IT'S A NEW DAY'S JOURNEY AND I'M
GLAD
When helpful programs and compassion are
built into the welfare system, families can get a real shot at moving toward
economic security for good. Sometimes this means helping a woman earn her
G.E.D., sometimes it is ensuring she has reliable transportation, sometimes
it is finding appropriate care for a special needs child and sometimes it is
helping a mother access a higher education. In the midst of the dismal news
about families remaining in poverty, we note here that some Maine families
are succeeding. This is due in large part to the fact that Maine has created
several unique and promising programs to help families on TANF get on their
feet.
Transportation assistance. Working in
a rural state without being able to afford reliable transportation is almost
impossible. Even in urban areas where bus service exists it is often limited
and isn't a reliable source of transportation to some locations or for some
shifts. Maine has developed some promising practices to help with
transportation. The ASPIRE Program provides families with reimbursement for
mileage up to a capped amount, covers up to $500 in car repairs annually and
pays, on a one-time basis, for minimum mandatory insurance coverage. Without
this help, parents on TANF who own cars would have little hope of keeping
them on the road.
But what about the many families who cannot
afford a car to begin with? To help with the purchase of a car, Maine
established Good Wheels, a program that despite limited funding and long
waiting lists has been very successful in helping working TANF families
purchase cars with low-interest car loans.
Childcare help. Families with younger
children need childcare to work. Maine pays for childcare so that families
can participate in the ASPIRE program while they are on TANF. In 1997, Maine
eliminated the one-year limit on transitional childcare for parents who
leave TANF for work. Now subsidized childcare is available to them (with
sliding co-payments based on income) until they reach 85% of the state's
median wage. More recently, the state legislature enacted a law to help make
the transition to paid work smoother for people on TANF, by allowing the
TANF program to pay their childcare subsidy to their provider, rather than
requiring the TANF recipient to pay for childcare up front (when they may
not get their first paycheck for weeks) and receive reimbursement later.
Multiple barrier programs and individual
flexibility. Maine has contracted with several specialized service
providers to help families who have more than one obstacle to overcome
before they can enter the workforce. These "multi-barrier"
programs have often been successful in helping families to find work or
obtain federal disability benefits if appropriate. For example, one project,
which has served almost 1000 families in the last 3 years, placed 581 in
jobs and helped more than 100 gain federal disability benefits. The
remaining families returned to the ASPIRE program to get assistance in
searching for work. Caseworkers in the multi-barrier programs have lower
caseloads, are able to spend more time with the families determining their
needs and providing services, and, most importantly, are able to place
families in activities that, although often not "countable" toward
federal participation rates, are more effective in helping families gain
economic security.
Caseworkers in the ASPIRE program are also
able to better individualize a person's program if that person is unable to
fully meet the participation requirements for "good cause." Good
cause can include caring for a disabled family member, confronting mental
illness, or overcoming the effects of domestic violence. Many ASPIRE
participants with good cause take part in activities that build the basic
skills to move into the workforce, such as G.E.D. or other basic training,
or participate in life skills programs through Women Work and Community.
Support for education. Maine has a
longstanding tradition of promoting education as a route out of welfare and
poverty. Maine's first-in-the-nation Parents as Scholars program has helped
hundreds of TANF families obtain a two or four-year college degree and move
into sustainable employment with a livable wage and benefits. Maine also
encourages vocational education for families, up to the 12-month federal
limit. [mh1]
Increased food stamp access. With a
median wage of $8.00 per hour, and annual incomes either at or just above
the poverty level, most parents who have left TANF are still not making ends
meet. The food stamp program plays a critical role in supplementing the food
budget for low-wage working parents. Maine has made food stamps more
accessible for working families by not imposing stringent asset tests on
families with children - for example on the car they need to get to work --
that could be a barrier to receiving food stamps.
Medicaid expansions. Using the new
Children's Health Insurance Program and increased federal opportunities for
expanding Medicaid for parents, Maine has expanded health care to children
up to 200% of poverty and to their parents up to 150% of the poverty level.
This has made a dramatic difference for Maine families leaving TANF. Among
unemployed families surveyed in 1994, 47% said fear of losing Medicaid was
one reason they were not working. Surveyed in 2001, only 12.5% of unemployed
families feared losing Medicaid if they obtained work. Thanks to increased
access to the Medicaid Program for both parents and children, thousands of
Maine families are able to continue working without fear of losing health
insurance. This is particularly important given the relatively high
incidence of chronic health problems for families and the low rate of
private health insurance that is available and affordable for these workers.
The following stories are heartening examples
of how the right kind of supports at the right time can make the difference
for a family on TANF. We must learn from these successes so we can build on
what works. The key is having a variety of supports available to help
families with different needs and obstacles. It is also important to address
families' barriers to work before requiring them to participate in work they
are not yet prepared for. Reauthorization has the potential to make these
successes the rule rather than the exception.
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