Georgia DHR receives Food Stamp Outreach Award

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) has received an award for Outreach and Access Excellence by officials from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service for the agency’s efforts to provide Georgians access to the Food Stamp program.

Under a grant from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, Georgia performs outreach to low-income households in conjunction with Action, Inc.; The Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc.; Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation, Inc.; the ACORN Institute, and Women’s Economic Development Agency. Outreach activities include raising awareness of the nutrition benefits of receiving Food Stamps and providing information about eligibility rules and the application process.

Georgia also was recognized for its new online Food Stamp application and social service screening tool, COMPASS (www.compass.gov.). More than 37,000 Georgia residents have used COMPASS to apply for Food Stamps since the system’s statewide rollout in December 2008. The site also allows the public to check eligibility for other DHR programs.

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Georgia Dept of Human Resources Program for WIC wants to hear from you

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) is pleased to announce that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will hold its annual public comment beginning June 20. This is an opportunity for Georgians to provide feedback on the program and suggest ways to improve WIC services through web access. The web page was developed to give the public a more efficient and private way to comment on the program.

“We encourage Georgians to take part in this comment period so they can have an impact on the WIC program,” said Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford, acting director of the Division of Public Health. “We count on our customers’ feedback every year to make the WIC program better. For example, based on customer suggestions, our October food package will include fruits and vegetables, milk with lower fat content, less juice, more whole grain cereals and more support for breastfeeding mothers.”

To make comments or provide suggestions, participants should visit the WIC website at http://health.state.ga.us/programs/wic/. Once there, individuals should click on the “public comment” link provided on the left under “Women, Infants and Children (WIC)” and complete the appropriate survey.

The Georgia WIC program, the fifth largest WIC program in the U.S., provides monthly vouchers for supplemental foods such as cereal, eggs, juice, milk, peanut butter and infant formula to more than 324,000 participants. Women enrolled in the program also receive nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support and referrals for other health and social services.

WIC benefits are available to eligible pregnant women and women who have recently given birth, as well as infants and children up to five years of age. Eligible participants must have an income at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines (i.e., about $32,560 for a family of three). Participants must also be state residents who are at nutritional or medical risk as determined by a health professional.

There are more than 1,600 authorized food retailers that participate in the WIC food delivery system. WIC is 100-percent federally funded and administered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health.

For more information about Georgia’s WIC program, please call (800) 228-9173 or visit: http://health.state.ga.us/programs/wic/index.asp.

2008 WIC Eligibility Guidelines for Georgia

Size of family
(includes unborn children) Yearly income*
1 $19,240
2 25,900
3 32,560
4 39,220
5 45,880
6 52,540
7 59,200
8 65,860
*Add $6,660 for each additional family member. Also, new federal income guidelines will become effective 7/1/09.

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Seeking Work? Why HR Recruiters Embrace Job Fairs

With the U.S. unemployment rate hovering at 9.4% for May, it would seem that companies could do without attending job fairs to attract job prospects. Yet the large number of applicants flooding each advertised position actually prompts many employers to attend job fairs, says Tom Smith, assistant professor in the practice of finance at Emory University's Goizueta Business School.

“With so many people out of work, employers have a better candidate pool, but there’s a lot of noise too,” he says. “Are these people unemployed just because of the economy, or do they have other problems? One way to cut through the noise is meeting with them and talking with them briefly.” Smith adds that attending a job fair can be less expensive for the company than posting an employment ad, and it is also a way for the companies to advertise themselves to jobseekers.

This last point was echoed by Yolanda Hawkes, director of talent acquisition for packaging company RockTenn, who attended Goizueta’s Alumni and Executive MBA Career Fair in March, seeking to fill a director of benefits position, among others. “It’s good branding and you may get in front of someone who did not see your posting on an internet site,” she says.

Kerry McArdle, a Goizueta MBA alum and director of category planning at Coca-Cola Enterprises who also recruited at the fair, agrees. “It’s an efficient way to be exposed to a lot of people in a short time. This job fair worked out well for us. We found people who were a potential fit for the open position [category analyst] and for other positions at our company.”

