Real change is underway at the Department of Public Welfare

Just Harvest Public Policy Advocate Rochelle Jackson speaks to the crowd assembled at the April 2, 2014 rally to support Greater Pittsburgh East

Just Harvest has been working hard to improve DPW’s treatment of those in need. With you at our side, sharing ideas and speaking out, we’ve made a lot of progress:

This fall, we released the report “Barriers to Benefits” and our list of demands addressing chronic, system-wide customer service problems at DPW. Joined by some of our clients and fellow advocates, we presented the report and demands to DPW Secretary Beverly Mackereth at a meeting that got covered by radio and TV news broadcasts and in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Then, at the end of March, Just Harvest united with SEIU Local 668, the union representing DPW caseworkers. We got the word out to the public, other advocacy organizations, the media, and elected officials about DPW’s plan to callously close the largest assistance office in the county, Greater Pittsburgh East in East Liberty. DPW didn’t even plan to notify those clients, only to force them to go 17 miles to the McKeesport CAO for services.

After the resulting firestorm of community outrage and news coverage, DPW announced they were backing down. DPW will be keeping the East Liberty office open until a new one is found nearby – within 3 miles of the current location, according to their published specifications. No clients will have to go to McKeesport and there will be no interruption in service.

A few days later, a small group of Just Harvest staff and clients met with the DPW Director of Operations Tom Strickler and other upper-level officials to follow up on the list of demands to improve treatment of DPW clients.

DPW has now committed to improving their customer service by:

• Revamping their phone system – As of May 1, Allegheny County DPW clients will have their own call center (separate from calls made in other counties) staffed by 10 additional highly-experienced caseworkers for a total of 22 caseworkers answering calls. Wait times and dropped calls will be carefully tracked.
• Overhauling document management – A pilot project has started at GPE to provide immediate scanning and receipts for any documents that clients drop off. DPW is also considering implementing a new system to automatically send confirmation letters to clients when they submit necessary documents and paperwork.

These are exciting and encouraging developments. They also show the power we have when clients and advocates join forces.

Work is still needed to make sure these efforts stay on track and to address other long-term problems in the system. The DPW needs to fully live up to its mission statement: “to improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania’s individuals and families.”

If you would like to join us in this continuing campaign to hold the DPW accountable, please join us at the next community meeting:

16 Terminal Way, Southside – 15219

For more information contact our grassroots organizer, Maria Muzzie, at 412-431-8960 x114 or [email protected].