Services for hard-to-employ recipients

Services for hard-to-employ recipients

What strategies can be used to help TANF recipients who lack work experience or experience a learning disability, physical or mental disabilities or other barriers to work find jobs?

What are states doing to help TANF recipients with substance abuse problems?

What strategies can be used to help hard-to-serve TANF recipients find jobs?

Some common work-based employment strategies to help hard-to-serve recipients find permanent employment include:

Paid Work Experience - These programs provide temporary employment through a social enterprise (program-operated businesses designed to assist those lacking work experience). This model provides on-site job supervision and aims to help employees transition out of the program and into regular employment. Employees' wages are paid through business revenue.

Transitional Jobs - Provides temporary subsidized employment placements with nonprofit organizations, government agencies or private-sector businesses. Employee supervision is provided by on-site employees and typically does not differ from supervision provided to other employees. Wages are subsidized by using Welfare-to-Work grants or TANF money. Employees generally receive assessments and case management. Some job-search assistance and post-placement support may also be provided. These programs typically target individuals who lack work experience.

Supported Structured Employment Programs - This type of program is designed to provide employees with work experience in a forgiving work environment. Employment generally takes place in a controlled setting, which may include a social enterprise or a group placement within a private company. Wages may be subsidized or paid through program revenues. Employees receive intensive employment supervision, case management, job coaching and job-search assistance. Many of these programs are targeted toward TANF recipients with disabilities.

Supported Competitive Employment Programs - These programs place participants directly into competitive employment and provides intensive, on-going job support. Wages are not subsidized and a strong emphasis is placed on making a good job match. Most of these programs are geared toward TANF recipients with suspected or confirmed disabilities.

For a full discussion of work-based employment strategies for the hard-to-serve see, Work-Based Strategies for Hard-to-Employ TANF Recipients: A Preliminary Assessment of Program Models and Dimensions, LaDonna Pavetti and Debra Strong, et al. http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/PDFs/workbasedTANF.pdf

What are states doing to help TANF recipients with substance abuse problems?

States have implemented a variety of programs designed to help TANF recipients overcome their substance abuse problems and find employment. Some of the most successful programs take a broad approach in their treatment delivery methods including a strong focus on employment, job training and child well-being issues, while helping recipients address their alcohol or drug dependency. Innovative examples include:

CASAWorks for Families is a national program consisting of 11 treatment sites in 9 different states. The goal of the program is to help welfare recipients achieve sobriety and employment while improving their parenting skills. Caseworkers aim to help participants end their dependence on drugs or alcohol, attain work and economic independence, address issues of safety and violence in the home and improve family functioning. To further these goals, CASAWorks provides services in the following areas: substance abuse treatment, employment counseling, mental and physical health services, parenting skills training, family relationship and domestic violence counseling and assistance with basic needs (child care, transportation and housing). Client treatment and case management plans are tailored to the individual needs of the participant and employment training is combined with substance abuse treatment. The treatment model has been developed to specifically target low-income women with children.

Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T. is a family-centered substance abuse treatment program aimed at parents who are involved in the child welfare or welfare systems. The program is jointly administered by the state Department of Economic Security and the Department of Health Services. The goal of the program is to help families overcome substance abuse problems in order to promote stable home environments for children, family re-unification and self-sufficiency. Client referrals are made by TANF or Child Protective Services caseworkers. Services include outreach, assessment, treatment and aftercare. Random drug and alcohol screening is conducted throughout the client's participation in the program. Service providers conduct outreach within 24 hours of referral. Participants undergo screening and comprehensive assessments within 7 days and referrals to therapeutic services are completed within 14 days.

Oregon requires local welfare offices to address substance abuse problems in their welfare program plans. TANF recipients with substance abuse problems are expected to work toward economic independence while participating in a treatment plan. Broadly defined work activities allow clients to participate in treatment as a primary employment activity. Welfare offices work closely with alcohol and drug treatment providers to determine the appropriate combination of work and treatment. The state's Medicaid program, Oregon Health Plan (OPH), is the primary source of substance abuse treatment coverage for low-income families. OHP provides all medical-related substance abuse dependency services in the basic health service package and is available to all enrolled individuals. The state Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs provides training to TANF caseworkers so they may more readily identify individuals with substance abuse problems and make referrals for further assessment or treatment. Oregon does not use universal drug testing to screen participants. Screening is conducted through use of a professionally recognized alcohol and drug screening tool, by case managers who have developed a trusting relationship with the client or through follow-up upon the client's failure to comply with their employment plan. All local welfare offices have certified substance abuse treatment professionals on site to provide related services.

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