Vital to sustain the talent pool

Another reason recruiters still flock to career fairs, says Earl Hill, senior lecturer in organization & management at Goizueta Business School, is to maintain ties with prospective employees. “If you turn off the pipeline when you have employees, it’s harder to start it up again when you need people,” Hill observes. “Plus you never know when you will run into a superstar.”

“I’ve had clients come back to me three or six months down the road and ask if candidate A is still available,” says David Shelly, senior vice president at executive search firm firstPRO and a Goizueta career fair attendee. “So you can look at [job fairs] two ways: there may be an immediate need, or you’re planting seeds for the future.”

Shelly’s clients have become more selective, he notes. “It used to be that having six to seven out of 10 job requirements would get you an interview. Now it’s gone up to eight to nine.” Nevertheless, he says clients have a misperception that with so many job seekers out there, they can take their time and lowball salaries. “The standout candidates still get snapped up and command high salaries and multiple offers.”

One drawback to traditional job fairs is the sheer size of the crowds, which can number in the thousands during a time of economic downturn. “Often, you get a mix between people who are qualified and those who just want to drop off a resume,” says Hawkes. “And you have to assess someone in three to five minutes, which is hard.”

Indeed, Goizueta prefers to involve its students in forums, where companies post for specific positions and students apply ahead of time for them. “This is more concrete and focused,” says Wendy Tsung, associate dean and executive director of Goizueta's MBA Career Management Center.

At Goizueta’s Alumni and Executive MBA Career Fair, about 115 students and alumni participated in a “speed dating” format, where a small group of candidates spoke with two or three company representatives for 20 minutes and then moved on to another table. Danielle Rubenstein, associate director, alumni career services, says this style of job fair offers an opportunity for more intimate conversation than the traditional standing in line.

The format seems to have paid off. “People are still in the interview process with some companies, but it looks like at least 10% to 15% may have gotten jobs through the fair,” she says.

Jobs are available

In truth, job fairs continue to flourish because employers still have positions to fill. According to firstPRO's Shelly, there is still a need for employees in the supply chain job market. Another recruiter at Goizueta's Alumni and EMBA job fair, Marcia Englefield of AXA, a financial protection company, says her firm is seeking financial advisors. Englefield, a Goizueta MBA alumna, is actively participating at other job fairs, as well, and she says she thought finding eager candidates would be easier. “Interest is up, but the position is 100% commission-based, so some people, even if they do not have a job, may not want to take the risk.”

Tsung notes that while companies’ hiring goals for MBA grads have decreased overall, there have been increases in the areas of healthcare and nonprofits.

“A lot of students think getting an MBA is a safe haven on the sidelines until the market gets better,” she continues. “But that’s not the reality. Recruiters are looking for people who are extremely proactive, self-starters who really have a passion for their area of specialty. Jobs are out there. You just have to find them.”

For those hoping to stand out at a job fair, recruiters offer these tips:

Research the companies and the positions they are recruiting for ahead of time. “Having to explain what our company does lessens the time we have to talk about you,” says Hawkes. Not to mention the poor impression it gives the recruiter.
Bring a resume and an addendum, advises Shelly. The latter is a page with 5 –10 bullet points showing career highlights that directly relate to the position you are interested in.
Pitch two specific previous experiences that directly relate to the position you want. “If someone says to me, ‘here’s something I did before at another job or in class that will fit in with your needs,' that would really stand out,” says McArdle.
Before getting in line, pick up some of the glossy material at the company booth and take a few steps back, advises collegegrad.com. Not only do you have some valuable pre-interviewing material in hand, you also have an opportunity to hear the conversation between the recruiter and another job-seeker. This is excellent preparation for your turn at the booth.
Don’t give up. Get the recruiter’s business card and follow up if you don’t hear anything. “Have faith and be persistent,” says Hawkes.

From Knowledge@Emory

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Engauge Helps Georgia Introduce New Business-Focused Website

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Engauge, a total marketing solutions agency, and the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announce the launch of a new business-focused website for the state of Georgia, www.Georgia.org.

Charlie Gatlin, GDEcD’s deputy commissioner for tourism and marketing said, “Particularly today, with the economy being an overriding theme in business, GDEcD recognizes the need to be a strong voice for commerce in the state. Georgia.org is a comprehensive resource for doing business in Georgia, and represents our commitment to supporting and growing industry in the state.”

