Title
Receive an oral report regarding the implementation of enhanced self sufficiency support efforts as authorized by SB 1041 (the California Budget Act of 2012) and efforts to meet California’s Work Participation Rate.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that Health and Human Services Committee of the Board of Supervisors receive an oral report from the Department of Social Services on the implementation of enhanced self sufficiency support efforts as authorized by SB 1041 (the California Budget Act of 2012) and efforts to meet California’s Work Participation Rate.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
SB 1041 shortened the number of months CalWORKs parents can participate in the Welfare to Work (WTW) program from 48 to 24. With the implementation of the new WTW 24-Month Time clock, came the addition of new valuable services/resources to support families in moving towards self sufficiency.
Throughout the State, CalWORKs families began being impacted by the new WTW 24-Month Time Clock in January 2015 (two years after the new law took effect in January 2013). Monterey County families will begin to be impacted later this year. When a family reaches their WTW 24-month time limit, CalWORKs grants are reduced and the family is no longer eligible for additional supports available through the CalWORKs employment services program (wage subsidies, transportation and ancillary assistance, CalWORKs employment case management). Child care is available for working CalWORKs families whether or not they have reached the WTW 24-Month time limit and can continue for up to 24 months after their CalWORKs is discontinued.
SB 1041 also put into place two significant opportunities for extending the WTW 24-Month time clock for CalWORKs families: The first opportunity extends the 24 month clock for families who meet participation requirements by completing the required 35 hours of allowable activities for two parent families and 30 hours per week for all others for each month for which an extension is granted for a maximum of 48 months. The second exempts families with serious barriers to employment (e.g., domestic violence, behavioral health challenges, substance abuse, homelessness) from the time limit while they participate in services to address these serious challenges.
SB 1041 provided funding to expand subsidized employment programs. As a result of our expanded wage subsidy program, 76 CalWORKs participants met Federal Work Participation Requirements due to the ability to place them into an employment site within 2 days of referral. As of March, 9, 2015, 61 participants successfully transitioned into unsubsidized employment. On April 9, 2015, the department expects to release a Request for Proposals to continue the Expanded Subsidized Employment Program for the next fiscal year.
These changes, along with a new supplement in the CalFresh program for working parents not on CalWORKs, were implemented as part of the State’s efforts to improve work participation rates. The new CalFresh supplement is known as the Work Incentive Nutrition Supplement (WINS) provides a $10 per month supplement to working families not on CalWORKs who meet Federal work participation requirements. If the State of California is not successful in reaching the 50% required work participation rate in Federal Fiscal Year 2015, it will face a penalty of approximately $600 million.
Monterey County has seen a rapid increase in work participation rates for CalWORKs participants. In the 1st quarter of FFY 2015, Monterey County reported an average work participation rate of 38.2% and the State has reported an average WINS work participation rate of 18% for an estimated total of 56.2%. The increase in the County’s work participation rate, combined with the results of the WINS program creates confidence that Monterey County will meet the federally required 50% work participation rate in FFY 2015.
FINANCING:
This oral report has no impact on County General Fund contributions.
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director, x4434