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County control profit organizations, businesses, and other and whether or not they return to assistance
<br /> Cooke and Dell Wright, professor of community members. "There's no ques- rolls after leaving. The researchers also
<br /> political science, lead a team of Carolina tion that welfare reform has resulted in track how Work First participants fare at
<br /> doctoral students as well as researchers from communities participating much more in getting jobs.
<br /> 11 other UNC-system institutions conduct- welfare issues than before,"Cooke says. Duncan is careful with his statistics. He
<br /> ing case studies of 25 North Carolina coun- Gilmore and Winnie Morgan, Work uses and posts to the project web site only
<br /> ties. The "Tracking County Responses to First faith-involvement coordinator for numbers that have been reconciled for the
<br /> Welfare Reform"study also includes surveys Orange County, agree that community whole month.These final counts can differ
<br /> of more than 400 county commissioners, cooperation has been crucial. "We didn't by as much as 2,000 from the first-of-the-
<br /> county managers, social service directors, have the resources in place when Work First month numbers that sometimes end up in
<br /> and social service board chairs from all 100 was first implemented,"Morgan says,"but local newspapers,he says.
<br /> counties. Cooke believes that the expert- now we do." Community organizations in Though statistics aren't everything,they
<br /> ences of these "policy implementers" can the county have worked with DSS to provide can form a partial picture.Duncan updates
<br /> be instructive for national policymakers such services as a car-donation program, the web site monthly, and caseworkers can
<br /> because North Carolina's county-centered G.E.D.classes,and clothing closets. use it to generate reports and track trends
<br /> system is unique, in each county. Tim Rhodes, program
<br /> In the case studies, many respondents By the numbers administrator at the Buncombe County
<br /> said that Work First has shifted the nature Dean Duncan tells the story of welfare Department of Social Services, says he's
<br /> of county caseworkers jobs from simply reform using numbers. He and colleagues using the web site to evaluate a pilot project
<br /> determining eligibility for cash benefits to are tracking everyone who has received in his county. "We wouldn't have access to
<br /> helping clients solve problems and find jobs. public assistance in North Carolina since this data any other way,"Rhodes says.
<br /> Robert Gilmore, Work First supervisor 1995,using statistics from North Carolina's The statistics do show some positive
<br /> for Orange County, echoes that opinion. Department of Health and Human Ser- trends. Contrary to the popular image of
<br /> "The counties were given a chance to be as vices, Division of Social Services. Data "welfare moms," most families in North
<br /> creative as possible in providing resources to include the number of families entering the Carolina do not stay on public assistance for
<br /> help clients move forward," Gilmore says. program,how long they stay on assistance, long periods of time. The average length
<br /> "Work First has caused us to rethink of stay is six to eight months.And,the
<br /> the way we do business." longer a family stays off Work First,
<br /> Some new ways of doing business: i�e ., the more likely it is that the family
<br /> Durham Countys Department of Social will remain independent. "If you can
<br /> Services(DSS)contracts with the city's stay off for more than three months,
<br /> chamber of commerce, supporting a theres a very good chance that you're
<br /> full-time"job developer"position.This not going to come back onto the pro
<br /> person organized several job fairs at gram at all,"Duncan says.
<br /> Durham's DSS offices in 2000, leading r The statewide caseload continually
<br /> to jobs for more than 100 Work First dropped from 1995 to December 2000.
<br /> recipients. This partnership between From December 2000 to December
<br /> the Durham DSS and chamber of com- \ 2001,it showed a slight increase-639
<br /> merce has been a model for the state, people. Duncan says that this increase
<br /> according to the Durham case-study reflects a drop in the number of people
<br /> author Rebecca Winders of North leaving the caseload. "My guess is,
<br /> Carolina Central University. • •' because of the economy, they're just
<br /> Lack of transportation to and from not finding the jobs out there.But that
<br /> work is a constant problem, especially is just a guess."
<br /> for clients who live in rural areas. '• ' ' The number of new clients coming
<br /> Gilmore notes that some of his clients onto assistance has not increased but has
<br /> are in their thirties or forties and have ,, remained steady, Duncan says. Some
<br /> never driven a car. This year Orange families avoid full-time monthly assis-
<br /> County spent part of its discretionary �; _ + tance by using a Work First program
<br /> money on adult driving classes, and I that provides lump-sum emergency
<br /> about 32 women have received their payments.Currently,about a thousand
<br /> licenses so far.In Caldwell County,the cases each month receive these pay-
<br /> DSS bought a Job Search Van" and y menu,known as benefit diversion.
<br /> hired a driver to take clients to and f "The average monthly assistance
<br /> from work check is relatively low, around two
<br /> To increase services, many counties hundred sixty or two hundred eighty
<br /> have worked more closely with non- dollars a month for a family," Duncan
<br /> endeavors 31
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