a job, a better job, a better life
WorkFirst Redesign
Washington’s Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF) Program
National Governor Association Center for Best Practices
September 2012
Alexis Oliver, Executive Policy Advisor
Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire
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a job, a better job, a better life
Washington’s WorkFirst Program
Cabinet level partnership – referred to as WorkFirst
SubCabinet includes:
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Governor’s Office of Financial Management
Department of Social & Health Services
Department of Commerce
Employment Security Department
State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
Department of Early Learning
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a job, a better job, a better life
WorkFirst Redesign-How it began
With the signing of HB 3141 on April 1,
2010, Governor Christine Gregoire
directed the WorkFirst Subcabinet to:
“Examine how to best meet the challenges for
the WorkFirst families to obtain employment
and achieve family self-sufficiency,” and
provide a report and plan to implement
evidence based best practices that are
sustainable with a block grant program.
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WorkFirst Redesign-What were the challenges
The re-examination came as Washington was navigating
its way through the worst economy since the Great
Depression.
• Shrinking State Revenues
• No increases in Federal TANF funding since the
program was authorized in 1996
• Rising Caseloads
– January 2008: 50,958
– January 2010: 66,002
– January 2011: 70,325
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WorkFirst Policy Changes – 2010 to Present
Reduce AREN Funding by $2 Million
Limit Extensions to the 60-month Time Limit for Non-Child only
TANF cases
Suspend the Career Services Program for Former TANF
Recipients
Reduce Diversion Cash Assistance from $1250 to $1000
Reduce TANF Payment Standards by 15%
Reduce DCA from $1500 to $1250
Increase WCCC Copayments for families above 82% FPL
Reduce Working Connections Childcare (WCCC) Eligibility to
175% FPL
$726 TANF
Grant Maximum
Suspend Child
Support PassThrough
Reduce Program Support Services funding by 6%
Reduce Employment Services Expenditures by 2.1%
2010
November
Implement and Prioritize Access
to WCCC (waitlist)
Expanded Work Activity
Definition
Align Participation
Requirements for Single
parents with a Child under 6
Child Support
Requirements for Child
Care Subsidy
Reduce Partner Agency
Services
DSHS Begins
Processing Seasonal
Child Care Applications
Consolidated Emergency
Assistance (CEAP) funding
exhausted for remainder of SFY
Supported Works
Eliminated
$750 Limit to
Additional
Requirements for
Emergent Need
(AREN)
Permanent
Disqualification for
Applicants with 3 or
More NonCompliance
Sanctions
July
Participation
Suspension
February
Reduce Funding by
6.3% for Tribal TANF
and Children’s
Administration
2nd Increase WCCC Copayments
for families above 82% FPL
December
Deferral/Exemption
Criteria Changes for
Adults Caring for
Disabled Household
Members
175% FPL Income
Limit Applied to
Remaining WCCC
Households
July
Cure Requirements for
NCS Closured Cases
January
Reduce NonCompliance Sanction
(NCS) Period to 4
Months
2012
2011
March
July
April
Eliminate Career
Services for NAFS
Cases
60 Month Time Limit for
Child Only Cases with
Ineligible Parent
Means Testing for NonParental Child Only
Cases
May
October
June
February
Reduce Education and Training Expenditures by 10%
12 Month Child Care
Authorizations for ECEAP,
Head Start or Early
Head Start Kids
Eliminate Child Support
Requirement for Child Care
Subsidy Programs (CCSP)
Suspend WCCC Field Trip Fees for Centers
Eliminate External Three-Person Sanction Review Panel
Reducing Funding for Supported Works by 9.8%
CEAP funding exhausted
for remainder of the fiscal
year
June
Eliminate Post-TANF Services
January
Align Federal Participation Rates for 2-Parent Families
Increase TANF
Maximum Grant
Increase CCSP to
200% FPL
Increase CCSP
Authorizations to 12
months through
December 2012
Suspension ReEngagement through
June 2013
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WorkFirst Redesign-Core Assumptions to Guide the Redesign
• Achieving stable and successful employment
remains the main objective for WorkFirst
Participants
• A family centered case planning and engagement
approach is necessary to achieve good outcomes
• Policies will recognize the critical role and
responsibility of parents in their children's
development
• WorkFirst is a transitional, not long term program
to assist families on the pathway to selfsufficiency
• Leveraging non-TANF resources is crucial to
achieving the goals of WorkFirst
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a job, a better job, a better life
WorkFirst Redesign-Research, Ideas, and Input
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Research
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RDA Research (Washington WorkFirst data and analysis)
•
Best Practices Research (looking at other states and studies)
Ideas
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WorkFirst ‘One Table’ meetings
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Focus groups (client, service providers and staff from all partner
agencies)
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Input
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Surveys (clients and service providers)
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Input from many additional sources including; One Table members,
Tribes, advocate groups and other stakeholders
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2010 WorkFirst Re-Examination Planning Process
Research and
Data Analysis
Sub 2
Redesign Teams
Analysis
Best Practices
Research Group
• Eligibility & Benefits
Review
• Workforce Attachment &
Job Development
• Workforce Education &
Training
• Parental Responsibility
& Child Development
Information
Gathering
• Case Planning & Case
Management
• Financing & Resource
Leveraging
Identification of
Redesign Options
that Require
Legislation or Have
Major Budget
Impact
• Process Improvement &
Efficiencies
Input
One Table Group
Focus Groups
July 2010
Current
Redesign
Program
RecommenAssessment
dations
Approve
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• Child Care
• Child-only Cases
Revise
Subcabinet
Review
Revise
Final Report
to the
Governor
Approve
2
Final Redesign
Plan
Data Group
Information
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
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WorkFirst Redesign-What We Learned
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a job, a better job, a better life
WorkFirst Redesign-What We Learned
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a job, a better job, a better life
WorkFirst Redesign-What We Learned
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a job, a better job, a better life
WorkFirst Redesign-What We Learned
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a job, a better job, a better life
WorkFirst Redesign-What We Learned
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a job, a better job, a better life
WorkFirst Redesign-What We Learned
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a job, a better job, a better life
WorkFirst Redesign-What We Learned
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a job, a better job, a better life
WorkFirst Redesign-What We Learned
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WorkFirst Redesign-What We Learned
• Best Practices Research Group
– Strengthening Families
– Addressing Major Barriers
– WorkForce Development
– Child Only/Kinship Care
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WorkFirst RedesignCommon Themes Emerged
• WorkFirst participants are an asset to
Washington’s economy
• Focus on the whole family
• Risk Factors Impact Outcomes for Participants
and Dependence on TANF Cash Assistance
• Move from Participation that Counts to
Engagement that Matters
• Person and Family Centered Engagement through
an Individualized Case Management Model
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WorkFirst Redesign—Recommendations
1. Implement additional reasonable requirements and supports for child-only
TANF families
2. Involve participants and local partners in the design and delivery of WorkFirst
orientations
3. Strengthen the assessment process
4. Implement new requirements for WorkFirst families with young children in
school less than full time
5. Improve employment pathway activities
6. Implement individualized case management and four new engagement tracks to
increase opportunities for successful outcomes
7. Re-introduce Post TANF services
8. Implement a continuous evaluation process
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Questions?
Website:
www.workfirst.wa.gov/reexam
Alexis Oliver
Executive Policy Advisor
Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
360-902-0643
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