Program Description

Documents, evaluates and awards incapacity claims made through the Social Security Administration by insured workers and widows between the ages of 50 and 59 years old; and incapacitated dependents 18 years or older. Facilitates the dissemination of information and counsels claimants, their families and their legal counterparts.

Objectives

• Process and emits decisions on 33,044 claims. From which: 24,800 are initial cases, 4,950 are reconsideration cases, 1,546 are continued cases, and 1,748 are either administrative hearings or assistance to administrative judges or part of the US' jurisdictions.

• Minimize claims' processing times.

Statistical Data	2010	2011	2012
Customers served	39,795	44,729	44,729

The statistical data was provided by the Agency during the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget formulation process.

Includes worked cases pending decision. Data gathered by the Computerized System of the statistical data of the Social Security Administration (DIODS). Projected Data.

Customers

Insured population and their dependents, who have a physical or mental condition that incapacitates them from doing remunerative work in a habitual labor environment, and who solicit the benefits from Social Security Administration.

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions	2009	2010	2011	2012
Managerial,Technical, Administrative, and Office Staff	106	101	121	119
Planning, Budget, Statistics, Auditing, and Finance	5	5	2	2
Maintenance and General Services Staff	2	2	2	2
Families and Community Services Staff	25	20	19	19
Information Systems	5	5	2	3
Total, Positions	143	133	146	145

Program Description

Formulates, establishes and constitutes public policy, norms and regulations as they relate to the family at the intra and interagency level and throughout the community and faith based organizations. It formulates plans and programs, prepares and integrates the budget for the entire Department and evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of the operations.

Objectives

• Use strategic planning as a continuous and dynamic process for the fulfillment of the mission of the Department of the Family and to guarantee greater productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness in providing services.

• Use technology as an administrative tool and to follow up, measure and disseminate information related to customer satisfaction.

• Amplify and diversify external resources to develop initiatives that promote the community and faith based organizations.

• Act when organizational structure issues that can affect the services provided are identified.

• Comply with public policy related to the prevention, protection and strengthening of minors.

• Sponsor initiatives and projects to identify and promote self-reliance and self-sufficiency opportunities.

• Comply with public policy related to families, children and the elderly.

• Establish initiatives, programs and projects that are directed towards fortifying the family institution and parenting efforts.

• Create a network of services between the community, faith based institutions and government agencies to offer services to the family and the community, in an agile and cost effective way.

• Formalize alliances with government agencies, community and faith based organizations to integrate the services offered to families and to the community in areas of needs.

• Coordinate intra and interagency services in an agile, coherent way; concentrating on supporting the Puerto Rican family of the 21st Century.

Statistical Data	2010	2011	2012
Centers established or in development	43	45	45
Number of local offices	60	52	52

The statistical data was provided by the Agency during the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget formulation process.

Customers

Organizational components of the Department of the Family as well as families and the general Puerto Rican community.

Authorized and Proposed Positions	2009	2010	2011	2012
Managerial,Technical, Administrative, and Office Staff	642	564	391	362
Judges, Lawyers, and Legal Staff	10	8	2	2
Other staff	7	5	2	2
Other Safety and Protection Staff	16	11	5	5
Planning, Budget, Statistics, Auditing, and Finance	100	88	54	46
Education and Recreational Services Professionals	4	3	2	1
Public Relations and Communications	11	12	6	6
Maintenance and General Services Staff	215	183	93	85
Information Systems	16	12	10	9
Total, Positions	1,021	886	565	518

Program Description

Evaluates, expedites licenses and monitors businesses in Puerto Rico that provide care to children and the elderly, in accordance with established laws and regulations. In addition, expedites licenses and monitors natural and juridical organizations that place minors in agencies, organizations and institutions so they can be adopted.

• Expedite licenses to approximately 2,611 businesses that care for children and the elderly, including the 5 adoption agencies currently in existence.

