Name

Diversion

Description

The goal of diversion is to meet an applicant’s employment goals quickly through a short-term and intensive program with supplemental supports, while providing emergency cash instead of TANF dollars. Such additional programs can support self-sufficiency.

Diversionary Work Program

Overview

Program/Practice Name: Diversionary Work Program (DWP)

Agency Name: Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department

Contact Information:

John Mbali Program Manager Eligibility Determination Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department Century Plaza 1111 South 3rd Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55404 Phone: (612) 348-8188 john.mbali@co.hennepin.mn.us

Type of Program/Practice: DWP is a 4-month program that provides assistance to eligible families to help them go to work rather than go on welfare.

Description

Program/Practice Description: In 2003, the Minnesota State Legislature established this short-term, work-focused program. DWP provides front-end employment services designed to move participants directly to work and divert families from applying for the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), the State Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Approximately half of the families that apply for cash assistance participate in DWP. The primary goal of DWP is to provide short-term benefits and intensive work supports to increase families' self-sufficiency. Additionally, DWP looks to quickly identify and address barriers that may hinder a participant's job prospects. Parents are expected to develop and sign an employment plan prior to program acceptance. After the plan has been signed, they receive financial assistance as well as other supports such as Food Stamps, child care, health care, and all the benefits they would have been entitled to under MFIP. A family can receive DWP for at most 4 months over a 12-month period. These 4 months do not count toward the 60-month TANF lifetime limit. Following the 4 months, if a family has not secured employment, they have to apply to be transferred to MFIP. Participants unlikely to benefit from DWP are referred to MFIP and their grant award is adjusted accordingly.

Innovations and Results: DWP is a system-wide diversion program. By providing intensive job search and work supports, the 4-month program encourages eligible families to work instead of go on welfare. The expectation of the program is that it is interactive and clients are not simply collecting cash assistance. By connecting them to work while concurrently meeting their other basic needs, DWP better equips clients as they strive to become self-sufficient.

Operations: In what can amount to a 4-6 hour process, potential clients complete a screening form, and if qualified, are sent to the DWP team. Clients then complete and discuss the application with a human services representative (HSR). At this point, clients also receive an orientation to DWP. HSR workers spend about an hour and a half with each client reviewing the documents they need and preparing a check list for each client to assist in verification. After verifications are completed, clients are referred to and meet with an employment service provider (ESP) within 10 days of being found eligible.

There are five ESPs across Hennepin County; four are under contract through the vocational rehabilitation nonprofit, Employment Action Center. An ESP case manager works with the client to develop an employment plan. This plan is work-focused and requires a minimum of 35 hours be spent on either work or work search. An assessment of the individual is completed by the employment specialist and the plan addresses these identified strengths and needs, such as ESL training. The specialist also immediately connects the client to such necessary services as transportation and child care.

During the program, clients attend job club, participating in a highly structured environment centered on connecting to work. In addition, they attend workshops, develop resumes and applications, and practice interviewing skills. Classroom instruction also allows individuals to share concerns, provide support, and exchange job opportunities, in addition to learning important skills. ESPs provide access to computer labs where clients can search and apply for jobs. Clients are required to complete a detailed activity log to track how they spend their time. Clients also receive transportation vouchers to help them attend classes and job interviews, as well as a small amount in program funds to purchase interview clothes or tools for the job.

Additional Information: Once a plan is signed, benefits are issued within one business day and are based on the size of the family, the family's needs, and countable income. Families enrolled in DWP are eligible for government supports, with the program providing assistance with rent and utilities. These expenses are vendor paid, with a maximum award of $437 for a family of two. Once a DWP grant amount is determined, increases in income generally will not decrease the amount of the benefit. The family also is given child care assistance and a personal needs allowance of up to $70 if there are residual funds. Families must cooperate with their employment plan and child support requirements. If they do not, their case will be closed and they will not be eligible for any other cash programs until their four months of DWP time has expired. However, disqualification does not affect the participant's food support or health care benefits.

Implementation

Tips to Implementation: The philosophy of the program is for clients to succeed; specifically, to obtain a job and be able to support themselves and their families without relying on public assistance. During orientation, HSR workers stress that clients will receive help with basic needs and securing employment, emphasizing what this additional assistance can do in terms of the monthly budget. Many clients are there because of job loss and are struggling to make ends meet while relying on savings and are encouraged by this approach. Additionally, the one-on-one attention from both the HSR and the ESP reinforces the work-first message and shows the commitment they have to connecting clients to work.

Keys to Success: Coordination between HSRs and ESPs has improved dramatically. As opposed to meeting within 30 days as required under the TANF legislation, clients now meet with their employment specialist within 10 days. Although this is mandated within the statute, it is facilitated by the fact that the HSR schedules the appointment, sometimes while the client is still in the office. Additionally, both departments share the same case management system, TEAMS, allowing them to share issues about the client directly through the case file.

Successes: Since July 2004, an average of 500 families have applied for DWP each month.

  • Four hundred of these families meet with an employment counselor to develop an employment plan.
  • Within the 4-month program, 58 percent of families begin employment, with an average wage of $10.52 per hour.
  • Approximately 42 percent of all families that leave DWP after the 4 months are diverted from applying for MFIP.

Challenges: Because DWP clients are not enrolled in the State's TANF program, their work participation is not counted in the State's rate in either the numerator or the denominator. In addition, the 32 vendors that work with the MFIP population have raised the concern that DWP is "creaming off" those who are ready and able to work, leaving those with greater barriers. However, given the reduced rolls, they likely have additional time to work with these clients one on one.

