Transitioning TANF Recipients to Work

Links to Roadmap page and Parent to Parent page

TANF – What Is It?

TANF stands for Temporary Aid to Needy Families. It is a part of 1996 federal welfare reform designed to assist folks in moving toward self-sufficiency. This time limited program is administered by the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), While receiving cash benefits, recipients are required to participate in approved work activities at a level consistent with full-time employment when determined feasible for the individual by DFCS. Activities under the general heading of “work activity” include both primary activities such as employment, training or work experience, and participation in secondary activities such as job readiness, life skills training, academic skill building, and GED preparation. Employment is the desirable outcome. Forty eight months is the typical TANF limit in Georgia.

The GoodWorks! Service Strategy

In 1998, the Federal Government enacted the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) creating a national workforce system which included a consumer driven, one-stop service delivery system and the involvement of multiple partners. This set the stage for the development of Georgia’s unique TANF service delivery strategy – GoodWorks!, a creation of the Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. In 1999, the Georgia Departments of Human Resources (DHR) and Labor (DOL) made a contractual agreement which has been renewed every year to date to help hard-to-serve welfare recipients become employed. This is known as the Intensive Services Strategy track of GoodWorks!. The second
track is labeled Core Services.

The GoodWorks! Intensive Service Strategy was the original and sole strategy until 2001 and is modeled after supported employment. It employs the premise that people learn to work by working. GoodWorks! was designed to enhance success with long-term TANF recipients with minimal or no work experience and multiple barriers. Additional criteria include a willingness to participate. Eligibility is determined by DFCS. There is no open referral system.

GoodWorks! is a holistic approach designed to address all barriers to employment
and to provide a better quality of life for the participants and their families.
Each recipient receives a thorough assessment by a professional Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor prior to beginning his/her work program. After further on-the-job assessment, he/she designs their own work plan with a collaborative team of experts, including a minimum of representatives from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), DOL, DFCS, Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE), the Provider agency, and other key persons selected by the participant. Objectives are designed to eliminate barriers and achieve employment outcomes. All members have specific roles to play and assignments to carry out. Periodic meetings are held to ensure progress is being made.

People who have successfully transitioned from welfare to work are an important part of this process as well as trained professionals in social, employment, and education fields. Participants move through work assessment, work adjustment, and finally employment. Hourly wages are paid to participants for work as they move through this process. Job coaches lend supports on the job. Auxiliary supports are also provided, such as upgrading job skills and work habits, GED training and other coursework, as identified. Social services provide a safety net and assist participants in locating child care, housing, medical care, mental health services, drug treatment, or other services to help ensure successful employment.

GoodWorks! Core Services is more inclusive in its service delivery. These services are open to TANF applicants, TANF recipients (including 18 and 19 year olds) and non-custodial parents. Comprehensive assessments are available for over 1,000 TANF recipients who state they have a disability or are suspected of having a disability.

GoodWorks! services include assessment, development of employability plans of action, job search workshops, job development, placement, and monitoring. As with Intensive Services, there is participation by partner agencies. Core Services is the track to use with the recipient who has manageable barriers and needs immediate job placement and/or job training.

Other TANF Resources

GoodWorks! for Kids targets children between the ages of 14-21 who have risk factors or barriers that make it difficult for them to make a successful transition into the workforce. Services motivate them to remain in school through fostering work ethics and offering an array of opportunities ranging from summer programs to job readiness training and job development. For more information contact:

GoodWorks!
148 Andrew Young International Blvd., N.E.
Suite 650, Sussex Place
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: (404) 232-3775
Fax: (404) 232-3792

Placement on Work Experience sites is handled through DFCS. This counts as work activity for TANF as described above and can be used on one’s resume.

Subsidized Employment is arranged through DFCS. There is limited availability and one must qualify through assessment by DTAE. DFCS contracts with the employer who receives Targeted Tax Credit for hiring a Medicaid recipient. The employer receives the recipient’s TANF check. In turn, the TANF recipient is employed a minimum of 30 hours receiving at least a minimum wage.

