Welfare Reform in Washington State

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Welfare Reform in Washington State

• WorkFirst began in August 1997
• Collective design and operations by 4 state
  agencies
• Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
• Employment Security Department (ESD)
• Community and Technical Colleges (CTC)
• Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED)
• CTED Administers Community Jobs

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Mission Statement

• Community Jobs provides transitional
  community-based employment and related training
  for WorkFirst participants unable to get a job on
  their own.
• Through public/private partnerships, participants
  gain increased self-confidence, marketable
  skills, and avenues to unsubsidized employment.

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History

• CJ operations began in 1998 TANF funded
• Political support of legislators, Governor, as
  well as national and local research and policy
  institutes and foundations
• Designed to advance WorkFirst participants who
  are unsuccessful in the labor market and exhibit
  significant barriers to employment

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Partnership Operations

• 16 Community Based Partners under Contract (15
  sub-contractors)
• Performance-based contracts -- tied to
  participant outcomes
• Workforce Boards, community action agencies,
  Goodwill, YWCA, etc.
• Provide direct case management, worksite
  development, payroll and support services
• State Level - strong communications and
  continuous improvement focus

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Annual Budget History

• FY06/07 11.9 million (serve 2000)
• FY03/04/05 13.4 million (serve 2000)
• FY02/03 19.6 million (served 2900)
• FY01/02 23.6 million (served 3200)
• Total TANF budget in Washington (including grants
  and childcare) is 900 million

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Participant Jobs

• 6 months long average 4.5 mos.
• Paid 7.63 state minimum wage for hours worked
  (7.93 in 1/07)
• 20 hrs per week paid job plus training and other
  advancement activities
• 50 wage disregard

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Participant Services

• Host work-sites located in educational
  institutions, government agencies, tribal,
  nonprofit organizations private sector
• Site enrollment customized to participant needs
• Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit and support
  services provided

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Community Jobs Today

• Enrolled over 16,500 individuals
• Successfully engages people
• 70 of individuals referred are enrolled
• 2002 Innovations Award Winner Council of State
  Government

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Performance Outcomes
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Results for Participants

• Co-enrollment with services to address issues
  such as domestic violence, limited English and
  drug/alcohol abuse
• Promote training opportunities with Community
  Colleges - basic ed, GED, vocational and family
  skills
• Raises skills, marketability and self-esteem of
  program participants

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WA Response to New TANF Rules DRAFT

• CJ will grow as the core work pathway for hardest
  to employ
• (draft plan is to double slots to 4,000)
• Provides 30 hours of countable activities
• Adjusts some current non-work actions
• CJ contractors will also manage new Community
  Service, Community Works and WorkFirst Internship
  programs

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WA Response to New TANF Rules DRAFT

• Community Service 20 hours
• Unpaid group/individual jobs to meet 20 hours
• Countable activity stacking part-time paid
  work, school, etc
• Community Works 20 hours
• Unpaid group/individual jobs for those in crisis
  resolution with DSHS social worker
• Goal get beyond crisis/move to paid CJ
• WorkFirst Internship 20 hours
• Work experience focused
• Minimal case management some training
• Move to CJ option

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Service Delivery Innovations

• Consortium model - local service delivery
• Continuous improvement philosophy/flexibility
• Intensive technical assistance and practitioner
  training
• Participant support services provided by
  contractors
• Automated/integrated case management system used
  by all partner agencies and contractors

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Lessons Learned

• Program changed from 9 to 6 months has minimal
  impact on performance measures
• Strong community partnerships strengthen program
• Statewide intensive trainings are necessary
• Local level flexibility and decisions support
  stronger results

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Resources

• Paul Knox
• Policy and Performance
• Community, Trade Economic Development
• [phone]
• paulk_at_cted.wa.gov
• Denny Naughton Diane Klontz
• WorkFirst Managing Director Community Jobs
  Manager
• [phone] [phone]
• dennyn_at_cted.wa.gov dianek_at_cted.wa.gov
• www/wa.gov.WORKFIRST
• Melissa Young, Coordinator-
• National Transitional Jobs Network
• Myoung_at_heartlandalliance.org

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Barriers to Employment Experienced by CJ
Participants
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• 6th Annual National Transitional Jobs Conference
• Strengthening Communities
• Building the Workforce of the Future
• Transitional Jobs Work
• BREAKOUT SESSION
• Statewide Innovation Collaboration in
  Developing TJ Programs