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22 <br />VII. Services to Low-Income Families <br />Orange County DSS will provide services to low-income employed families at or <br />below 200% of poverty. Services may include transportation or transportation <br />related expenses, work attire, tools, shelter cost, or utility assistance, domestic <br />violence services, and any other employment retention assistance. <br />VIII. Services to Non-Custodial Parents <br />Orange County Department of Social Services is committed to providing <br />assistance in the development of an initiative to serve non-custodial parents. We <br />recognize that the need for child support in Work First families is critical to them <br />becoming and remaining self-sufficient. There are 323 Work First families at any <br />one time. Of this number there are about 300 non-custodial parents, generally <br />fathers. Of the 300 non-custodial parents, there are 157 child-only cases with <br />both parents absent. Orange County, will implement anon-custodial parent <br />program to improve the employment skills and enhance parental responsibility for <br />the emotional and financial well being of children. <br />Program participants must be anon-custodial parent of a Work First child with <br />income at or below 200% of poverty, and a US citizen or an eligible alien. <br />Program participants will be identified through Child Support Enforcement. The <br />program's initial focus will be on fathers. <br />The fatherhood initiative will enable non-custodial fathers of Work First children <br />to take more responsibility for their children. The Work First Block Grant <br />Planning Corrunittee believes that with county and nonprofit agency partnerships, <br />this program will help to improve the lives of Work First non-custodial parents, <br />their children, and custodial parents. <br />IX. Exemption from the Work Requirement <br />Orange County will continue to exempt all single parents with children under the <br />age of one for a lifetime limit of 12 months. Individuals with children under the <br />age of one who are working 30 hours per week are not eligible for this exemption. <br />If the single parent loses their job, they may reclaim the exemption for a lifetime <br />maximum of 12 months. <br />X. Innovative County Strategies <br />Transportation Initiative <br />A transportation coordinator works individually with Work First clients to arrange <br />transportation for employment or other work-related activities. This position is <br />funded in collaboration with Orange Public Transportation and Work First. In <br />addition, this position coordinates the Wheels for Work Car Donation Program. <br />