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Last updated on Tuesday, December 15, 2009
(INDIANA STATEHOUSE) - The first parts of the state’s plan to overhaul the welfare system are slated to begin next month in southern Indiana.
The new system will be piloted in ten counties in the Evansville area.
Family and Social Services Administration Spokesman Marcus Barlow says the goal is to improve the client experience and make sure they have more access face-to-face with caseworkers.
FSSA officials released details of what they are calling a "hybrid" system that will include transferring more caseworkers to county offices, improving paperwork submission tracking, and improve state oversight.
A paperless computing system is also being put in place to better track cases.
Barlow says the program will begin next month in the Evansville area, but no timetable has been set for a state-wide roll out just yet.
He says they want to perfect the program in a mixed urban and rural area and Evansville fits that role.
This comes after the state dropped a privatization deal with IBM after it led to multiple service errors.
A federal judge ordered the state to move faster on food stamp applications.
The hybrid system will roll out in Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.
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