THE DANDELION CONNECTION
Ellicott Square Building., 295 Main Street Room 495, Buffalo, New York 14203
Volume 5 Issue 3
(716) 847-0655 ext. 216
May/June 1997
Copyright 1997, Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Child Support - Part II
Enforcement
In our last issue, we discussed how to obtain child support -- but, what if he/she doesn't pay? What can I do if the person who is ordered to pay support has missed some payments or has not paid the full amount ordered?
ERIE COUNTY OFFICE OF
CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT:
You may be able to get an income execution through the Erie County Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). In order to use the services of the OCSE you must first register with their office and/or obtain an order from family court requesting child support services. Their office is located at 95 Franklin Street, 7th Floor, Buffalo, New York, 14202. You can reach them by calling 858-8309.
When the OCSE issues an income execution, your support money will be deducted directly from the payer's paycheck or benefit check (i.e, Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB), Disability or Workers' Compensation) and sent to the OCSE. The OCSE will keep a record of all payments and send the money to you.
BENEFITS OF USING
THE SERVICES OF THE OCSE:
If the person who is supposed to be paying support is employed or is receiving Workers' Compensation, Disability Benefits, Unemployment Benefits, or Social Security, you may be able to obtain an income execution so that child support is deducted from that income.
The OCSE has an extensive computer system which automatically sends an Income Execution to any verified employer on the system.
The employer of the payer is obligated to report new hires to the OSCE within 2 weeks of hire. Employers are also required to report payers quarterly income.
In certain cases, if child support and/or
child support arrears are owed, the OCSE has the right to:
PLEASE NOTE: *An income execution can not be issued against a person who is self-employed, unemployed (not receiving UIB), or receiving public assistance or SSI. If the person who is supposed to pay support has an income source that is not attachable by income execution or *if the amount of arrears needs to be determined, you may need to file an enforcement petition in Family Court.
* IF YOU ARE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE ASSIGNED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
Family Court has the authority to give
assistance as provided by the Office of Child Support Enforcement, and in addition may:
MAKING WORK FARE
WORK FOR YOU
There is no doubt that the CWEP and Hire programs, better known as "workfare", are major issues in today's society. Whether in the media, businesses or even in homes, this topic is being vigorously debated...and with good cause. The idea of our government choosing people's employment and mandating them to work is a controversial issue. Nevertheless, there is a solution which both agency and client can benefit from and all it takes is a little networking. Here are some facts that you must know.
FACT #1: CWEP (Community Work Experience Program) is for clients in the AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependant Children) category of Social Services.
FACT #2: HIRE (Helping Individuals Reach Employment) is for clients in the Home Relief category of Social Services.
FACT #3: Both programs are contracts between the Department of Social Services (D.D.S.) and a non-profit business to allow D.S.S. clients to work at their site.
FACT #4: The goal of both programs is to help D.S.S. clients become employable.
FACT #5: There are currently 500 area agencies which are participating in these programs and work sites.
Knowing these facts could benefit you by finding the right field of work which fits your employment background. For example, if you've obtained medical training, you should request a site in the same field.
A lot of times your case worker will not know where to place you and could have you work at a site which has little or nothing to do with your prior experience. Scouting out to find which agency best suits your profession can mutually help both case workers and clients. You can also encourage other agencies which are good candidates to join the workfare program in order to increase the variety of choices.
Remember the responsibilities that come with workfare. If you don't comply with the rules of the agreement, you could be sanctioned and even terminated from D.S.S. You must see this as a REAL JOB! After all, you are working for benefits so it's smart to make the best of it.
You can make workfare work for you by examining yourself and knowing what the job force has to offer. By doing this, not only can you find a good place of employment, but you can empower yourself to have a career that will keep you independent from welfare forever!
&emdash; Faye Goggins
If you have more questions
about the CWEP and HIRE programs contact or visit
Erie County Dept. of Social Services
478 Main Street, Room 210
Buffalo, New York 14202
(716) 858-8619
"The
poor man is not
he who is without a cent,
but he who is without a dream.
&emdash;&emdash;Kemp
WAGE REPORTING--PROTECT YOURSELF!!
Report your earnings to DSS!! Even if you are "on probation" or if you work for a temp agency, you must report your earnings. Some people try to hide their earnings. Don't try it! Please remember that the consequences for you and your family can be severe if you do not report your income.
Protect yourself from fraud investigations. It can take years for a fraud investigation to become active. Too many people did not report their wages when on PA, only to lose their jobs years later when the fraud investigators finally caught up with them...when they were working full-time and off public assistance.
