supporting education and training for tanf-eligible participants
DESCRIPTION
Neil Ridley Senior Policy Analyst. Supporting Education and Training for TANF-Eligible Participants. Working Poor Families Project. June 20, 2013. TANF-Eligible Participants. TANF limited to “needy families” with children, but not just to families receiving cash assistance - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
www.clasp.org
Supporting Education and Training for TANF-Eligible ParticipantsWorking Poor Families Project
June 20, 2013
Neil RidleySenior Policy Analyst
www.clasp.org
TANF-Eligible Participants
TANF limited to “needy families” with children, but not just to families receiving cash assistance
States define income limits for “needy families” TANF supports a range of services, including education
and training, support services, case management and more.
2
www.clasp.org
Career Pathways as an Education and Training Model for TANF
• Career pathways are highly structured, with clear connection to workforce goals Focus on credentials with economic payoff Even participants with low basic skills can start working on
occupational skills quickly “Stackable” credentials help to connect short-term and
long-term goals
• Address students’ overburdened lives Supportive services, such as transportation, etc.
3
POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIAL
BRIDGE II
BRIDGE PREP BRIDGE I
INTEGRATED SUPPORT SYSTEMS
INTEGRATEDINSTRUCTION
Bridge PrepIntentional focus on work skills into beginning basic adult education
Bridge ILow intermediate reading, writing, speaking, and math skills taught in the context of a variety of occupational sectors
Bridge IIHigh intermediate basic skills and focused preparation for targeted postsecondary occupational courses in the context of a specific occupational sector
Integrated InstructionAdult Basic Education skill building within a Career & Technical Education course
Support services for success including barrier mitigation, career advising, system navigation provided by workforce development, community based organizations, and human services
Industry recognized credential in regional high demand field
ABE instruction
ABE/MnSCU instruction
www.clasp.org
Daley College/Central States SER Medical Bridge
www.clasp.org
How TANF Can Support Pathways
• Curriculum redesign and incremental costs• Support services
Academic supports: tutoring, study groups, academic and career advising
Personal supports: counseling, referral services Other supports: emergency funds, child care, transportation Student financial aid: when not otherwise available
• Work-study jobs• Incentive grants (to students or institutions)
6
www.clasp.org
Arkansas Career Pathways• Launched in 2003 as a workforce strategy for TANF-
eligible adults• Available to adult caretakers, parents or relatives of a
child under the age of 21 who are current or former public assistance recipients or who have incomes below 250 percent of the federal poverty line
7
www.clasp.org
Arkansas Career Pathways• Academic and support services through two-year
colleges and technical centers associated with four-year universities.
• Each student receives:Up to $1,500 for tuition and support servicesAn assigned counselor or tutorAccess to reliable transportation and childcare through private vendorsLinks to Dept. of Workforce Services to ensure delivery of other support services.
8
www.clasp.org
Texas Non-Custodial Parent (NCP) Choices
• Launched in 2005 as a pilot workforce program for non-custodial parents
• Serves unemployed and under-employed individuals who are behind on their child support payments and whose children are current or former public assistance recipients
• Funded by TANF and included in the state TANF plan
9
www.clasp.org
Key Features of Texas NCP Choices
• Court-ordered requirement for participation, with consequences for non-participation
• Role of local workforce boards and staff in providing case management and services
• Services offered: Job referrals Support services Short-term training, GED and ESL instruction Subsidized employment/work experience Retention assistance and career counseling
10
www.clasp.org
TANF-Funded Youth Employment Programs
• TANF funds used for summer employment programs for low-income youth as well as supportive services, transportation for employed individuals and incentive payments
• Available to youth in families receiving public assistance or youth in TANF-eligible families
• Option to co-enroll youth in WIA youth programs to take advantage of occupational skills training and other youth services
11
www.clasp.org
Leveraging TANF and WIA• TANF offers a rich set
of supportive services and case management
• TANF can be used for a wide range of education and training services
• TANF is focused on low-income populations
• WIA provides access to occupational training
• WIA can offer strong business connections
12
www.clasp.org 13
Not just TANF and WIA
TANF
Adult Ed
WIASNAP E&T
CSBG
Perkins
www.clasp.org
Health Professions Opportunity Grants (HPOG)
• HPOG awards go to a mix of state agencies, local workforce boards, colleges, community organizations and tribal applicants.
• Grants are used to help TANF recipients and other low-income individuals acquire skills and earn credentials in healthcare fields.
• Another opportunity to coordinate TANF, WIA, adult education, colleges and other partners
14
www.clasp.org
Opportunities and New Developments
• Any state legislation underway?
• New program development?
• Research or other efforts to make the case?
15
www.clasp.org
Something to watch out for
• Some states are claiming as TANF MOE large amounts of general state spending on postsecondary education – scholarships for families with incomes at 500% of FPL or more.
• The concern—there is a real possibility of supplanting existing state funding.
16
www.clasp.org
Questions to Ask about Using TANF Funds for Postsecondary Education for Eligible
Families1. Do programs supplant existing funding for
services or student aid?2. Are programs targeted at families with income
eligibility at 250% of poverty line or below?3. Do programs incorporate individualized
services or supports that are appropriate for low-income families, not just financial aid?
4. Do they support systems change or new models of services?
17
www.clasp.org
Feedback?
• Do these questions/criteria make sense?
• Your input on federal legislative change Drawing the line between programs that should be
funded and not funded
18
www.clasp.org
Thank YouFor more information:
Neil [email protected]
19
www.clasp.org1200 18th St, NWSuite 200Washington, DC 20036