Welfare
Reform
Welfare
Reform in California
On
August 11, 1997, Governor Pete Wilson signed legislation
to enact Welfare Reform in California. This new program
is called "California Work Opportunity and Responsibility
to Kids" or CalWORKs. The program replaces the former
Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and the
Greater Avenues to Independence (GAIN) programs.
KEY
FEATURES OF CalWORKs INCLUDE:
-
60 MONTHS LIFETIME LIMITS FOR NONEXEMPT ADULTS
Based on federal law, adults are eligible for a cumulative
60 months of assistance under CalWORKs. There are continuing
safety-net benefits for children.
- WELFARE-TO-WORK
( WTW ) PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
Nonexempt
adults must take steps to become employed. By January
1 1999, all people in this group must be enrolled in activities
designed to help them find a job.
- WELFARE-TO-WORK
SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT PLANS
Services to assist participants to become employed will
be made available by the County, beginning with the Job
Search. Through this search, participants will test their
employability in the current labor market. If no job is
found, an in depth assessment will be done, resulting
in a comprehensive plan to achieve specific employment
goals.
- 18-24
MONTH TIME LIMITS FOR WELFARE-TO-WORK SERVICES
Current AFDC participants who transition to CalWORKs receive
24 months of Welfare-to-Work services. Individuals applying
for aid after January 1, 1998, can receive 18 months of
services, with the possibility of a 6 month extension.
-
NEW CHILD CARE SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM
Child care is provided for in a three stage approach:
1.
Care when a parent participates in Job Club and Job Search
services - managed by the Social Service Department.
2. Care while a parent is in training or working while
on aid - managed by a contractor of California Department
of Education ( CDE ).
3.
Care for those children whose parents have stable employment,
are off aid or diverted from aid. This is similar to the
current fund that pays for CDE subsidized child care -
managed by a CDE contractor.
A local child care council must be appointed jointly by
the County Board of Supervisors and the County Superintendent
of Schools to develop and oversee a local child care plan.
Safe
Havens is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to supporting women and their children who have
experienced any form of abuse. We have found a direct
correlation between poverty and abusive situations. Therefore
we have developed a "back to society's mainstream program"
This program includes those women who have completed the
Contra Costa County's Welfare to Work (WTW) program orientation.
Surveys done by the US Government sited many problems
facing Welfare Reform. The Safe Haven program is designed
to tackle those areas that have traditionally kept women
stuck in the Welfare System.
*
Job Availability
* No Work Experience
* Lack of Child care
* Lack of training