RULE: YOU HAVE 10 DAYS FROM THE RECEIPT OF YOUR FIRST INCOME TO REPORT IT TO YOUR CASEWORKER.
If you have concerns regarding reporting, or the way the Department of Social Services has budgeted your wages from employment or other income source, call Project Dandelion at 847-0650, ext. 226.
FOOD SAFETY
Strawberries, raspberries, apple juice, baby food, eggs, chicken and beef, hepatitis, E. coli, and salmonella -- all were associated with foodborne illnesses in the past year. Recent outbreaks of illness transmitted by food are making us look at the safety of our food supply and at what we can do to prevent getting ill from contaminated food.
People have had concerns about the safety of food for thousands of years. Many religious food prohibitions originated from efforts to protect followers from disease. Most foodborne illness comes from eating food that has been contaminated with harmful bacteria, toxins produced by bacteria, viruses or agricultural chemicals.
Children and infants are more susceptible than adults to such illness because they lack a specific immunity to the disease. They can be exposed to such bacteria through diaper handling methods at daycare. The elderly, people with immune diseases, and individuals who are on drugs that suppress the immune system are more susceptible than the average adult.
Changes in how we buy food, what foods we like, and where food is grown, all contribute to a recent increase in foodborne illnesses. We have strawberries in December and grapes in January. More often than not these are produced outside the United States, often using chemicals or natural fertilizers that may not be approved for local use. Because we like convenience foods, faster food preparation methods and fresher foods, we are less likely to eat those "canned peas" that appeared at almost every meal when I was growing up.
These food choices help create a more exciting diet with a greater focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, but, because we process our food less, they create a better environment for growing and transmitting food-borne illnesses.
Even though prevention at farms and at food processing and distribution centers exist, careful processing in the home is one of the best safeguards to prevent foodborne illnesses. We can heat food to a temperature high enough to kill the bacteria (viruses and toxins) or cool food in the refrigerator to slow bacteria growth.
Foods of animal origin (beef, pork, poultry, seafood, milk and eggs) are the most frequent causes of illness, usually from Salmonella and E. coli. Bacteria grow unchecked when we expose fresh food to an animal source containing harmful bacteria. When we cut raw chicken and then cut fresh foods, like salad, on the same cutting board or with the same knife, we have "cross-contamination." The chicken will be cooked, killing bacteria, but the other food may be served raw or undercooked, allowing bacteria to grow.
It is best to use a food-service type plastic cutting board. Always wash it and the knives used to cut raw meats, with hot water and soap before cutting other foods. This helps prevent contamination. Foods like eggs may be served raw or cooked at a temperature too low to kill bacteria. A small crack in the eggshell allows bacteria to enter while our cooking method allows growth, leaving custards and homemade mayonnaise especially at risk for causing illnesses.
Fresh fruits and vegetables can carry bacteria or small organisms on their surface. Washing these foods prior to serving helps prevent most illness, but so does refrigeration as bacteria does not grow as quickly at lower temperatures.
A recent outbreak of salmonella was traced to cantaloupe at a party. The cantaloupe skin was covered with bacteria. It was sliced without washing. The slices stayed at room temperature on a hot summer day. Foods like salads made with mayonnaise, cut fruit and vegetables should be kept cold.
Allowing foods to remain at room temperature after cooking contributes to illnesses, frequently at food buffets and at picnics. The food is left for long periods at temperatures that are neither hot enough to kill bacteria nor cold enough to prevent growth. Generally, hot foods should be kept hot and cold foods should be kept cold. With attention to home safeguards, we can do our part to prevent foodborne illnesses.
&emdash; Dr. Cheryl Noehl
How
you can prevent
the spread of foodborne illnesses
in your home
NOTHING ON
EARTH CAN MAKE LIFE MORE WORTHWHILE,
THAN THE SUNSHINE AND WARMTH
OF A BEAUTIFUL SMILE.
&emdash;-Helen Steiner Rice.
Your Help is Needed
Project Dandelion believes that a crucial element to obtaining self sufficiency and surviving transition is moral support.
Do you feel that a Dandelion, male or female, could benefit from knowing you and your experiences? If so, consider helping us develop a mentoring program.
Call 847-0650 ext 216 for information.
Stress Relievers
I Can. . .
Bring Home the Bacon,
Fry it up in a Pan,
Wash the Clothes,
Get the Kids off for School,
Get Dressed and Get to Work by 5
Minutes to 9:00 and
When I Come Home . . .
