Welfare Reform: Work-Site-Based Activities Can Play an Important Role in TANF Programs
HEHS-00-122
Published: Jul 28, 2000. Publicly Released: Jul 28, 2000.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work-site programs, focusing on: (1) the key characteristics of work-site activities states and localities are using in their TANF programs; (2) the key challenges to implementing and administering work-site activities and some of the ways that states and localities have addressed these challenges; and (3) what is known about the effects work-site activities have had on participants' ability to successfully make the transition to unsubsidized employment and on their communities.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | To make available more information on the effectiveness of work-site activities, which could play an increasingly important role as welfare reform evolves, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) should require states to provide more information in the state TANF plans or annual reports that they must file with HHS on the key characteristics of work-site activities they are using. For example, states could include in their plans such information as whether a work-site activity participant receives a welfare check or paycheck, qualifies for EIC, can earn more than his or her grant amount, and is considered to be receiving TANF assistance that counts toward the federal time limit. |
Closed – Implemented
GAO's report discussed the important role that work-site activities could play in the TANF program and recommended that HHS require states to provide more information on their existing programs to share with all states as a way to educate states about, and place greater emphasis on, work-site activities. In preparing for TANF reauthorization, HHS took steps to emphasize work-site activities. It developed and sponsored legislation, adopted by the House and under consideration by the Senate, that focused on increasing work requirements for welfare recipients. These increased requirements emphasize states greater use of the type of work-site activities GAO featured in its report, including subsidized private and public sector employment, on-the-job training, and supervised work/community experience.
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| Department of Health and Human Services | To make available more information on the effectiveness of work-site activities, which could play an increasingly important role as welfare reform evolves, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should use HHS' regional offices' technical assistance activities, HHS-sponsored conferences, and other means available to identify promising work-site approaches used by the states and localities in their TANF programs, and collect and disseminate information on them. |
Closed – Implemented
After issuance of the recommendation, HHS, in concert with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., completed a study designed to to identify promising employment-focused strategies for individuals on welfare who face challenges in their efforts to leave welfare for work. In particular, the study identified and provided detailed information about the design and structure of work-based programs that serve or that have the potential to serve hard-to-employ TANF recipients. The final report was disseminated by HHS' Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE), and discussed at OPRE's annual research conference--attended by state TANF administrators--in May 2001.
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| Department of Health and Human Services | To make available more information on the effectiveness of work-site activities, which could play an increasingly important role as welfare reform evolves, the Secretary of Health and Human Services should encourage states and localities to rigorously evaluate their work-site activities, particularly by providing financial support for evaluations to increase knowledge of the effectiveness of various types of work-site activities. |
Closed – Implemented
After issuance of the recommendation, HHS, in concert with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., completed and disseminated a report that identified different types of work-site activities aimed at helping welfare recipients prepare for work, and assessed the feasibility of conducting a rigorous, large-scale evaluation of such programs, including options for random assignment. In addition, HHS is sponsoring other research on helping welfare recipients find and keep jobs that includes an evaluation of New York City's PRIDE program, which GAO noted in the report as one type of program that includes work-site activities.
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Topics
Disadvantaged personsEmployment assistance programsPublic assistance programsState-administered programsWelfare benefitsWelfare recipientsWorkfareTemporary assistance for needy familiesWelfare reformFamily welfare