  • A number of pregnant women enroll in DWP. As they are not eligible for MFIP, the employment specialist must help connect them to activities that are appropriate and will help them prepare for life after the birth of their child, such as parent education classes and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
  • In some cases, 4 months does not seem to be enough time to connect a client to work. Some clients and staff think there would be increased benefits with a 6-month program. At times, it is difficult to obtain all the verification documents necessary for a referral to the ESP. This is especially true for securing out-of-state birth certificates. Also, sanctions can play a significant role, as it may be difficult for a client to get back into compliance given the relatively short time limit of the program.

Tools

The following tools are associated with Diversionary Work Program. Please send us an email at upitoolkit@blhtech.com for more information about these tools.

DWP New Staff Training PowerPoint

DWP/MFIP Screening Questions

DWP Employment Service Providers

DWP/MFIP Screening Questions

Facts on Voluntarily Quitting Your Job If You Are on Food Support

Hennepin Human Services and Public Health Department General Information

Medical Assistance May Pay for Insurance Through Your Employer

Minnesota Department of Human Services Domestic Violence Information

Self-Administered Alcohol and Drug Screening Test

Activity Log

DWP Allowable Work Activities

DWP Child Care Questions and Answers

DWP Important Questions and Answers

DWP Self-Appraisal Form

DWP Two-Parent Household Questions and Answers

DWP Unlikely to Benefit/Excluded Form

Good Cause Reasons for Not Cooperating with Employment Services

MFIP/DWP Employment Plan

The following packets are given to clients when they meet with an HSR and an ESP respectively:

Human Services Packet

Employment Services Packet

Job Ready State Diversion Program

Overview

Program/Practice Name: Job Ready State Diversion Program

Agency Name: Denver (Colorado) Human Services, Division of Workforce Development (DHS/DWD)

Contact Information:

Curt Pesicka Manager of Operations Office of Economic Development, Division of Workforce Development 1200 Federal Blvd. Denver, CO 80204 Phone: (720) 944-2736 Fax: (720) 944-4131 curt.pesicka@denvergov.org

Type of Program/Practice: The Job Ready State Diversion Program provides job-ready individuals with short-term, non-recurrent cash assistance for their immediate needs and other supportive services to become employed or remain employed without having to remain on basic cash assistance with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

Description

Program/Practice Description: The goal of the program is to provide participants with a strategic alternative to ongoing basic cash assistance. Although it is a voluntary program, job-ready TANF applicants are strongly encouraged to consider diversion versus going on long-term cash assistance.

Innovations and Results: Many applicants are in need of short-term cash assistance to become stabilized and prevent them from having to enter into the TANF program. Over the past four years Denver County has averaged seven State Diversion payments per month. The average diversion payment is $2,011. Recidivism is generally lower for State Diversion applicants. Work participation has increased as a result of diversion. This is done in two ways:

  • Lowering the caseload denominator of those subject to work participation requirements.
  • Focusing staff and resources to assist less job-ready individuals with multiple challenges to participation and employment.

Operations: All recipients of TANF benefits will complete a Job Readiness questionnaire as a part of orientation for the Workforce Development program. Each participant will also complete a Work Readiness Profiler assessment during a one-on-one meeting with the Workforce Development staff who will determine if the individual is a good candidate for State Diversion.

Implementation

Tips to Implementation: Diversion candidates are identified as a priority and are to have their case processed within established time frames that allow the TANF participant to quickly move from ongoing basic cash assistance to a lump sum payment that affords them the flexibility to meet their immediate needs and not have to remain on long-term assistance. Flexibility in the diversion program has been critical. TANF regulations allow counties in Colorado to tailor the program to the community's needs. Therefore, communities should determine what they are trying to accomplish with diversion and develop the program accordingly. In this case, State Diversion was used to stabilize the immediate needs of individuals before they have to enter into long-term cash assistance.

Keys to Success: The key to a successful diversion program with low recidivism rates is targeting the appropriate individuals—those who are job-ready and in need of short-term assistance to meet their immediate needs. By providing these individuals with the assistance they need, more intensive case management services and workforce activities can focus on helping individuals who are not job-ready become so.

Challenges: One of the biggest challenges has been targeting the appropriate candidates for diversion. As a result, the program has spent a lot of time and effort analyzing and revising the Customer Job Readiness questionnaire and Work Readiness Profiler assessment to ensure appropriate candidates are reached.

Tools

The following tools are associated with Job Ready State Diversion Program. Please send us an email for more information about these tools.

Diversion Matrix

Used to determine the level of monitoring a client will require

Colorado Works (TANF) State & County Diversion Program

Two fact sheets provide basic information about the State and county diversion programs

State Diversion Pilot Interim Report

Provides a brief summary of the elements of the State Diversion Pilot Program and interim findings

Denver County Department of Human Services

Document sets out the official policy of the State Diversion Program

Colorado Works (TANF) Service Delivery Structure Denver County

Flow chart shows the intake process and how the State Diversion Program fits into Colorado Works

State Diversion Form and Intake Packet

Papers a diversion candidate must complete before authorization

Flow Charts

Indicates the various ways an individual can be directed to diversion

Customer Job Readiness Assessment

Determines whether a TANF applicant is job ready

Job Ready State Diversion Program

Basic statistics