TITLE
Title
APPROVE ONE NEW POSITION AND FUNDING FOR THE GUILFORD COUNTY FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM - HIGH POINT OPPORTUNITY CENTER
end
SPONSOR
Sponsor
Heather Skeens (Sharon Barlow)
end
BACKGROUND
Background
Guilford County’s introductory Food and Nutrition Services Employment & Training Program (FNS E&T), administered by Health & Human Services - Social Services Division, will focus primarily on the High Point Opportunity Center (HPOC) operated by Guilford Child Development (GCD) based on the approval of GCD’s application as a State Partner for the SNAP E&T Program. GCD received $1.6 million from Head Start/Early Head Start to add additional services to the HPOC to help Head Start parents and other low-income families in High Point find a job or a better job.
GCD partners with Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) and other community partners to provide a variety of services that qualify for the SNAP E&T program. These services include Job Readiness, Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, Vocational Training, Work Keys, Employment-Related Case Management, etc. Reimbursable Participant expenses are also covered including onsite childcare, transportation and, where needed, books, fees and uniforms. Participants with children enrolled in GCD’s Head Start/Early Head Start Program receive childcare from Head Start while quality childcare for other participating families is provided on site. The HPOC has four classrooms, a childcare space, a space for partner agencies to work while engaged on site with HPOC participants and office space. The HPOC is co-located with GCD’s Staley Center which has fourteen early childhood classrooms serving children 0-5.
Guilford County and GCD will collaborate with the Guilford Workforce Development Board and the NC Works Career Center in High Point to help individuals gain access to the NC Works programming services that lead to jobs or better paying jobs. We will also collaborate with GTCC and other programs that offer services relating to employment.
The targeted population will be participants who are enrolled in the SNAP Program.
The HPOC will also serve as a demonstration site to offer other potential State Partners across the state the opportunity to learn how the SNAP E&T works and what the reporting requirements are.
This pilot program will allow Guilford County the opportunity to develop policies, procedures and best practices on a smaller scale for expected expansion of the SNAP E&T Program in federal fiscal year 2021 (Oct 2020-Sep 2021).
DHHS-Social Services Division is requesting one new Lead Eligibility Caseworker position to support this program. Total costs associated with this position are approximately $58,738 annually including benefits, equipment, supplies, and travel, and indirect costs including a portion of the responsible program manager/supervisor's time spent on this program. We expect federal reimbursements for the requested position in salary and fringe benefits in the amount of $24,901, with a county share of $33,837. The county share will be paid through the SNAP E&T program through GCD with no county dollars.
end
BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
Budget Ordinance Amendment
General Fund
$24,901 Increase in Federal/State Revenues
$33,837 Increase in Other Revenue
$58,738 Increase in Appropriation to Health & Human Services (Social Services)
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
end
REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approved one new Lead Eligibility Caseworker in the Department of Health and Human Services (Social Services Division) to support the High Point Opportunity Center (HPOC) to be contingent on continued outside funding for the county's costs; and approve an increase Federal/State revenues by $24,901 and Other Revenue by $33,837 (of external funding from Guilford Child Development to pay the non-federal/state share), and increase the Department of Health and Human Services (Social Services) budget by $58,738.
end