http://www.clasp.org/issues/rss/highlights.xml?type=temporary_assistance Featured Highlights from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) en-us Sat, 18 May 2013 13:41:02 -0500 info@clasp.org webmaster@clasp.org 40 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Transitional-Jobs-Report_Warland-Young-Lower-Basch.pdf A new paper from the National Transitional Jobs Network and CLASP provides strategies and makes recommendations on leveraging and blending multiple sources of funding to support subsidized employment programs. In addition to highlighting the opportunities to use block grant funding, from both TANF and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), the paper identifies efforts to fund these jobs by averting future expenses associated with prisons and other corrections measures and by leveraging public contracting and bidding opportunities. The webinar is also available. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Transitional-Jobs-Report_Warland-Young-Lower-Basch.pdf Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=temporary_assistance&id=0060 Attached is an excerpt from Elizabeth Lower-Basch's February 28 testimony before the Human Resources Subcommittee of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on waiving work requirements in the TANF Program. The subcommittee hearing focused on reviewing the Health and Human Services' proposed waivers of TANF work requirements. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=temporary_assistance&id=0060 Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/TANF-Reauthorization-Goals.pdf This updated Policy Brief argues that poverty alleviation and prevention of material hardship and creation of effective pathways to economic opportunity should be the goals of TANF reauthorization and recommends program changes that would more effectively promote these goals. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/TANF-Reauthorization-Goals.pdf Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=temporary_assistance&id=0057 In recent years, proposals to require TANF applicants to take drug tests have received a great deal of attention. However, states have other, more effective and less stigmatizing ways to identify applicants and recipients for whom substance abuse is a barrier to employment. In a new policy brief, CLASP explains options states may use for addressing addiction among TANF recipients and highlights some promising practices. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=temporary_assistance&id=0057 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Subsidized-Employment-Paper-Final.pdf During 2009 and 2010, 39 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and eight Tribal TANF programs received approval to use $1.3 billion from the TANF Emergency Fund to create new subsidized employment programs or expand existing ones. This paper examines how states used the flexibility they were given to design and implement subsidized employment programs and what challenges they faced in getting them up and running, and draws lessons for future such programs. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Subsidized-Employment-Paper-Final.pdf Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Guide-to-Use-of-TANF-Funds.pdf This brief summaries the federal rules regarding use of federal TANF funds and state funds claimed towards the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Guide-to-Use-of-TANF-Funds.pdf Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=temporary_assistance&id=0056 Concerns about the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) extension being held hostage in an election-year conflict over waivers proved groundless, as Congress included a six-month extension of TANF, without changes, as part of the Continuing Resolution passed last week. This extension was critical, as TANF provides funding for child care, job training, and other services for low-income families, as well as cash assistance. Without an extension, TANF funding would have expired on September 30th, jeopardizing these essential programs, and creating significant problems for state governments. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=temporary_assistance&id=0056 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Big-Ideas-for-Job-Creation-Rethinking-Work-Opportunity.pdf This paper is part of the Big Ideas for Job Creation in a Jobless Recovery project, which includes proposals from more than a dozen leading experts on practical, scalable proposals to create more jobs for the U.S. economy. CLASP Senior Policy Analyst Elizabeth Lower-Basch recommends that deeper, more targeted subsidies administered at the state level are an effective way to encourage employers to hire disadvantaged workers and create jobs. There are federal subsidies such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) currently in place to encourage hiring of disadvantaged workers, but in contrast, they often provide large windfalls to employers in low-wage, high-turnover industries without creating any net new jobs or changing who they hire. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Big-Ideas-for-Job-Creation-Rethinking-Work-Opportunity.pdf Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0007 This page provides resources that highlight innovative state strategies, opportunities, and CLASP federal policy recommendations on education and training within the TANF program.It also includes a series of policy briefs that describe programs in Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania that allow TANF recipients to participate and succeed in education and training programs. http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0007 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/2011-TANF-Extension.pdf In late November, the House and Senate extended the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant for the duration of federal fiscal year 2011, as part of H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. This fact sheet summarizes the changes made by this bill, which President Obama is expected to sign soon. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/2011-TANF-Extension.pdf Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0808&list=publications The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published data concerning use of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds in FY 2009. This set of state-by-state charts shows how each state reported using its TANF and MOE funds in FY 2009. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0808&list=publications Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-Finance-Committee-testimony-for-the-record.pdf In September 2010, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on Welfare Reform: A New Conversation on Women and Poverty. CLASP's testimony for the record focuses on the experience of the TANF Emergency Fund and the lessons that can be taken from it for reauthorization. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-Finance-Committee-testimony-for-the-record.pdf Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=temporary_assistance&id=0008 Testimony of Julie Strawn at the recent House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the role of education and training in the TANF program. http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=temporary_assistance&id=0008 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/TANF-ECF-Use-Sept-30.pdf As of September 30, 2010 HHS had approved awards for the full $5 billion under the TANF Emergency Fund. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/TANF-ECF-Use-Sept-30.pdf Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/AccessTestimony.pdf Testimony for the Record for Hearing on TANFaEUR(TM)s Role in Providing Assistance to Struggling Families http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/AccessTestimony.pdf Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Emergency-Fund-Extension.pdf Congress should extend the TANF Emergency Fund as soon as possible so that states can continue to start and expand subsidized jobs programs. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Emergency-Fund-Extension.pdf Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CashAssistance.pdf This Policy Brief summarizes trends in cash assistance since welfare reform -- declining caseloads, progress in employment and poverty reduction in the early years, with setbacks since 2001, and an intense focus on meeting work participation rate requirements. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CashAssistance.pdf Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/TANFBlockGrant.pdf This Policy Brief explores the wide range of programs for low-income families supported by the TANF block grant and the declining share of the grant dedicated to cash assistance. It also highlights the degree to which the grant has been eroded by inflation and population grown. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/TANFBlockGrant.pdf Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0659&list=publications The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published data concerning use of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds in FY 2008. This set of state-by-state charts shows how each state reported using its TANF and MOE funds in FY 2008. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0659&list=publications Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.orgresources_and_publications/publication?id=0561&list=publications This presentation provides an overview of the trends in welfare receipt and work since the 1996 creation of the TANF block grant and highlights the modest levels of caseload increase in the current recession. It concludes with some thoughts about TANF reauthorization, scheduled for 2010. http://www.clasp.orgresources_and_publications/publication?id=0561&list=publications