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• Develop a Mentoring Program <br />• Problem -solve issues related to child care, transportation, and affordable housing utilizing <br />strategies listed under support services problems and challenges in these areas <br />D. Emergency and Diversion Assistance <br />Statewide Goals: <br />1. Enabling 85% of Work First participants who leave welfare to stay off for 12 months. <br />2. Avoiding welfare through Diversion Assistance for 6 families. <br />County Outcomes: <br />1. Of the people who qualify for and receive diversion assistance, 75% will remain economically <br />independent, (they will not apply for benefits) for 12 months after the assistance ends. <br />2. Of the people who receive emergency assistance, 75% will have their crisis situation <br />addressed; i.e., they will not become homeless or be without electricity, heat, or adequate <br />food and clothing. <br />Short term strategies for Emergency and Diversion Assistance <br />• Provide Diversion Assistance to 6 families who have a high probability of remaining off the <br />Work First rolls (criteria include: successful work history, no pattern of financial crises, no <br />requests for diversion assistance within the previous 36 months, no chemical addictions) <br />• Provide emergency assistance to Work First participants who have a high probability of <br />success (criteria should include: participants are fulfilling their work requirements and are <br />successful in all other program requirements, the reason for the financial crisis is a major life <br />event or a situation where income or wages are too low to cover usual expenses) <br />Long term strategies for Emergency and Diversion Assistance <br />• Create a Centralized Emergency Assistance Service that can raise and distribute funds as a <br />single entity <br />Advantages: Centralizing emergency assistance would make it easier for applicants to access <br />these services, simplify the intake and distribution process, make better use of limited funds, <br />provide for better data collection and record keeping, and allow targeted fund raising. The <br />remaining agencies could increase their emphasis on case management. The faith <br />community could refer people not associated with their congregation. <br />Barriers: Existing agencies which have varying philosophies, processes, criteria and services, <br />will have to reach consensus on these issues; and they will need to collaborate on fund- <br />raising. <br />• Research San Diego's ACT program as a possible model for emergency and diversion <br />assistance. <br />31 <br />32 <br />