Located in:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
States that include TANF in the Combined State Plan must outline how the State will meet the requirements of section 402 of the Social Security Act including how it will:
(OMB Control Number: 0970-0145)
c. Ensure that parents and caretakers receiving assistance engage in work in accordance with section 407 (section 402(a)(1)(A)(iii) of the Social Security Act). Consistent with the required strategic elements discussed in section II (a)(2) herein, provide a specific analysis of how the State’s workforce development activities are addressing employment and training services for parents or caretakers receiving assistance
Current Narrative:
Work Participation Focus
In operating the WorkFirst program, the State uses the work participation rates specified in Section 402 of the Social Security Act as its work participation goal. However, the state, to the extent possible, will use the work participation rates as a minimum standard and will work toward exceeding these goals. Washington has established program goals around reduced caseloads and wage progression efforts with the expectation that low-income families will be lifted up and out of poverty through employment, and WorkFirst is designed to meet that expectation. To the degree possible, all low-income families will have access to services that will help them gain in work skills and earn enough to become financially stable.
The State has used various welfare-to-work models, including models focused on moving job ready individuals into work as rapidly as possible, and providing employment-related training that is expected to lead directly to work for those lacking work skills.
Cross-Agency Collaboration
While the Department of Social and Health Services is the single State agency responsible for administering the TANF program, six core state agencies are designated to work together to manage the WorkFirst program. These agencies, referred to as the WorkFirst Partnership, include the Office of Financial Management, Department of Commerce, the Employment Security Department, the Department of Social and Health Services, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and the Department of Children, Youth & Families.
More specifically, the Employment Security Department provides labor exchange (Wagner- Peyser) services for WorkFirst clients, the community and technical colleges provide various kinds of vocational education and subsidized work experience, and the Department of Commerce provides subsidized jobs and unpaid work experience opportunities for clients with barriers to employment. In addition, the Department of Children, Youth & Families has a subsidized child care program for low-income working families including those participating in TANF/WorkFirst and Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET). DCYF also manages the state-funded pre-kindergarten program, a home visiting system and other family strengthening services for low-income, at-risk, pregnant, or parenting families, including those receiving TANF.
The WorkFirst Partnership Team works for collaboration and innovation across agencies, with direction coming directly from agency leadership as well as a task force comprising of Washington Legislative and Executive agency leadership – known as the Legislative-Executive WorkFirst Poverty Reduction Oversight Task Force.
Within the Department of Social and Health Services, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation serves TANF/WorkFirst clients who qualify under its rules. In addition, post-TANF parents may be eligible for services through Washington’s BFET program up to its eligibility threshold of 200% of the FPL.
TANF Employment and Training Needs Addressed in Workforce Development System
In the TANF program, the education and training options for parents are circumscribed by the work participation rate target and various process rules that don’t apply to the WIOA core programs. This includes the 12-month limit on stand-alone vocational education and the 30% cap for vocational education participation. On the other hand, strengths of the TANF funding stream include ability to provide tuition assistance and child care for parents engaged in approved education and training activities.
Historically, previous to WIOA, the one-stop workforce development system in Washington State did not prioritize providing services to clients with the range of barriers to employment identified in WIOA, who can be found in disproportionate numbers on the TANF caseload. With the expanded number of partners represented in this Combined State Plan, and the efficiencies that go with improved coordination, Washington State seeks to improve its capacity to serve these disadvantaged populations. This will be accomplished through intentional work at both the local and state levels and through the articulation of partnerships, services and strategies within Memoranda of Understanding, and local plans.