Engauge designed the website to broadly address issues that are unique to businesses. The website provides information on:

* the benefits of choosing Georgia, such as low business and living costs and education opportunities;
* doing business in Georgia, covering topics like relocation and international business;
* specific Georgia industry information, covering a dozen key strategic industries;
* community development, addressing such things non-profit development and chambers of commerce.

From a technology perspective, the site was designed “modularly,” meaning that areas of the site are moveable and allow for new content to be added and shifted around without the complication of making it fit a fixed design. In addition, the site was developed to give GDEcD control of the content, through the use of a content management system (CMS).

“In many ways, what makes Georgia.org a success is what you don’t see,” said Al Skelton, group account director with Engauge. “It’s all the behind the scenes stuff. Not only does GDEcD have a large amount of control in terms of content, the site also has a flexible design that gives them freedom in the placement of content. All of these things make the site a long-term solution for GDEcD.”

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Georgia DHR observes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Aging Services (DAS) encourages Georgians to wear purple on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15. People worldwide will be wearing purple to show that elder abuse is a global problem. The annual observation recognizes, honors and raises awareness of disabled adults and persons 65 and older who suffer in silence because of abuse, neglect or exploitation. DHR considers elder abuse to be both a public health threat and a human rights issue, and seeks to increase awareness around the issue.

“On this day, we want to take a moment to recognize the abuse our most vulnerable and at-risk adult population sometimes experiences,” said Maria Greene, director of the Division of Aging Services (DAS). “Elder abuse is a crime in Georgia and often goes unreported. Therefore, we encourage everyone to know the signs of abuse and call Adult Protective Service if they become concerned.”

Georgia law defines elder abuse as the willful infliction of physical pain, physical injury, mental anguish, unreasonable confinement or willful deprivation of essential services. Studies have shown that for every one case of elder abuse reported, there are an estimated 14 incidences that go undetected. Abuse takes many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial exploitation, neglect and self-neglect. Adult children are most often the perpetrators of abuse in all its forms. Spousal abuse can start early and continue into later life. Any older person can be abused regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnicity or geographic location.

Mandated reporters of elder abuse in Georgia includes physicians, osteopaths, podiatrists, clergy (in long-term care settings), psychologists, managers, administrators, dentists, optometrists, coroners, pharmacists, orderlies, nurses, nurse’s aides, medical examiners, chiropractors, social workers, police officers and law enforcement personnel, physical therapists, employees of financial institutions, licensed professional counselors and adult day care personnel.

Make the call if you believe that an elder is being abused, neglected or exploited. If the person lives in his or her own home or with a relative, call Adult Protective Services (APS) to make a report at (404) 657-5250 (inside Metro Atlanta) or toll-free at (888) 774-0152. If the person lives in a nursing home or personal care home, contact the Office of Regulatory Services (ORS) at (404) 657-5726 (inside Metro Atlanta) or toll-free at (800) 878-6442. You may also contact the State Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, an advocate for residents’ rights, at (888) 454-LTCO (5826).

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Resource and Recruitment Breakfast celebrates National Foster Care Month

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) Adoption Unit is hosting a Resource and Recruitment Breakfast on Saturday, May 9, at Ben’s Casual Dining in Jackson. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and is free to the public. Reservations are required.

“In recognition of National Foster Care Month, which is held annually in May, we want to honor those who have made a difference in a child’s life and encourage others to do the same” said Mark A. Washington, assistant commissioner of DHR. “During the event, we will provide an update to the community about the need for adoptive and foster families.”

The Resource and Recruitment Breakfast is an opportunity to celebrate the foster and adoptive families who have opened their homes to create a safe place or a permanent family for children in care. The gathering is also an opportunity to raise awareness about the ongoing need for additional foster and adoptive families.

Currently in Georgia, there are many children in foster care who need a foster family or adoptive family. The greatest need for foster parents is for older children, sibling groups and medically fragile children. The majority of children in need of adoptive families are aged 8 years and older, African American, male and/or a member of a sibling group who wish to be placed together.

The Resource and Recruitment Breakfast includes a light meal that is free but registration is required. For more information or to register for the event, please contact Karla Wells, regional adoption coordinator at (770) 296-3180 or kwells@dhr.state.ga.us.

