Top 14 List of Welfare Innovations
November 1997
Even prior to the enactment of the Temporary Assistance to Needy
Families (TANF) program in 1996, states were leading the way in
developing innovative approaches to welfare reform. Most states
had enacted major reform legislation prior to TANF, and 18 states
enacted major reforms during the 1997 legislative session. The
following is a brief overview of some states' innovations created
in the 1997 session.
Arizona - Establishes a stabilization fund to supplement existing
appropriations if caseload increases beyond budgeted projections
Arkansas - Creates a Temporary Employment Assistance program
advisory council
The advisory council will advise and assist state agencies
in the implementation of welfare reform, provide evaluation and
feedback, and encourage business to become involved in welfare
reform. Also allows local TEA coalitions to organize and plan
service delivery strategies for the program at the local level.
Membership includes the executive branch, various directors of
state agencies, legislative branch, and appointed members from
the business community and non-profit organizations.
Arkansas - Requires department to develop a plan to track well-being
of children after family is terminated from assistance
This plan can include one or more home visits within 30 days
of termination.
(Iowa and Tennessee have a legislated home visits to track the
well-being of children who's families have been terminated)
Colorado - Gives Block grants and flexibility to counties to
devise work programs
Uses TANF money to give counties a block grant to administer
the Colorado Works program at the county level. Allows counties
to collaborate to administer program. Retains eligibility and
benefit level decisions at the state level. Allows counties to
apply for waivers of work requirements, time limits and other
program requirements.
Minnesota - Excludes ex-recipients form Firm's unemployment
experience rating
If a firm hires a welfare recipient, but then lays off or
fire that new employee, that separation does not affect the employers'
unemployment insurance rating. This new policy removes one barrier
to employers who might be interested in hiring welfare recipients.
Allows victims of domestic violence to enter into a safety plan,
including counseling or referral to support services. Exempts
individuals participating in safety plan from time limits and
work requirements.
Mississippi - Establishes micro-enterprise program
Requires the department to create an entrepreneurial development
program to assist TANF recipients create their own jobs. Requires
collaboration with other agencies, public and private organization,
banks and community entities to develop program.
(Arkansas has developed a similar program)
New York - creates a safety net program for recipients who
lose benefits
Safety net covers all families that lose benefits due to time
limits as well as legal immigrants not eligible for federal funds,
and single individuals and childless couples who lose general
assistance benefits.
North Carolina - expanding authority of counties to contract
out services to recipients
Counties have primary responsibility for developing welfare-to-work
program and all counties are given great flexibility in contracting
with not-for-profit organizations, businesses and faith-based
groups for worker training and placement. This is a general trend
Ohio - Focuses money on developing better transportation for
recipients to get to work
Created a five million dollar fund for counties to fund innovations
that expand transportation for welfare recipients - transit, van
pools,
South Carolina - Requires government job be targeted to welfare
recipients
Requires agencies or organizations contributing to the State
Retirement Fund (this includes schools) to target at least 10%
of jobs requiring a high school diploma for welfare recipients.
(Mississippi and Arkansas are also requiring state agencies to
target jobs for welfare recipients)
Utah - Sets goal of placing 12,000 recipients in jobs within
3 years
Puts in statutory requirement for agency to meet.
Washington - Provides incentive payments to agencies and contractors
for placing recipient in long-term and high-paying jobs
A bonus of up to $500 is available for service providers who
place recipients in jobs for a minimum of 12 weeks. Additional
bonuses based on a percentage of the initial bonus are provided
if the job pays double the minimum wage, provides health care,
provides child care, or the recipient is continuously employed
for two years. Allows department to provide bonuses to offices,
regions and employees who are the most successful in long-term
placement of recipients.
Wyoming - Establishes a state-only program for recipients who
are full-time students
Requires the state to use MOE funds to create a state funded
program to provide assistance to full time students who are required
to work in addition to attending school. Designates a priority
over funds available for MOE. (Maine has developed a similar state-funded
program)
For additional information on state innovations, contact Dana Reichert or
Jack Tweedie at
NCSL, 303-830-2200.
![[Picture]](../CYF/PURPLEBA.GIF) Welfare Reform
Human Services and Welfare
NCSL Homepage
|