Descriptors of Mothers who are or have been on TANF

Many TANF mothers have never been employed.
Many TANF mothers have a “me against the world” attitude.
Many TANF mothers struggle with poverty issues.
Many TANF mothers grew up with their families being on welfare.
Some TANF mothers are angry and resentful of DFCS workers.
Some TANF mothers have limited education.
Some TANF mothers have limited time management skills.
Some TANF mothers have been victims of domestic violence.
Some TANF mothers have undiagnosed disabilities.
Some TANF mothers have children in need of specialized supports.
Many TANF mothers face multiple problems that can be overwhelming to them.

Tips For Working Successfully With TANF Mothers

Be persistent.
Sometimes you have to show tough love and push people beyond their comfort zone.
Look for life skills they have developed and build on that capacity.
Celebrate small successes.
Work to build their self esteem and self confidence.
Assist them in obtaining appropriate work clothes.
Practice / role play job interviews so they will be prepared to answer questions.
Look for reliable care for the children in the family so the mother can work.
Lack of transportation and reliable child care can be the biggest barriers to success.
Don’t get angry in working with people.
Deal with issues and problems firmly, but calmly.
Help them think of alternative ways of coping and communicating.
Be a creative problem solver.
Pay attention to people’s basic survival needs (food, shelter, heat, electricity, etc.)
Be aware of resources within the local community.
Encourage Moms to make their owns phone calls, appointments, etc., but follow up to see it has been done.
Avoid becoming co-dependent!
Avoid sounding patronizing! Talking down! You will lose them.
Be fair.

Challenges Faced

Having to keep multiple appointments with DFCS can take away from people’s time at work. They may have to see different DFCS workers depending upon the services they receive. These appointments were not always coordinated and could be a hindrance to seeking and maintaining employment.
Sometimes there are negative perceptions of the welfare recipient as a lazy person, “on the take.” These attitudes were seen from service providers, businesses, and community members at large. It influences how the person is treated and feeds into their anger, frustration, and self perception.
Lack of local Intensive Services Providers. Some recipients may have to travel out of their communities for services. This may cause an obstacle for some.
Communication breakdowns with those participants who do not have telephones. If you can address this issue in advance and work out alternative methods, for example, agreed upon times to be home or agreed upon meeting places, it can ward off much frustration.
GoodWorks! is not for everyon. Instead of viewing the situation as a “failure” and becoming angry with the participant and/or yourself, spend your energy on identifying the needs and directing the recipient to the resources that will best serve her needs.

Instilling a Work Ethic For People Who Have Not Been Employed Before

There is a lot of pressure for them not to succeed. This pressure comes from many different people within their lives. Families are sometimes resentful of the family member who becomes employed. They have low expectations of what the person can do and those beliefs are hard to overcome. In the instance of there being domestic violence or drug addiction within the family, the recipient going to work and changing in their own personal power can be threatening to others.

It is important for the TANF Recipient to have responsibilities in this process and to feel ownership and some control. They need to become aware that it is their responsibility to call in if they are going to be late or absent. They may forget to request time off and to schedule it in advance. They need to understand that work is a priority.

They need to learn to communicate rather than manipulate. It takes a lot to build trust. Manipulation for many people has become a coping strategy. They may try to work the system or people within the work site to their advantage. Some people may not be honest in their communications and it needs to be confronted when it occurs. It sometimes requires “tough love” and sometimes hand holding to help build their self confidence.

GLOSSARY

DFCS – Department of Family and Children Services
DHR – Department of Human Resources
DOL – Department of Labor
DTAE – Department of Technical and Adult Education
GWS – Georgia Workforce System
TANF – Temporary Aid to Needy Families
VR – Vocational Rehabilitation
WIA – Workforce Investment Act

Web Sites

Georgia GoodWorks!: Transitional Work and Intensive Support for TANF Recipients Nearing the Time Limit. This is approximately a 50 page research report by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. on Georgia’s model.

GoodWorks! Guidelines can be found at: http://www.dol.state.ga.us/wp/goodworks.htm



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