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North Carolina

11 State law (NCGS 108A-27(e)) requires a county that desires to be re-designated shall submit a request in writing to the Department at least six months prior to the effective date of the next State Plan. Funding for all counties is specified in the State law. For Electing Counties, block grants are based on the percentage of each county’s total AFDC and JOBS expenditures to statewide actual expenditures in 1995-96. For Work First cash assistance, the resulting percentage is applied to the total budgeted funds for Work First cash assistance for each year. Electing Counties’ eligibility criteria and processes are described In Appendix A. Many Electing Counties chose to follow some of the Standard County rules. When and if Electing County rules change to be the same as those of Standard Counties, no State Plan amendment will be submitted. If changes other than to conform to Standard County rules are made, an amended State Plan will be submitted. The responsibilities of the recipient and the county are outlined in a Mutual Responsibility Agreement (MRA)/Outcome Plan. The MRA/Outcome plan describes steps the family will take to become self-sufficient and the supportive services the county will provide.

Standard counties maintain required protocols and policies for services on file at the local county department of social services/agencies for State Fiscal Year (SFY) monitoring. All counties (Standard and Electing) are monitored to ensure compliance with program requirements.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services has a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS), Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS), and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS). These agreements outline the services that will be provided by each agency to ensure that the needs of Work First participants are met.

The Division requires the local county departments of social services/agencies to collaborate and coordinate services with the local NCWorks Career Centers, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, area mental health providers, the Department of Public Instruction and the Head Start State Collaboration Office to provide services to assist Work First participants in obtaining employment and moving towards self-sufficiency. The Department encourages counties to partner with local resources and community agencies to assist Work First participants.

WORK FIRST ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA (UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

Receipt of Work First is based on both non-financial and financial criteria. Electing Counties will follow Standard Counties Work First Policy, except as indicated in the county specific plan.

NON-FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY RULES

In addition to signing the MRA/Outcome Plan and work requirements, families must meet certain eligibility rules to receive Work First cash assistance. The basic eligibility rules are described below.