Program Description

Program/Practice Description: Stinson & Associates is a small company that offers a variety of services to TANF recipients with disability claims. The ultimate goal is to help people accept their limitations while realizing their capabilities so hard-to-serve TANF customers can participate in meaningful work. This is accomplished by removing major barriers to work and assisting clients with community-based work experiences, job applications, interviews, and searches. Concurrently, for clients with permanent disabilities, Stinson acts as an advocate to help these customers obtain Social Security benefits.

Innovations and Results: The approach is a 24/7 holistic practice. Beyond the traditional activities of job preparation and job searches, Stinson offers an array of services, including assessment, clothing and food assistance, cash assistance in emergencies, and life skills advocacy. A unique practice employed by Stinson involves close collaboration with the Fulton County Division of Family and Children Services. When Stinson begins an intervention, primarily in the case of medically delayed customers, all needs of the customer are addressed. Family members, case managers, and other peopled involved with a customer participate in a meeting, referred to as a staffing, to create buy-in and provide wraparound support for the individual. A staffing takes place once a month for each client, but a special meeting will be called in the event that a client fails to participate properly in the program. The program reports its success is reflected in the resulting increase in the work participation rates in Fulton County.

Operations: The program can enroll up to 20 people per month and the clients are primarily African-American women. Client disabilities include a mix of hindrances to work, from arthritis to worker compensation cases. Stinson reports that about 10 percent of these clients actually have a permanent disability; the others have a temporary disability or a mental health concern. Stinson identifies the extent of the disability, whether the condition is permanent, where the individual will best fit into employment, or whether a different program would better help the client attain employment. If an individual may be eligible for Social Security, Stinson acts like an advocate, unless the person is already working with a lawyer. After a client obtains a job, Stinson continues to support that client for up to 1 year.