www.clasp.org

Work Support StrategiesWFSN Conference Workshop:Improving Benefits Access in States

November 7, 2013

Olivia GoldenExecutive Director

www.clasp.org 2

WSS National Team

PROJECT MANAGEMENT&

EVALUATION

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

FUNDERS

www.clasp.org 3

What is WSS?

Improve families’ wellbeing by increasing enrollment in the full package of work supports.

Help states deliver benefits more effectively and efficiently

Share lessons learned to inform state and federal policies.

www.clasp.org 4

Why WSS?

Work supports can help low-income families meet needs, improve outcomes, and stabilize work.

Yet many families do not receive the full package of benefits.

State policy, processes, systems are part of the barrier

www.clasp.org 5

WSS Aims to Integrate and Modernize Delivery of….

• Medicaid/ CHIP• SNAP (nutrition assistance)• Child Care Development Fund (child care

subsidies)• Others identified by the states (such as TANF

and energy assistance)

www.clasp.org 6

The States

Colorado

Idaho

Illinois

North Carolina

Rhode Island

South Carolina

www.clasp.org 7

State Activities

Business processes

Policy Technology & information

systems

Data Analysis & Use

Management & Communication

www.clasp.org 8

Lesson #1: Commitment by Diverse States to WSS Goals

The Puzzle• How can these states

stay committed to improving work support programs?

• What about political polarization, tight budgets, ongoing crises?

The Answers• Pre-reform systems

weren’t working.• Responsive government is

a widely shared goal.• Fragmented systems

frustrate counties.• States want wins for

children/ families.• Once agencies improve,

they don’t want to go back.

www.clasp.org 9

The Wins So Far: 5 Common Themes

• Seize health reform as an opportunity for integration.

• Improve child care policy and practice.• Improve local office processes to speed

decision-making.• Make policy decisions across programs. • Fix “churn” as well as initial applications.

www.clasp.org 10

The “How To’s” of State Reform

1. Use data for decision-making, but understand it’s hard.

2. Modernize technology—but don’t let it rule you.

3. Building teams takes persistence but pays off.

4. Leadership and management matter.

5. A learning organization can meet challenge after challenge.

www.clasp.org 11

Resources

• http://www.urban.org/worksupport/ • Early Lessons from the Work Support Strategies

Initiative Cross-cutting report: http://

www.urban.org/publications/412789.html Nine state reports: http://

www.urban.org/worksupport/Early-Lessons.cfm

www.clasp.org 12

Resources (cont.)

• New Perspectives on Transforming States’ Health and Human Services, 2013. (Collection of commentaries). http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412833-New-Perspectives-on-Transforming-States-Health-and-Human-Services.pdf

• Public Forum June 2013: http://www.urban.org/events/Transforming-States-Services-ACA.cfm