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Workshop seeks mentors, foster parents and adoptive parents for teens

On Saturday, April 25, the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), in conjunction with private adoption agencies, will sponsor a workshop called “Building Connections: Enhancing the Lives of Teens.” Participants will be able to take part in discussions and activities to learn more about becoming a mentor or a foster or adoptive parent to a teenager under the care of DFCS. This event, which is free and open to the public, will be at the Jim Huie Recreation & Aquatics Center at 9045 Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“This workshop will arm individuals who want to get involved with the information needed to determine what role they can best play in the life of a teenager,” said Mark A. Washington, assistant commissioner of DHR. “Adults have the power to alter the way a teenager views himself by simply investing their time and their talent.”

Some studies suggest that youth who “age out” of the foster care system without families or a support system often struggle to complete their education, are at risk of developing health problems, have a hard time becoming financially self-sufficient and, in some cases, come into contact with the criminal justice system.

“I think most of us know how challenging the teenage years can be,” Washington said. “These kids are trying to do well in school, fit in with their peers and on top of that figure out which direction their life is headed. The burden of not having a stable home environment adds to that complexity and mirrors the situation many teens in our care are facing.”

Currently in Georgia, there are more than 15,000 children in foster care. More than 34 percent of them are between the ages of 14 and 18. Approximately 50 of these teens will attend the “Building Connections” event where they will participate in workshops designed especially for them.

For more information or to register for the “Building Connections: Enhancing the Lives of Teens” workshop, please call (877) 234-4728.

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Georgia's 24-hour Mental Health Crisis Line among top 50 government innovations

Harvard University has named Georgia’s Crisis and Access Line (GCAL), a 24-hour help line providing mental health crisis intervention and support, one of the top 50 government innovations in the U.S.

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases (MHDDAD), which developed GCAL and debuted the service in July 2006, is among 50 finalists for the coveted Innovations in American Government Award given by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

GCAL made the pick out of 600 applicants. Georgia will now compete with other finalists to be among six government entities to receive an award. The competition includes other states, federal agencies, municipalities, school districts, a tribal government and a regional authority.

“GCAL has been a powerful resource to Georgians with mental illness and their families,” said B.J. Walker, commissioner of DHR. “We are thrilled to see the program recognized on a national scale.”

GCAL provides callers with behavioral health crisis intervention and access to behavioral health services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. GCAL has been praised for being a cost-effective way of removing barriers to access for mental health and substance abuse services. Once a caller contacts the service, information specialists identify treatment options and contact mental health providers directly.

“GCAL allows mental health consumers to make more informed choices about treatment options and other important issues,” said Gwendolyn B. Skinner, director of MHDDAD. “It truly is an innovation for our mental health system, and we are honored to be considered among the 50 government innovators in America.”

To be considered for an Innovations in American Government Award, government programs must submit to rigorous review by policy experts and practitioners from around the U.S. Award winners are considered models of good government whose case studies are incorporated into government school curricula worldwide.

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DHR Uses Social Media to Reach More Georgians

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) is making use of the latest social media technology to reach more Georgians with important information about available human services, events and issues.

DHR has created a Twitter account to provide the public with message updates. Twitter is a free social messaging utility that allows users to receive short messages (140 characters or less) on their cell phones, Blackberries or via the Twitter website. DHR’s Twitter updates can be viewed online at http://www.twitter.com/gadhr. Anyone can view the online Twitter messages, but receiving DHR updates by cell phone requires a Twitter account. Anyone can sign up for a free Twitter account by visiting the Twitter Web site. DHR’s Twitter updates include event announcements, information about DHR online services, and news release headlines with links to a full-text version.

DHR is also sharing videos on the YouTube video sharing Web site. DHR has a YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/dhrcomm. No account is required to view YouTube videos. With millions of YouTube users, DHR can reach more people with important messages. Since 2008, DHR has posted 15 videos covering a range of topics, including emergency preparedness, the Georgia Crisis & Access Line and pandemic flu.

In addition to social media, DHR maintains 13 Web sites that provide information on all of the agency’s divisions and offices. DHR receives more than 50,000 Web hits per day. The agency’s main Web site is www.dhr.georgia.gov.

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