers that take priority over complying with work requirements.

The GSHVO project was developed as a major strategy to reduce the sanction rate. The project provides outreach to participants who do not comply with WtW/REP program requirements and are at-risk of incurring a financial sanction or are already sanctioned. The goal is to help participants resolve participation problems and provide access to WtW/REP services.

GSHVO Project

The GSHVO project provides additional outreach to non-compliance and sanctioned participants to establish contact, engage participants in identifying needs and barriers, and complete their WtW activities.

N/A

N/A

N/A