HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09291987 - IO.4 TO• BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
�« FROM; INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE C ftra
September 21, 1987 C )sta
DATE* COJ "l
SUBJECT: General Assistance Program
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SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) a BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Request the Social Services Director to report to our
Committee on October 26, 1987 at 9: 30 A.M. on the following
subjects in relation to the General Assistance Program:
A. The extent to which the workfare program is
_self-supporting in that recipients are required to work
sufficient hours to not only offset their GA grant, but
also the administrative costs of the workfare program.
B. Whether there is a more effective way to assist GA
recipients to obtain jobs and become self-supporting
than the workfare program and, if so, what components
such a program should include.
C. A brief historical summary of the General Assistance
Program in California.
D. A description of the responsible relative procedures
now in place in Contra Costa County, and any
recommendations for changes in those procedures.
E. A comment on the extent to which staff believes there
is a problem with GA recipients misusing their cash
grant or food stamps by purchasing alcohol or drugs
instead of food and shelter and what recommendations
the Director has to address this problem if it is
viewed as a problem by the Department.
F. Comment on the feasibility of proposing a State
takeover of the GA program.
G. An analysis of the length of time GA recipients who
obtain employment are able to keep their jobs.
BACKGROUND:
On June 9, 1987, the Board of Supervisors asked the County
Counsel and Social Services Director to propose additional State
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _X_ YES SIGNATURE:
_ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _X, RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPR VE OTHER
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SIGNATURE s cy C. Fanden Tom Torlakson
�.J
_
ACTION OF BOARD ON September 29, 1987 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
` I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
y UNANIMOUS (ABSENT �� 1 AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES% AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT; ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED2 q
%�. Social Services Director �� �
% ,County Counsel PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
�'W Bertenthal , CCLSF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY �y_ /X�fz� ,DEPUTY
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legislation which could assist in addressing various program
issues, particularly the inability of the County to require work
of an applicant as a condition of eligibility for the GA program.
On September 21, 1987, our Committee met with Jim Rydingsword and
Elaine Hopkins of the Social Service Department, and Phil
Bertenthal and Jane Kerr of the Contra Costa Legal Services
Foundation to review three legislative proposals which had been
drafted by County Counsel. These three proposals addressed
lawful residence in the County, reinstating the work test program
and expanding the number of relatives who could be held
responsible for supporting a GA recipient or applicant.
The general consensus was that these proposals are probably not
feasible to pursue legislatively at this time, particularly the
proposal to reinstate the work test program. Instead, our
Committee wants to . take a much more thorough review of the
existing GA program, identify problem areas, and review possible
solutions. Our objective is to help those who are truly in need,
require employment of those who are capable of employment and
restore recipients to the status of self-supporting members of
the community where that is a feasible goal. .
In order to accomplish these objectives, we are asking for
additional background information from the Social Services
Director. The above recommendations are designed to accomplish
this and provide us a realistic appraisal of what changes can and
should be made in the General Assistance Program.