Career Descriptions
Clerical positions within the division ranging from Administrative Clerks I – III to Administrative Assistants. In field offices, clerical staff is the first point of contact with the public and is therefore extremely important. They assist clients with obtaining and submitting applications, providing information about the agency and other community resources and they also assist in receiving and directing most of the paperwork that comes into the office. Other duties may include switchboard operator, setting up childcare authorizations and entering data in EIS.
Eligibility Technicians I/II are responsible for the eligibility determinations of public assistance programs. Depending on the office, these programs may include food stamps, temporary assistance, Medicaid, Denali Kidcare, Adult Public Assistance, General Relief Assistance, Chronic and Acute Medical Assistance. ET’s process new applications and maintain caseloads of on-going cases. ET’s also make referrals to case managers for those clients receiving temporary assistance.
Eligibility Technician III’s also determine eligibility and maintain a caseload, however, they usually have additional duties relating to their unit. They are frequently referred to as "lead workers" in that they are the designated policy experts and assist other workers with questions and workloads. Many ET III’s in the offices are responsible for the on-the-job training of newly hired ET I's.
The Eligibility Technician IV position is a supervisory position and will typically supervise a unit comprised of ET I’s, ET II’s, an ETIII and possibly other job classes such as Workforce Development Specialists and Social Workers. The ET IV is responsible for planning, managing and organizing the operations of the unit. ET IV’s participate in the annual leadership conference.
Case Manager is a term used to describe someone who is working with a client on achieving his or her goals for self-sufficiency. Many job titles are largely classified as "Case Managers." These include Workforce Development Specialists, Employment Security Specialists, Employment Counselors, Social Workers and Service Providers (Contractors). A client receiving temporary assistance will be assigned a Case Worker (Eligibility And Benefits) and a Case Manager (FSSP Development And Employment).
Workforce Development Specialists (WDS I-IV) are a very unique job class as they determine eligibility for assistance programs and they are also the Case Managers for those families. After the WDS determines eligibility for the family, they will assist them with their employment and self-sufficiency goals by developing the family self-sufficiency plan and authorizing and paying any supportive services or child care that may be needed.
Social Workers are found in the larger field offices of the agency. Typically, a social worker will receive a referral from an eligibility worker or another case manager and they will be working with clients on "barrier removal" issues. A lot of the families that social workers work with need more intensive assistance with issues such as substance abuse, domestic violence, learning disabilities etc. The social workers also work towards the goal of employment and self-sufficiency and work with clients in developing their FSSP (Family Self-Sufficiency Plan).
Employment Counselors are found in the Anchorage District Office. EC’s work with clients one on one in finding and keeping employment. EC’s also administer a variety of assessments that will assist the client in identifying the type of employment that the client might be most successful at. Another task that you might find EC’s doing is coordinating job sampling and on-the-job training sites with employers and clients. An Employment Counselor is one of many types of "Case Managers" and as such, works with the client in developing the FSSP.
Employment Security Specialists are yet another job class of "Case Managers" whom clients may be working with. ESS’s are actually Department of Labor employees but they work solely with DPA clients. Employment Specialists will work with the client in finding and keeping employment and securing those things needed for the client’s goal of self-sufficiency. This may include conducting assessments, developing the FSSP and authorizing supportive services. Some ESS’s in the offices are actually Job Developers and their job is to get local employers interested in hiring DPA clients. Job Developers do not work directly with clients as they are "rounding up" jobs and employers.