I Can Cook the Dinner,
Help the Kids with Their Homework,
Vacuum the Cat, Put out the Rug,
(Or Was That Vacuum Rug, and Put out the Cat?)
And Before the Night Is Over. . .
I Can Bathe the Kids,
Sing Them a Song,
Read Them a Story,
Iron Their Clothes,
Mop the Floors,
Lock All the Doors,
Set My Hair,
Answer the Phone--I Think I'll Pretend
I'm Not Home--
God I Hate Being Alone--but I must Go On-
--because I'm a Single Mom!
A
happy home is more
than a roof over your head--
it's a foundation under your feet.
WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!
&emdash; Don't be so hard on yourself! Try to focus on things you have accomplished on a daily basis. And the things you didn't get done? Well, they will still be there tomorrow. Ask yourself, "What will happen if I don't finish this today?"
PRIORITIZE!
&emdash; Try keeping track of your time. See if there are any blocks of time that you regularly waste. But, remember to schedule relaxation time daily if possible.
&emdash; Don't try to do everything yourself. Delegate responsibilities to other family members with "job jars", lists or whatever works best in your home. Allow flexibility of time for work to be done if you can. Other family members may have tight schedules as well which may not coincide with yours.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS AND
WHEN TO SAFELY STOP
&emdash; Have a regular family time even if at times it's only for dinner. This promotes unity and the sense of being a team. (This also helps when it's time for the "job jar.")
REMEMBER &emdash;
NO ONE IS SUPER-HUMAN !
&emdash; Maggie O'Malley
TEAP
A COMPETITIVE EDGE IN
JOB SEARCHING
Picture this! You are awaiting a job interview with an established company. There are five others also awaiting an interview for the same position that you seek. All of the five competitors are as equally qualified, courteous and motivated as you are, but you have one advantage that they all do not have. Because of that advantage, you got the job. This story could become a reality for you and many others through the Teap Program.
Teap (Training Employee Assistance Program) is an agreement between the Department of Social Services and an employer to help guarantee employment for a client. It provides wage reimbursement to employers (average of $250 per month) for up to six months of job training for AFDC clients and one year for Home Relief clients.
The contract can also include a Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for the employer who hires you. This tax credit is equal to 35 percent of the first $6,000 in qualified first year wages for a maximum credit of $2,100. Employees who start work only from October 1, 1996 to September 30, 1997 and who are WOTC-certified can generate the credit for their employers.
For more information about TEAP and how it applies to you, call the Employment Division of the Department of Social Services at 858-7751.
In an employment world where jobs are becoming more scarce, you need to use every opportunity to increase your chances. TEAP is one of those opportunities to give you that competitive edge.
From
the Beginning
By: Tonya Morowski
While sitting among my toys,
wondering, learning and exploring,
I get the feeling
that someone is watching me.
Sure enough, as I look up,
there she is.
All smiles, waving at me
and making those gurgling,
cooing sounds.
She always knows
just how to win a smile.
And, from as far back
as my little mind can remember,
I recall hearing
her soft voice in my ear.
How sweet it is
to hear Mommy singing
lullabies to me.
I remember feeling
her warmth and comfort,
sensed her unique aroma,
of which only I can recognize.
At night,
I have no fear
when I'm snuggled close,
listening to her heartbeat.
She has done everything for me
without question or thought.
&emdash; I LOVE YOU, MOMMY.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !
Upcoming Events
TUESDAY MEETINGS: 1:00 P.M. TO 2:30 P.M.
MAY 20 ADVOCACY SKILLS: including: locating important files; preparing for Fair Hearings; networking
MAY 27 WELFARE REFORM, Part I
JUNE 3 HOW TO READ A PA BUDGET: including: when to report income; protecting yourself from fraud investigation.
JUNE 10 WELFARE REFORM, Part II: Steps you should be taking.
JUNE 17 RESUME WRITING
JUNE 24 CLEANING UP YOUR CREDIT: including: debt harrassment; deferred payment agreements; house hold budgeting.
POTLUCKS
MONDAY- MAY 19 5:30 P.M. - INTERNATIONAL POTLUCK
MONDAY- JUNE 16 5:30 P.M. - CREATIVE WRITING
Today,
create a positive experience for those with whom you come into contact.
It could make the difference between a day off and an off day!
Remember &emdash; weekly Dandelion meetings are held every Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Ellicott Square Bldg. · 295 Main Street, Rm 495
Buffalo, NY 14203