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Welfare Reform in Washington State

Welfare Reform in Washington State. Summary Overview Analysis of Case Questions & Answers. University of New Mexico PA 590-Program Evaluation and Performance Measurements Christell Begay & Summer 2008, Prof. M. Rivera Shelley Wooten. Foundations of the American Welfare State

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Welfare Reform in Washington State

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  1. Welfare Reform in Washington State • Summary Overview • Analysis of Case • Questions & Answers University of New Mexico PA 590-Program Evaluation and Performance Measurements Christell Begay & Summer 2008, Prof. M. Rivera Shelley Wooten

  2. Foundations of the American Welfare State • Establish during the Great Depression • President Franklin Roosevelt • Creates the Social Security Act of 1935 - Foundation of the welfare system • Vocational programs • Public health • Child welfare programs (AFDC) • President Lyndon Johnson implements changes • Food stamps • Medicare & Medicaid programs

  3. Welfare: A controversial issue in America • Create dependency and stifle private initiative • Poverty was a byproduct of a capitalist state • Government is responsible for those without economic security • Costs for services continue to climb • Individuals on welfare increase during the 70’s and 80’s

  4. Restructuring Welfare in America • 8/22/96: President Bill Clinton introduces the Welfare Reform • signs the PRWORA (Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act) • Eliminates AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) and is replaced with TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

  5. Restructuring Welfare in America (Federal Requirements) • 5 years for recipients of TANF benefits • Working within 2 years of receiving benefits • 2001, single parents required to work 30/hrs/week • Two-parent households must have one parent working a min. of 35/hrs/week • 12 month exemption for parents with child under age one • States failing to meet work requirements face reduction in their grant • PRWORA – decrease caseload and increase work participation

  6. 1997 – WorkFirst in Washington State • Immediate participation in employment • Reduce number of individuals on welfare • Help people in low-income families • Find job, keep job, become self-sufficient • Four agencies share responsibility • Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) • Employment Security Department (ESD) • State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) • Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) Welfare Reform in Washington State

  7. Governor Gary Locke, 1997 signed House Bill 3901 creating the WorkFirst Program • Clare Banks – Assistant to the Director of the WorkFirst Division • Accountability Welfare Reform in Washington State

  8. 2000 Press Releases • Washington's child poverty rate declining; well below national trendAugust 10, 2000 2001 Press Releases • Locke announces limited extension of TANF benefits November 6, 2001 2002 Press Releases • Washington wins nearly $14 million in federal funds for WorkFirst successes.July 19, 2002 • Gov. Locke accepts national innovation award for WorkFirst's Community Jobs programApril 15, 2002 • Governor adjusts welfare reform spending in response to climbing welfare caseloadsFebruary 14, 2002 WorkFirst Successes

  9. 2002 Press Releases • Gov. Gary Locke Honors Businesses for Helping Families Move from Welfare to Work November 20, 2002 • WorkFirst celebrates five-year anniversary with lowest welfare caseload July 30, 2002 2003 Press Releases • Gov. Gary Locke Announces New Statewide Welfare-to-Work Effort August 26, 2003 • Washington's welfare reform program takes cuts to balance budget January 24, 2003 2004 Press Releases • Gov. Gary Locke honored businesses for helping Washington families move from welfare to work May 18, 2004 • Gov. Gary Locke promotes state's effort to help more Washington families get federal tax dollars (More on Earned Income Tax Credit.) April 7, 2004 2005 Press Releases • Governor Gregoire has announced her plans to strengthen the WorkFirst Program. November 10, 2005

  10. 2006 • Governor Gregoire Reforms WorkFirst to be More Efficient and Effective at Placing Clients in Jobs September 25, 2006 • Governor Gregoire Announces Colleges to Offer Opportunity Grants to Low-Income AdultsAugust 15, 2006 2007 • DSHS names new head of the Economic Services AdministrationDecember 13, 2007 • Governor Gregoire Announces WorkFirst Successful in Helping More Families Break the Cycle of PovertyJuly 16, 2007 • WorkFirst Holds Parents Accountable February 28, 2007

  11. Governor create sub-cabinet Workfirst • Draft set performance measurements • Set targets agencies involved with Workfirst • State Legislative and DSHS • Created on performance measures “Reduce the number of families on public assistance”

  12. WorkFirst exceeded performance targets • Legislatives • Governor’s • Banks witness 5 years of success • In 2001, cases jumped to 54, 801 • Compared to 53, 153 in Nov 2000

  13. Appendix 4: Washington WorkFirst Cases November 1999 – February 2001

  14. Washington’s Unemployment Rate Ranking out of 51 Source: Department of Labor

  15. August 3, 1993 • Government Performance and Results Act • Maximize Congress’s performance • Ensure Accountability • Benefit American taxpayers • Federal Agencies • Issue performance reports for fiscal years *Source: Restoring Gov’t Integrity Through Performance, Results, and Accountability

  16. Program elimination • Non-performing programs • Redundant • Overlapping • More effective in the private sector • Outdated service • Continue creating new programs and spending that regard current problems • Sources: Restoring Gov’t Integrity Through Performance, Results, and Accountability

  17. Agency Inspectors General (IG) • U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) • Congressional Budget Office (CBO • Office of Management and Budget • Agency Inspectors General (IGs) • Highlight poor performance agencies in reports • Sources: Restoring Gov’t Integrity Through Performance, Results, and Accountability

  18. Avoid Elimination • Reliable performance information • Seek assistance with: • Agency Inspectors General (IG) • U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) • Congressional Research Service (CRS) • Other external auditors • Own investigators • Sources: Restoring Gov’t Integrity Through Performance, Results, and Accountability

  19. Jan. 26, 2008 • New Mexico welfare fund has $45 million surplus from lack of recipients • NM is 3rd highest state with people living in poverty • Payments to families are increased 15% in Bernalillo County to $340.72 a month • Caseload at its lowest point ever • 1996 = 33,203 Aug. 2007 = 13,925 • Department does not track statistics for disqualification • making too much money or not willing to participate in requirements; work and education – can’t earn more than $11,220 annual salary • Enrollment difficulty

  20. Class discussion NM returns $45M for lack of clients • Should the TANF program continue in New Mexico? • Should TANF criteria be reevaluated?

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