2009 Missouri Revised Statutes
Title XII PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
Chapter 208 Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children and General Relief
208.335. Community revitalization, definitions, agencies strategies, community plan components, resources, waivers required.

208.335. 1. The general assembly is committed to community renewal and revitalization, especially in high poverty areas. Community renewal depends on fostering a sense of belonging and a sense of community. Community renewal and revitalization are important for enhancing the quality of life for community residents. To this end, the general assembly supports the development and use of community-based systems of support that include traditional and nontraditional mechanisms for enhancing quality of life.

2. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1) "Community", an area of similar and like interests for developing an infrastructure that supports a self-sufficiency pact, as established in section 208.325, while reducing the need for welfare except as a transitional benefit. A community can include a group of blocks or a self-defined neighborhood in an area;

(2) "Systems of support", a program, service or other activity with the goal of alleviating poverty or improving the quality of life.

3. The department of social services in collaboration with the department of economic development, department of labor and industrial relations, department of health and senior services, department of mental health and other agencies shall develop a comprehensive methodology to focus a blend of federal, state and local resources on communities to address issues of poverty specific to the community. Part of this methodology shall be specific strategies for the coordinated use of existing job training programs at the local level, including federal and state job training funds, and the private industry councils. The elimination of duplication of services and the enhancing of access to existing agencies shall be the primary goals of these strategies. The department of social services shall also develop strategies for contracting at the community level with public agencies and private not-for-profit organizations, community action agencies, for the delivery of services to promote self-sufficiency; such services may include the provision of child care, transportation, employment-readiness, and job training. The methodology of the department of social services should include, but need not be limited to:

(1) An inventory of community strengths and weaknesses, including the availability of community services, businesses and individual volunteers;

(2) Assessing the potential for local residents, given sufficient training and financial support, to provide for improved community services and businesses;

(3) Provision of staff resources needed to help identify and inform local residents about the program, organize public meetings, develop local leadership and gain the commitment of local residents for the success of the project; and

(4) Giving preference to projects that would include small businesses managed or owned by local residents. The director of the department of social services shall establish pilot programs that promote local authority and decision making. The department of social services shall give local communities, to the maximum extent possible, authority to direct assistance in conjunction with local resources to provide new and innovative ways of assisting people living in poverty.

4. The department of social services shall accept applications and work with other agencies, subject to appropriation, to establish a pilot project in a city not within a county to develop and implement an alternative neighborhood, community-based program for disadvantaged youths known as the "Youth Build St. Louis" program.

5. Communities should submit a community revitalization plan to the department of social services designed to strengthen local systems of support and provide economic incentives for investment in the community.

6. Local resources shall be identified in the plan which shall be used to expand the community's capacity to sustain residents' self-sufficiency. The plan should be tailored to the community and should build on existing initiatives and service delivery systems.

7. Community agencies which may include community action agencies as defined in section 660.370, RSMo, shall be used to manage revitalization programs and support system development.

8. Community revitalization plans should include, but not be limited to, the following components:

(1) Community cooperatives which expand the capacity to meet basic needs such as child care;

(2) Transportation strategies, which make better use of existing transportation resources through multisystem use and coordination;

(3) Health care strategies which maximize available resources for the health and safety of the individuals residing in the community;

(4) Community support and volunteer involvement, which maximize human resources and provide residents the opportunity to reinvest in their neighborhoods, volunteer service banks, mentoring and adolescent-specific programs may be included;

(5) Service integration, which improves efficacy and facilitates a needs-based approach to service delivery. Service integration should include common intake and referral strategies;

(6) Economic revitalization, which creates an environment of opportunity and growth. Neighborhood assistance programs and other economic development tools, such as investment incentives should be identified;

(7) Private sector involvement and investment, which ensures the viability of the community is self-sustaining and involves the total community. Community representation and private sector commitments should be specified;

(8) Prevention, which gives families in need of short-term assistance the resources necessary to avoid long-term dependency.

9. Communities receiving assistance to implement a revitalization plan should be provided with the following resources:

(1) Flexible funding, to facilitate the initial organization of community resources and agencies for the purpose of plan implementation;

(2) Technical assistance, for the development of unified intake, referral and service delivery strategies, and communication network systems;

(3) Expanded options, subject to waiver approval, such as wage supplementation and resource and income disregards for welfare recipients to increase the probability of economic independence;

(4) Evaluation of results, to monitor system effectiveness and program impact.

10. The provisions of this section shall be implemented as waivers necessary to ensure continued federal funding are received.

(L. 1994 H.B. 1547 & 961 § 2)