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Texas Families First Task Force Meeting

Texas Families First Task Force Meeting. Presentation by Diane Rath Chair & Commissioner Representing the Public Texas Workforce Commission October 9, 2003. Family Support Act of 1988. 1. Texas’ Welfare Population. Mid-1990s before welfare reform 263,455 cases 721,705 recipients

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Texas Families First Task Force Meeting

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  1. Texas Families First Task Force Meeting Presentation by Diane Rath Chair & Commissioner Representing the Public Texas Workforce Commission October 9, 2003

  2. Family Support Act of 1988 1

  3. Texas’ Welfare Population • Mid-1990s before welfare reform • 263,455 cases • 721,705 recipients • 212,788 adults 2

  4. 1995 State Welfare Law • Personal Responsibility Agreement • Cooperate with child support • Make sure children attend school • Ensure children are immunized & get regular health screens & check-ups • Do not abuse drugs or alcohol • Obtain parenting skills training • Participate in work or work activities 3

  5. 1995 State Welfare Law (continued) • Mandated work for all adults • Placed time limits on receipt of benefits – 1, 2, or 3 years based on person’s education & work history *implemented through waiver of existing federal law 4

  6. 1995 State Welfare Law (continued) • Weak Penalties • Not complying with work requirements - $78 • Not cooperating with child support - $78 • Not abusing drugs, alcohol - $25 • Children not immunized or getting health screens - $25 5

  7. 1995 State Welfare Law (continued) • Welfare Reform • DHS – eligibility only • Workforce Reform • TWC created by merging 28 programs from 10 agencies • All employment programs • Enforce welfare work requirements 6

  8. 1996 Federal Welfare Law • Created Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant and a new welfare system • Temporary assistance, not an entitlement • Lifetime limit of 5 years • All adults required to work unless caring for child under age 1 • States must meet increasing work participation rates or lose 5% of federal block grant 7

  9. Success of Federal Welfare Reform • Dramatic Caseload Decline • National 52% • Texas 51% • New York 50% • Wisconsin 64% • Florida 70% 8

  10. TANF Population 9

  11. Texas’ success might have been greater if we did not have waiver • Waiver isolated Texas and allowed welfare recipients to delay taking responsibility to support their families 10

  12. Age of Child Exemption • Phased down to meet federal law requirements • 12 states have 3-month exemption after birth of child • 6 states have no exemption • Texas is only large state with 1 full year exemption 11

  13. DHS Exemptions from Work 1. Caretaker of child under age one — 4,165 2. Caretaker needed in the home to care for disabled adult—1,830 3. Single grandparent age 50 or over and caretaker of child under age three — 14 4. Caretaker disabled for more than 180 days — 7,476 12

  14. DHS Exemptions from Work (continued) 5. Caretaker who is unable to work as result of pregnancy — 1,091 6. Caretaker age 60 or older — 234 *State law also exempts caretakers of disabled children —2,387 (August 2003 data) 13

  15. Total Adults on TANF —86,090 Total Exempted —17,197 (20%) (August 2003 data) 14

  16. Two-Parent Family Issue — another blow to family formation 15

  17. TANF Reauthorization Issues • Maintain current federal block grant • Strengthen work requirements • Full engagement – 40 hours/week • Promote strong families • Give states flexibility • Show compassion to truly needy 16

  18. Impact on Texas of TANF Reauthorization TANF Adults—82,540 TANF Adults Working—44,840 Exempt or NotEngaged in Work—37,700 (based on House-passed version) 17

  19. TWC’s Success in Welfare Reform • Won total of $70 million over 4 consecutive years in TANF High Performance Bonuses for excellence in job placement of TANF adults • New award of $19 million for Family Formation & Stability • Legislature appropriates bonus funds 18

  20. H.B. 2292 – Welfare Reform • Strengthens state welfare law • Pay for performance model • Like real work environment • Paid for work performed 19

  21. TWC’s TANF Choices Employment Services Rule • State & federal law direct TWC to define “engaged in work” • Work First design • Taking personal responsibility in order to obtain & retain work • Child attending school • Children getting immunized & health check-ups • Adults not abusing drugs or alcohol • Penalty for refusal to engage in work is loss of TANF & adult Medicaid benefits 20

  22. Litigation CPPP vs. TWC 21

  23. Medicaid Connection • Federal welfare law allows states to terminate — • TANF benefits for the entire family • Medicaid for the adult • When parents refuse to — • Cooperate with child support • Engage in work 22

  24. Parents not taking Responsibility • Refused to cooperate with child support – 6,834 adults • Refused to meet work requirements – 23,550 adults • (DHS Mgmt. Focus 7/03) 23

  25. 24

  26. Child Care Issues • Child care is vital work support • Parent responsibility agreement • Parent choice is basic tenet • What is quality child care? • Safe, healthy nurturing environment? • Or culturally appropriate pictures on the wall? 25

  27. Diane Rath, Chair Texas Workforce Commission 463-2800 diane.rath@twc.state.tx.us 26

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