Recently in Social Services Category

Source: By Arthur Foulkes, The Tribune-Star (IN), August 12, 2008

....... Opponents of Indiana's new intake system, which uses a private company, IBM, to handle the telephone and Internet client contacts, have organized a number of meetings around the state. Such a meeting took place last month in Terre Haute, where around 150 people attended, many speaking strongly against the system.

Complaints about the new system range from long wait times on the telephone to lost client paperwork and needless delays. Critics also say that many welfare recipients are unable to use the telephone or Internet application system.

Source: Courier Press (IN), July 23, 2008

Even before Indiana privatized its welfare application process a year ago, the system was plagued with problems. It was one of the motivations driving Gov. Mitch Daniels' decision to contract with a private vendor to modernize the application process for food stamps, Medicaid and other programs for 1.1 million Hoosiers.

....... Welfare is a government entitlement program, one intended to give a boost to people who need assistance. And that seems a task best carried out by people backed up by computers rather than computers backed up by people. Granted, those people should be better trained with better tools than the state was offering before privatization arrived. Alas, Indiana is committed for now to going forward with its private contractors' automated system.

Source: By Mary R. Mannix, Cary LaCheen, Henry A. Freedman, and Marc Cohan From May-June 2008 Clearinghouse Review (subscription req.)

More states are contracting with private vendors to administer benefit programs and "modernizing" program administration by closing welfare offices in favor of "call centers" and online access. These changes affect low-income people--changes that are potentially beneficial but too often harmful, especially for vulnerable population groups such as those with disabilities or limited English proficiency. Advocates in four states that have implemented privatization or modernization have had some successes in protecting clients from harmful effects and have gained experience relevant in other states that pursue similar policies.

Source: By KEN KUSMER, Associated Press Writer (IN), 4:52 PM CDT, June 23, 2008

The state has suspended the rollout of automated welfare benefits because staffers at the Family and Social Services Administration have their hands full right now with helping flood victims. The urgent need to help flood victims became apparent so quickly that within days of the heavy June 7 rainfall that precipitated the flooding, top FSSA managers sent e-mail messages to employees saying they were suspending the rollout indefinitely.

...... The delay also gives FSSA and its team of vendors led by IBM Corp. and Affiliated Computer Services Inc. more time to work out some of the bugs that have plagued the welfare changes since their inception Oct. 29 in 12 north central counties.

Source: By Mary R. Mannix, Cary LaCheen, Henry A. Freedman, and Marc Cohan, Clearinghouse Review (subscription req.), May-June 2008

More states are contracting with private vendors to administer benefit programs and "modernizing" program administration by closing welfare offices in favor of "call centers" and online access. These changes affect low-income people--changes that are potentially beneficial but too often harmful, especially for vulnerable population groups such as those with disabilities or limited English proficiency. Advocates in four states that have implemented privatization or modernization have had some successes in protecting clients from harmful effects and have gained experience relevant in other states that pursue similar policies.

Source: By KEN KUSMER, Associated Press (IN), 3:49 PM CDT, May 19, 2008

Problems with Indiana's landmark automation of welfare eligibility have cost some disabled residents food stamps and other benefits they need to survive, the American Civil Liberties Union alleges in a lawsuit that seeks class-action status.

..... The case was amended Friday in Marion Superior Court in Indianapolis to include members of six households, all residents of the 12-county region where FSSA inaugurated the privatized welfare system by which clients can use the Internet, call centers and fax machines to apply for and renew benefits.

Source: Muncie Star Press (IN), May 19, 2008

The state's experiment with the privatization of the welfare system is seriously flawed. The 500 people who showed up for a town hall meeting in Muncie last week is ample evidence, as are the dozens of letters and calls from desperate families to local newspapers after losing their Medicaid and food stamp benefits.

That's not to mention the local social service agencies and food banks that say they are strained by a massive increase in need.

Source: By NICK WERNER, Star Press (IN), May 14, 2008

A Tuesday town hall meeting for area residents to vent frustration over the state's new welfare-delivery system drew a crowd of about 500. What the crowd suggested about the new system's effectiveness became a subject of debate among those who support it and those who don't.

....... Indiana began privatizing welfare delivery last fall in a pilot program that involved a dozen central and eastern Indiana counties, including Delaware County.

...... Since the transition, however, social service agencies have reported an increase in complaints from people who have lost their food stamps and Medicaid health care coverage.

Source: Jason Embry, AMERICAN-STATESMAN, Tuesday, May 06, 2008

A move in Congress to limit the role of private firms in doling out food stamps is dead for now, allowing Texas to move forward with its privatization plans.

U.S. House and Senate negotiators voted late last week against including a privatization ban in a $300 billion farm bill that lawmakers hope to finish this week. The ban would have prevented states from allowing employees of private companies to interact with people who are applying for food stamps or to decide someone's eligibility.

...... Last year, Texas canceled what was originally a five-year, $899 million contract with Accenture LLP to run call centers enrolling people in services. But the state did not altogether abandon its plan for private call centers, which state officials say can save money and give Texans more ways to apply for services, instead of just in person.

Source: By ROBERT T. GARRETT, The Dallas Morning News (TX), Tuesday, April 22, 2008

The state, to relieve overworked eligibility screeners, will suspend for the rest of the year interviews its workers usually have to conduct with food stamp recipients every six months, officials said Monday.

...... The state has been scrambling to rebuild its eligibility-screening workforce and improve performance at four privately run call centers after the disastrous 2006 launch of a partly privatized system of social program signups.