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North Carolina

7 State Fiscal Year Caseload Size # of Participants FFY 2015 28,784 57,565 FFY 2016 30,881 59,2017 FFY 2017 27,636 52,784 FFY 2018 24,999 46,572

Due to the changes in the work requirements associated with the program, low Work First benefit amounts, and increase in the job market in NC, the Work First program has and continues to experience a continuous decline in individuals applying for assistance.

In accordance with federal law, TANF funds, as well as Maintenance of Efforts (MOE) funds must meet one of four purposes. The four purposes under TANF are:

1. Assist needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives; 2. Reduce dependence of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work, and/or marriage; 3. Prevent or reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and 4. Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

STATE WELFARE LEGISLATION

North Carolina General Statute 108A-27 provides for TANF program development by local county governments. The law refers to counties as Standard or Electing. Standard Counties operate the state’s Work First program based on the policies written in the Work First Manual, while Electing counties have additional flexibility in program design that allows the county to determine the county’s eligibility criteria and payment options. All counties have maximum flexibility in designing their employment programs to meet local needs. However, state law provides that Electing Counties, when combined, can contain no more than 15.5% of the state’s Work First cases. The state’s and each Electing County’s eligibility criteria are described later in this document. Throughout this plan, all references to “Electing counties” refer to those counties that have been approved as Electing.

STATEWIDE SOCIAL SERVICES REFORM AND WORK FIRST GOALS

Rylan’s Law (Session Law 2017-41) is state legislation enacted in July 2017 which governs a legislatively required, statewide reformation of North Carolina’s social services programs. Recent studies indicated more accountability and oversight are needed for County Departments of Social Services to produce better performance and outcomes. By March 1, 2020, Rylan’s Law requires the establishment of regional offices that provide closer, more direct, regional supervision and support to County Departments of Social Services. Each County Department of Social Services will be part of a region of counties, and state-level DSS staff will monitor and support these regions. Regionalization means that the State will provide regional supervision and support to the counties, which will continue to locally administer social services. This approach does not supplant, abridge, or in any other way change the traditional role of the counties in