States have made extensive
changes to bring their welfare programs in compliance with new federal rules,
according to a new survey released by the National Governors Association (NGA)
and American Public Human Services Association (APHSA).
Under the recent
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reauthorization, most States are required to rapidly and
substantially increase work participation rates among welfare participants,
significantly reduce their caseload or face financial penalties. At the same
time, regulations accompanying the law place new restrictions on what States "count"
as work participation, making it more difficult to engage participants in
higher education, English as a Second Language classes, domestic violence
counseling and other activities that lead to long-term self-sufficiency.
According to the NGA/APHSA survey:
- Fifteen States are now subjecting previously
exempt individuals-such as third trimester pregnant women and parents of
infants-to work participation requirements.
- Nine States reported that a smaller
proportion of their caseload would be enrolled in vocational education
training.
- Fourteen States decreased the ability of
recipients to pursue BA degrees.
- Eighteen States decreased the amount of time
welfare-to-work providers can devote to job readiness activities.
However, the survey data
also suggests that some States are using reauthorization as an opportunity to
make positive changes to their welfare programs. Indeed, seven States have
increased the number of recipients who can participate in vocational education
and six States have increased the number of months a recipient is allowed to
participate in vocational training. Further, many States reported an increased
focus on comprehensive assessment and intensive case management within TANF
programs.
Click here to view a webcast
describing the results of the NGA/APHSA survey.
Congress reauthorized
the TANF program early last year and the Department of Health and Human
Services released regulations making additional changes during the summer of
2006. Although the new law and rule went into effect a little over a year ago,
last Monday marked the deadline for States to be fully compliant with their
plans to implement the changes.
How is implementation of
the new TANF law affecting unemployed and underemployed women in your State? Send
Women Work! an email and let us know.
