Slide 1

Welfare Reform in Washington State University of New Mexico PA 590-Program Evaluation and Performance MeasurementsChristell Begay & Summer 2008, Prof. M. RiveraShelley Wooten Summary Overview Analysis of Case Questions & Answers Slide 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 Slide 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 70s and 80s Slide 4 Slide 5 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 Slide 6 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 Slide 7 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 Slide 8 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 Slide 9 2000 Press Releases Washington's child poverty rate declining; well below national trend August 10, 2000Washington's child poverty rate declining; well below national trend 2001 Press Releases Locke announces limited extension of TANF benefits November 6, 2001Locke announces limited extension of TANF benefits 2002 Press Releases Washington wins nearly $14 million in federal funds for WorkFirst successes. July 19, 2002Washington wins nearly $14 million in federal funds for WorkFirst successes. Gov. Locke accepts national innovation award for WorkFirst's Community Jobs program April 15, 2002Gov. Locke accepts national innovation award for WorkFirst's Community Jobs program Governor adjusts welfare reform spending in response to climbing welfare caseloads February 14, 2002Governor adjusts welfare reform spending in response to climbing welfare caseloads WorkFirst Successes Slide 10 2002 Press Releases Gov. Gary Locke Honors Businesses for Helping Families Move from Welfare to Work November 20, 2002Gov. Gary Locke Honors Businesses for Helping Families Move from Welfare to Work WorkFirst celebrates five-year anniversary with lowest welfare caseload July 30, 2002WorkFirst celebrates five-year anniversary with lowest welfare caseload 2003 Press Releases Gov. Gary Locke Announces New Statewide Welfare-to-Work Effort August 26, 2003Gov. Gary Locke Announces New Statewide Welfare-to-Work Effort Washington's welfare reform program takes cuts to balance budget January 24, 2003Washington's welfare reform program takes cuts to balance budget 2004 Press Releases Gov. Gary Locke honored businesses for helping Washington families move from welfare to work May 18, 2004Gov. Gary Locke honored businesses for helping Washington families move from welfare to work Gov. Gary Locke promotes state's effort to help more Washington families get federal tax dollars (More on Earned Income Tax Credit.) April 7, 2004Gov. Gary Locke promotes state's effort to help more Washington families get federal tax dollarsEarned Income Tax Credit 2005 Press Releases Governor Gregoire has announced her plans to strengthen the WorkFirst Program. November 10, 2005has announced her plans to strengthen the WorkFirst Program Slide 11 2006 Governor Gregoire Reforms WorkFirst to be More Efficient and Effective at Placing Clients in Jobs September 25, 2006Governor Gregoire Reforms WorkFirst to be More Efficient and Effective at Placing Clients in Jobs Governor Gregoire Announces Colleges to Offer Opportunity Grants to Low-Income Adults August 15, 2006Governor Gregoire Announces Colleges to Offer Opportunity Grants to Low-Income Adults 2007 DSHS names new head of the Economic Services Administration December 13, 2007DSHS names new head of the Economic Services Administration Governor Gregoire Announces WorkFirst Successful in Helping More Families Break the Cycle of Poverty July 16, 2007Governor Gregoire Announces WorkFirst Successful in Helping More Families Break the Cycle of Poverty WorkFirst Holds Parents Accountable February 28, 2007WorkFirst Holds Parents Accountable Slide 12 Slide 13 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 Slide 14 WorkFirst exceeded performance targets Legislatives Governors Banks witness 5 years of success In 2001, cases jumped to 54, 801 Compared to 53, 153 in Nov 2000 Slide 15 Appendix 4: Washington WorkFirst Cases November 1999 February 2001 Slide 16 Washingtons Unemployment Rate Ranking out of 51 Source: Department of Labor Slide 17 August 3, 1993 Government Performance and Results Act Maximize Congresss performance Ensure Accountability Benefit American taxpayers Federal Agencies Issue performance reports for fiscal years *Source: Restoring Govt Integrity Through Performance, Results, and Accountability Slide 18 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 Govt Integrity Through Performance, Results, and Accountability Slide 19 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 Govt Integrity Through Performance, Results, and Accountability Slide 20 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 Govt Integrity Through Performance, Results, and Accountability Slide 21 Slide 22 Slide 23 New Mexico welfare fund has $45 million surplus from lack of recipients NM is 3 rd 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 cant earn more than $11,220 annual salary Enrollment difficulty Jan. 26, 2008 Slide 24 Class discussion NM returns $45M for lack of clients Should the TANF program continue in New Mexico? Should TANF criteria be reevaluated?