http://www.clasp.org/issues/rss/topic_publications.xml?type=temporary_assistance&id=0002 Resources and Publications from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) en-us Tue, 21 May 2013 21:26:52 -0500 info@clasp.org webmaster@clasp.org 40 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/520.pdf Updated October 2012. Legislators in a number of states have proposed to test all TANF recipients for drug use. This updated brief explains that random drug testing may be unconstitutional, and is a costly and ineffective way to identify individuals in need of substance abuse treatment. Screening, targeted testing programs, and enhanced treatment options are a better approach to helping TANF families affected by substance abuse. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/520.pdf Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600 /resources_and_publications/publication?id=1079&list=publications Twenty-three states around the country are considering requiring drug tests for recipients of programs like welfare (TANF) and food stamps. Elizabeth Lower-Basch discusses which states are proposing these tests and why she believes that they are unnecessary. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=1079&list=publications Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600 /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 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-testimony-on-nontraditional-students-to-ACSFA.pdf On Sept. 30, 2011, the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance held a hearing on higher education regulations and nontraditional students. CLASP submitted comments focusing on the primary barriers to access and persistence for nontraditional students and promising strategies and policies and the role of the federal government in helping nontraditional students in overcoming the barriers. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-testimony-on-nontraditional-students-to-ACSFA.pdf Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 /resources_and_publications/publication?id=0932&list=publications CLASP senior policy analyst, Elizabeth Lower-Basch, testified during the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources Hearing on Use of Data Matching to Improve Customer Service, Program Integrity, and Taxpayer Savings. CLASP shares the concern with reducing error rates and fraud to save taxpayer funds, preserve funding for those who are truly eligible for programs, and protect public support for programs. Data matching can reduce administrative costs by sharing information collected by one program with another, and reducing the number of visits that customers must make to various offices. This also improves customer service, and reduces the time that applicants must take away from work or other responsibilities. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0932&list=publications Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600 /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 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0600 /admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-DC-time-limits-testimony.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-DC-time-limits-testimony.pdf Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /resources_and_publications/publication?id=0758&list=publications As of September 30, 49 states (plus the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and 25 tribes) have been awarded a total of $5 billion from the TANF Emergency Fund. This fact sheet shows the share of its maximum allocation that each state has received. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0758&list=publications Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /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. (Some states revised March 2011). http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0808&list=publications Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /resources_and_publications/publication?id=0787&list=publications This shows the amounts that states could received under H.R. 5893 "Investing In American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010", released Wednesday July 28, 2010 by the House Ways and Means Committee. It renames the TANF Emergency Fund as the Emergency Fund for Job Creation and Assistance and extends it through FY 2011. Under this bill, states could receive up to 30 percent of their adjusted block grant during FY 2011 http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0787&list=publications Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/PaS.pdf One in a series of briefs profiling promising approaches to supporting education and training programs under TANF in spite of the limits imposed by the federal rules. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/PaS.pdf Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/Arkansas-Career-Pathways.pdf One in a series of briefs profiling promising approaches to supporting education and training programs under TANF in spite of the limits imposed by the federal rules. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Arkansas-Career-Pathways.pdf Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/RTW.pdf One in a series of briefs profiling promising approaches to supporting education and training programs under TANF in spite of the limits imposed by the federal rules. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/RTW.pdf Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/KEYS.pdf One in a series of briefs profiling promising approaches to supporting education and training programs under TANF in spite of the limits imposed by the federal rules. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/KEYS.pdf Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/AccessTestimony.pdf Testimony for the Record for Hearing on TANF's Role in Providing Assistance to Struggling Families http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/AccessTestimony.pdf Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 /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 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/DC-TANF-ECF.pdf In this testimony delivered to the Human Services Committee of the DC City Council, Ms. Lower-Basch highlights some of the ways to draw down TANF Emergency Funds based on already budgeted expenditures and third-party contributions. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/DC-TANF-ECF.pdf Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-DC-sanctions-testimony.pdf As part of the budget gap closing process, the District of Columbia is considering imposing increased sanctions on TANF recipients. In this testimony for the DC Council, Elizabeth Lower-Basch reports on the research on TANF sanctions. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-DC-sanctions-testimony.pdf Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 /resources_and_publications/publication?id=0486&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 2007. This set of state-by-state charts shows how each state reported using its TANF and MOE funds in FY 2007. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0486&list=publications Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/0500.mp3 This audio conference highlights Transitional Jobs programs to help individuals with barriers to employment enter and succeed in the labor market, and features new opportunities created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to develop and expand such programs. It ws co-sponsored by the National Transitional Jobs Network. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/0500.mp3