THE DANDELION CONNECTION
Ellicott Square Building., 295 Main Street Room 495, Buffalo, New York 14203
Volume 6 Issue 5      (716) 847-0655 ext. 226      September/October 1998
  www.nls.org
Copyright 1998, Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.

in this issue...
Domestic Violence Liaisons
Child Care Programs
Health watch: sids
maggie’s corner
Finger Imaging
Dandelion Quote Puzzle
poetry
What’s new?
upcoming events

Domestic Violence Liaisons

    If you are a victim of domestic violence, the Department of Social Services may be able to offer you some special help.

    Applying for public assistance can be a difficult process. It can seem even more difficult if you are a victim of domestic violence. Applicants and recipients must now comply with a number of program requirements, including child support enforcement, employment requirements and drug/alcohol assessments. DSS is trying to address some of the obstacles which a victim of domestic violence may face when applying for public assistance.

    A new screening procedure has been put in place which will help to identify domestic violence victims. This screening is voluntary and is not a condition of eligibility for public assistance. At some point a client will be handed a Domestic Violence Screening Form. She may get this form at application, recertification, employment assessment, and/or child support evaluation interviews. This form asks questions regarding the current danger of the situation. If the client completes the form, and domestic violence is indicated, she will be referred to a domestic violence liaison who will then do a further assessment. At this point referrals to community services may be made or temporary waivers from certain program requirements can be granted. Waivers will be granted if fulfilling certain program requirements would further the risk of danger to the client or her children.

    Waivers allow a client to be deferred from employment, drug/alcohol screenings and child support enforcement requirements.

    Waivers are good for 4 months, but can be renewed if needed. Before a renewal is given, a client will be reassessed by a domestic violence liaison to determine if the threat is still present and a waiver warranted. If a client is denied a waiver, she has the right to request a fair hearing on the denial.

    Remember - this screening is voluntary and all precautions have been made to assure that all information is to be kept confidential.

    If you are a victim of domestic violence and need help, there is a 24-hour hotline that can provide you with information. The telephone number 1-800-942-6908.

    There are several types of child care services which are operated out of the Department of Social Services (DSS). In this article, we will focus on the most frequently used child care; child care which is used by people who are (1) attending a work (CWEP), training or educational program, (2) people who are working, but are still eligible for a cash grant, and (3) people who have recently had their public assistance case closed at their request or due to increased earnings.

    While someone is receiving public assistance and is in a work, educational or vocational program, DSS provides child care at no cost to the client for children under age 13. This type of child care is handled through the Employment Complex Case Manager. Please note that any program must be approved by the Department of Social Services before child care can be provided.

    The client must apply for child care through the Day Care Unit with the Employment Counselor’s approval and day care is paid directly to the child care provider by way of a monthly voucher.

    This type of child care refers to the person who is working at their own job, but has not been terminated from public assistance. This individual may still be receiving a cash grant either because they may have just begun working or because they are not earning enough to be terminated from public assistance.

    If this person needs child care assistance, they must request a child care enrollment form from their Public Assistance Case Worker (also known as an IM worker or Income Maintenance worker). The form is then filled out by the individual’s child care provider (formal or informal), indicating (1) the amount charged for services, (2) the number of hours the child or children will need care, (3) the provider’s name, address and telephone number, and (4) the provider’s License Number or Social Security Number.

    The caseworker then figures out how much child care is needed and the person will receive a separate cash grant SPECIFICALLY for use as payment to the child care provider. Only people who receive partial public assistance will receive a separate cash grant for child care.

    SPECIAL NOTE: Beginning work after being on public assistance is no easy task. There is much preparation involved. The more prepared an individual is, the less strenuous the transition into the work force. PLEASE.....do not wait until you have already begun working, or immediately before you begin working before trying to locate a child care provider or before requesting a child care enrollment form. It may take up to one month before you will receive a payment to pay the child care provider. Although there are some child care providers who may be willing to wait for payment, most providers require "Up-Front" payment. Begin to prepare now. If you encounter problems, contact Project Dandelion at 847-0650, ext. 402.

    Former welfare recipients can get help with the cost of payment for child care for the first year that they are off welfare if child care is necessary to enable the parent or caretaker to engage in work. This is called Transitional Child Care (TCC) and this child care is arranged through the Day Care Unit. To be eligible for TCC, you must:

    (4) have an income up to 200% of the state income standard.

    To get TCC, you have to fill out an application form. Social Services will give you the application form if you call 858-TYKE (8953). The application can be done by mail. TCC is provided on a sliding fee basis based on your income and household size. Your fee can be as low as $1 per week and is determined by DSS. Currently there is a fee for each household, not each child. If you do not pay the fee, you will lose TCC, but you can get it back by paying what you owe or by making arrangements to pay it back.

    Transitional Child Care benefits are available for almost any type of care you choose; licensed center-based care, licensed family day care, or informal child care from a friend or relative. For a friend or relative to get paid, they do not have to be licensed or have their home inspected, but they should be over 18 and cannot be living with you. The child's other parent cannot be paid by TCC. If you have a baby-sitter come to your home, you must pay minimum wage. Under TCC, the provider is paid directly through the Day Care Unit by way of a monthly voucher.

Health Watch: SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant under one year of age. SIDS, sometimes known as crib death, is the major cause of death in babies from one month to one year of age. Most SIDS deaths occur when a baby is between one and four months old. More boys than girls are victims, and most deaths occur during the fall, winter and early spring months. The death is sudden and unpredictable; in most cases, the baby seems healthy. Death occurs quickly, usually during sleep time.

