Fwd: Update on federal government shutdown: DHS Programs

[Rebecca Ball]

To: All DHS Staff & Oregon Stakeholders

Update from DHS Director Erinn Kelley-Siel on Federal Government Shutdown

 

Hello DHS,

 

It’s important that we continue to reassure our clients, our customers and their families that there will be no immediate disruption of services or programs. I appreciate all your efforts to help keep folks informed during this challenging time! As you review the information below, please keep in mind that the situation in our nation’s capital is very fluid, and we don’t yet know everything about what may happen. We continue to be in daily contact with our federal partners and will develop and adjust our response plans as more information becomes available. We continue to be confident that if the shutdown is of short duration (less than two weeks), we do not expect any of our major federally funded programs to experience direct impacts.

 

Here is what we know:

 

For all DHS programs, payroll is covered.

 

Child Welfare, Foster Care, Child Safety and Adoptions

·         Sufficient funding for about one month, including ICPC and BRS.

 

Aging and People with Disabilities (APD)

·         Older Americans Act services delivered by AAA’s (such as congregate & home delivered meals ) have sufficient funding for about one month.

·         Disability Determination Services (DDS) has sufficient resources to continue to operate critical functions to cover a short-duration shutdown.

 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

·         Monthly food benefits for clients are being distributed to eligible households for October.  

·         SNAP Outreach Partners are continuing to provide services: however, DHS can’t guarantee matching funds from the federal government once the shutdown ends.

·         SNAP OFSET (Employment and Training) activities are now suspended because the program is 100 percent federally funded.

·         SNAP Nutrition Education activities are continuing using carry-over funds from last year.

 

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

·         Monthly cash benefits for clients for October are being distributed.

·         JOBS Program has sufficient funding for one month.

·         Family Support and Connections has sufficient funding for one month.

 

Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) has sufficient funding for monthly child care subsidy payments through November 2013.

 

Refugee Program has sufficient funding for cash, medical and administration through November and possibly December 2013.

 

Vocational Rehabilitation (OVRS)

·         Basic 110 has sufficient funding for several months.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please address those to your immediate supervisor – or you can reply to this message. I am committed to ensuring that you are kept informed with the best information we have. We are all in this together, and I thank you again for the work you do in service to the individuals and families in your local communities!

 

~ Erinn