Welfare Reform in California: State and County Implementation of Calworks in the First Year

by Zellman, Gail L.

• ISBN13: 9780833027191
• ISBN10: 0833027190
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-04-01
• Publisher: Natl Book Network

Summary

Examines the first year of the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Figures	vii
Tables	ix
Summary	xi
Acknowledgments	xix
Abbreviations	xxi
Introduction	1	(28)
Background	1	(1)
Objectives and Approach	2	(5)
What the Process Analysis Must Capture	2	(2)
What Methods Were Used	4	(1)
How the Site Visit Interviews Were Conducted	5	(2)
Scope	7	(1)
Organization of this Document	7	(1)
Historical Background and Context for Federal and California
Welfare Reform Legislation	8	(1)
Background on Federal Welfare Reform Legislation	8	(8)
The Aid to Dependent Children Program--The Origins of Federal Welfare	8	(1)
Roots of Reform	9	(1)
Early Work Requirements	10	(1)
Family Support Act (FSA) of 1988	11	(1)
Granting Welfare Waivers--The Beginnings of Devolving Authority and Responsibilities to the States	12	(1)
The Federal Debate and the Passage of PRWORA	13	(3)
Background on California's Welfare Reform Legislation	16	(13)
California's GAIN Program	16	(2)
California's Use of Welfare Waivers	18	(1)
The Impact of the 1990s Recession in California on Welfare Reform	19	(1)
The California Debate and the Passage of CalWORKs	19	(1)
The Provisions of CalWORKs	20	(4)
Funding Levels for CalWORKs	24	(5)
Planning for CalWORKs at the State and County Levels	29	(9)
Planning at the State Level	30	(2)
Planning for CalWORKs in the Focus Counties	32	(4)
CDSS Responses to the County Plans	36	(1)
Planning Under CalWORKs	37	(1)
Implementing CalWORKs: County Status in Moving Through the Welfare-to-Work Process	38	(24)
Participation Requirements	38	(2)
The Components of the CalWORKs WTW Program	40	(12)
Enrollment	42	(1)
Job Club/Job Search	42	(2)
After Job Club	44	(7)
Community Service	51	(1)
Job Retention	51	(1)
Self-Sufficiency	52	(4)
Nonparticipation	56	(1)
Sanctions	57	(4)
WTW Under CalWORKs	61	(1)
Implementing CalWORKs: Providing Support Services	62	(7)
Guidelines for Support Services	63	(2)
CalWORKs Funding for Support Services	65	(1)
Status of Support Services	65	(1)
Program Issues	66	(3)
Extremely Low Levels of Identified Need for Behavioral-Health Services	66	(1)
The Need to Engage Multiple Service Providers	67	(2)
Reorganization Status at the State and County Levels	69	(12)
State-Level Organizational Change	69	(4)
Creating the Regional Advisor Position	70	(1)
Realigning the Relationships Between CDSS and Other State Agencies	71	(2)
State-Level Adjustment to Organizational Change	73	(1)
County-Level Organizational Change	73	(8)
Coordinating Operations with Other Agencies and Service Providers	73	(3)
Merging GAIN and Eligibility Operations	76	(1)
Changing the Role of EWs	76	(2)
Increasing Use of Outsourcing	78	(2)
Developing New Leadership	80	(1)
Conclusions and Emerging Themes	81	(8)
Organizations Have Changed in Response to the Expanded Mission of CalWORKs, Despite Limited Time for Planning	82	(1)
Implementation Is Under Way, but Recipient Compliance Is Low	83	(1)
Counties Currently Have Sufficient Funds, but This May Change	84	(1)
Achieving Earnings Needed to Achieve Self-Sufficiency Before Time Limits Expire Is a Challenge	85	(2)
Looking Ahead	87	(2)
Bibliography	89