One of the most important things you can do to help reduce the risk of SIDS is to put your healthy baby on his or her back to sleep. Do this when your baby is being put down for a nap or to bed for the night. This is new. You may have been told that babies should sleep on their tummy. Now, doctors and nurses believe that fewer babies will die of SIDS if most infants sleep on their back.

Most babies should sleep on their back. But a few babies have health conditions that might require them to sleep on their tummy. If your baby was born with a birth defect, often spits up after eating, or has a breathing, lung or heart problem, be sure to talk to a doctor or nurse about which sleep position to use. Some mothers worry that babies sleeping on their back may choke on spit-up or vomit during sleep. There is no evidence that sleeping on the back causes choking. Some babies at first don’t like sleeping on their back, but most get used to it. Your baby can be placed on his or her side. The side position does not provide as much protection against SIDS as back sleeping, but it is much better than placing your baby on his or her tummy. Your baby can be placed on his or her stomach when awake. Some "tummy time" during awake hours is good for your baby.

Bedding. Make sure that your baby sleeps on a firm mattress or surface.

Temperature. Babies should be kept warm. Keep the temperature so that it is comfortable to you.

Smoke-free. Create a smoke free zone around your baby.

Doctors or Clinic Visits. If your baby seems sick, call your doctor or clinic right away. Make sure your baby receives his or her shots on schedule.

Prenatal Care. Early and regular prenatal care can also help reduce the risk of SIDS. For your baby’s well-being, you should not smoke during pregnancy. You should not drink alcohol or take drugs unless prescribed by your doctor.

Breast Feeding. If possible you should consider breast feeding.

ENJOY YOUR BABY! Remember, most babies are born healthy. Don’t let the fear of SIDS spoil your joy and enjoyment of your new baby.

Be at DSS early, early, early. Doors of the Rath Building open promptly at 8:30 a.m. Depending on the type of assistance you are applying for, you may have to be seen by more than one worker. To assure that you get through the process as quickly as possible get there early, early, early: and don’t forget your I.D. !

Finger imaging is a process that uses a computer system to electronically take finger prints.

All adults in a household must comply with finger imaging as a condition of receiving public assistance.

You must comply with finger imaging. All adults and heads of household must have their finger images taken as a condition of receiving food stamps. The entire household is ineligible when any adult member or head of household refuses to allow finger images to be taken. This is true even if there is no legal responsibility for the other household member(s).

Single adults and childless couples who are aged between 21 - 64 and who are not certified blind or disabled whose public assistance cases are closed or denied because of finger imaging will not get Medicaid.

Applicants who are in the Family Assistance program, or under 21, or over 65, or pregnant or certified blind or disabled , or who have applied for SSI, must be referred to Medicaid for a separate determination.

Applicants for public assistance will be finger imaged at the time of application. Public Assistance recipients will be finger imaged at their next recertification or face-to-face contact with DSS.

Applicants who refuse to be finger imaged will be denied public assistance. When a public assistance applicant or recipient who is legally responsible for other case members refuses to be finger imaged, that person and those members for whom he/she is legally responsible will be ineligible for public assistance.

For public assistance, yes. If the person who refuses to be finger imaged is not legally responsible for any other case members, the rest of the case will still receive benefits. For example, if an 18 year old student refused to get finger imaged, he would be disqualified, but he would not disqualify his parent’s case.

Also, an applicant or recipient who refuses to be finger imaged may have good cause for refusing to comply.

Good cause exists when:

1. The applicant or recipient has a physical or mental condition which prevents compliance; or

2. The applicant’s or recipient’s failure to comply is caused by the DSS’s error; or

3. Other circumstances beyond the control of the applicant or recipient exist which prevent compliance.

Who Am I

     Maggie & Darlene strutted their stuff at Headstart in Derby where they talked to a group of parents about welfare reform and public benefits. M&D were also at the CAO in Lackawanna on Community Resource Day to give info about Project Dandelion.

    Project Dandelion took it on the road!! For 2 months, Project Dandelion held its weekly meetings at the Interfaith Hospitality Network in Buffalo. Weekly meetings are now going to be held at Neighborhood Legal Services in the Ellicott Square Building.

    Dandelion wants to welcome its newest intern. Welcome aboard Liz Becht!!

    Summer intern extraordinaire, Mindy Marranca, has been doing outreach with Project Dandelion at Salvation Army, Cornerstone Manor, Friends of the Night People, St. Vincent’s, Aids Alliance and Loaves & Fishes. Way to go, Mindy.

    Darlene, Maggie, Marilynn, &Terri all attended a training sponsored by Haven House to learn about the new Domestic Violence Liaisons at DSS.

September 15, 1998 - HANDICAPPED CHILDREN’S RIGHTS: Special Education -Children’s and parent’s rights in our school system. Ronald Hager, Esq.

September 22, 1998 -POTLUCK LUNCHEON

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BUDGETING: Including Benefits Counseling, Transitional Benefits, Wage Reporting and Recoupments. Public Benefits Unit

October 6, 1998 - FOOD FOR ALL : Referrals, Food Stamp Changes
                                        Lisa Harmon

October 13, 1998 JOB EXPLORATION WORKSHOP: Choosing a job that’s right for you; preparation for a job search; mock interviews; resume preparation.

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