NS -Grant - Work First Block Grant Local Plan

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23 Thirty-six Work First participants and 12 working low - income families received cars in fiscal year 2005 -2006. Transitional Funds from NC Department of Transportation were used to assist 47 former Work First participants in obtaining and maintaining transportation resources. Faith Team Involvement Orange County has a contract with Morgan and Associates to identify and train faith -based teams, and match the teams with Work First families. The goal of the program is to offer support to Work First families as they seek or maintain employment. Ten churches, some with multiple faith teams, have been matched with Work First families. Work First families and faith teams have benefited from the partnership. Families have received assistance in obtaining a driver's license, obtaining a GED, attending AA meetings, enjoying social events together, job preparation assistance, transportation assistance, certificates for food, camp for children, assistance with children's school assignments, and more. Intensive Teen Support Proiect This project was designed to expand the case management services to pregnant and parenting teens. Research studies support that intervention and preventive services to teens significantly impact school attendance, employability, and out of wedlock births. The Orange County School System has a social worker to facilitate a school based support group for teen parents and at risk students focusing on pregnancy prevention, health and academic and career planning issues. Financial Education and Counseling The DSS has a contract with H. R. Consulting and the Women Center to teach financial life skills and household management. The goal of the programs is to assist families in developing the capacity to track and prioritize expenditures and become independent. The Center For Employment Training (CET) Orange County has a contract with CET to provide Work First participants training in the areas of Automated General and Medical Office Skills, Electronics Technology, Medical Insurance Billing, and Shipping and Receiving/Warehouse. CET will place 70% of the Work First participants who complete the programs in to employment and place 70% of those employed in a training related job utilizing their skills acquired in their course of study. Oranee Enterprises (OE) Orange Enterprises provides vocational evaluations, facility based work adjustment, job placement, and follow -up for the hardest to place Work First participants. During the evaluation period, the participant is paid $5.15 per hour. The evaluation period is six weeks long. The participant is given many opportunities to work and improve work habits.