• Oversees adoption agencies and all businesses dedicated to the care, attention and safeguard of children and the elderly to make sure they comply with the established requirements.

• Conduct approximately 10,340 visits to investigate complaints and inspect adoption agencies and care giving establishments.

• Identify and certify education institutions that offer training to operators, in accordance with Act No. 190 of December 28, 2001, that established the Program of Obligatory Training.

• Implement Regulation Number 7924, for the Evaluation and Registry of Certifying Entities that offer training courses for the development of competency in the Care for Elderly Persons.

• Inform the community about licensed establishments.

• Provide 8,000 individual and group orientations regarding the services and regulations of the Licensing Office.

• Establish a Protocol to Attend Complaints and maintain a registry system.

• Create an official seal for the Licensing Office, to formalize the licenses and certification process.

Statistical Data	2010	2011	2012
Customers served	2,585	2,611	2,611

The statistical data was provided by the Agency during the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget formulation process.

Customers

Businesses that care for children and the elderly.

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions	2009	2010	2011	2012
Managerial,Technical, Administrative, and Office Staff	20	19	12	15
Education and Recreational Services Professionals	75	64	23	27
Families and Community Services Staff	12	10	9	8
Information Systems	1	1	1	1
Total, Positions	108	94	45	51

The adopted consolidated budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 ascends to $61,694,000. The funds include: $25,118,000 from the Joint Resolution of the General Fund, $670,000 from Special Appropriations - General Fund, $20,728,000 from Federal Grants, $6,844,000 from Other Income and $8,334,000 from the Federal Economic Stimulus, ARRA.

Operating Expenses reflect a decrease of $11,160,000, compared to the funds assigned for fiscal year 2010-2011 due to the loss of non-recurrent ARRA funds and a reduction in payroll costs resulting from the implementation of an employee retirement incentive program and other cost control measures.

Funds from the Joint Resolution of the General Fund will cover the operating expenses. Also, a Special Appropriation-General Fund is included to aid victims of natural disasters and other humanitarian efforts, operating expenses of the American Red Cross, Puerto Rico Chapter and the Geriatric Center San Rafael, Inc. in Arecibo. It will also be used to pay the expenses of the Multisectorial Council in Support of Homeless People according to Act No. 130 of September 27, 2007; for expenses related to the Commission for the Prevention of Suicide according to Act No. 277 of August 12, 1999 and for the Hug Life initiative, which sees 2,135 cases monthly. Funds will also be used to continue with the Adoption Guidance Line, which has experience an increase in monthly calls since it's opening in March 2010. This initiative, offers an alternative to citizens interested in adopting while at the same time, offers children an opportunity to have a family who will love and protect them.

Some fo the contributing federal programs are: Emergency Shelter Grant, Child Care and Development Block Grant, Child Welfare Services States Grants and Disability Determination Program. These funds will be used to pay the expenses related to the Program for Eligibility Determination for Social Security Disability Benefits, as well as the partial financing of the licensing processes for child and elderly care businesses.

Other Income originating from recovering indirect costs, will be used to cover operating expenses. ARRA Funds from the Emergency Shelter for the Homeless Grant (ESG) from the Federal Housing Agency (HUD). The Department of the Family administers the funds from this Program and through bids makes them accessible to non-profit organizations and municipalities that offer services directly to homeless people or people who are at risk of losing their homes. Among the services it provides the homeless are: services for emergency and transitory housing and support to achieve stability and self-sufficiency. In addition, it provides aid to cover the operational and administrative expenses of the facilities that are used as shelters. This Program also helps those who are at imminent risk of losing their homes due to eviction, mortgage execution or utility suspension. These funds provide aid for rehabilitation, renovation or conversion of structures that are or will be used as shelters.

SUMMARY OF RESOURCES BY PROGRAM

Eligibility Determination for Social Security Disability Benefits

General Management and Administration

Licensing of child and elderly care businesses