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North Carolina

5 Serving Low Income Families

All counties are to provide in their county plan a variety of services for families with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level that have a child who meets the same requirements as for WFFA or Work First services.

Counties describe in their county plans how they will provide such services and what types of services they will provide. Services may be varied, including but not limited to, transportation, child care, job retention bonuses, case management, follow-up services, mentoring programs, after-school learning programs, parenting programs, literacy programs, and post-employment skills training. Families who have exhausted their 24 or 60-month time limit are eligible for these services, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

Child Care Services

Counties may provide child care services subsidized by their Work First Block Grant funds. To qualify, families must be eligible for WFFA or for Work First Services as described in this plan. The child care services provided must comply with subsidized child care policies administered by the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). All parents receiving child care subsidies have a choice of using legally operating providers and information to help them evaluate their child care arrangement.

All parents who have countable income are required to help pay for the cost of child care in accordance with the fee schedules administered by DCDEE.

Transportation Services

Counties are encouraged to develop local partnerships with other human services agencies, transit systems, businesses, workforce development agencies, faith community, civic organizations, etc., to develop and expand alternative transportation resources to meet the community’s transportation needs. Issues such as communication, coordination, mutual trust and respect, policies, marketing, funding resources and cost sharing are all part of the discussion process.

Some counties have developed car ownership programs through partnerships with other organizations. Vehicles donated from private citizens, businesses, and/or local governments are given to select Work First families. There are many different versions of car ownership programs in operation in North Carolina. Most programs require that the Work First recipient pay at least a portion of the costs associated with liability insurance, repairs, taxes, and license and/or title fees. Some counties use Work First Block Grant Funds to purchase vehicles, make down payments, and assist with regular car payments or car repairs for Work First families.

Eldercare Services

The Work First program will continue to provide assistance to work eligible individuals to train for, seek and maintain employment in the eldercare workforce. Work First Employment Services’ job skills training, work experience and employment retention services include training and employment for certified nursing assistants (CNAs), home health aides, and other occupations related to eldercare. In addition case management services provides employment