Background:

The Department of Social and Health Services administers the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) federal block grant. The use of TANF funds is limited to the following purposes:

provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives;
end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;
prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies; and
encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

Washington's TANF program is called WorkFirst. Under WorkFirst, recipients receive a comprehensive evaluation prior to referral to job search activities. The evaluation is facilitated by a WorkFirst specialist and covers a broad range of topics. Information obtained through the evaluation process is used to develop an individual responsibility plan (IRP) for the recipient. The IRP includes an employment goal, a plan for obtaining employment as quickly as possible, and a description of services to remove barriers to employment and to enable the recipient to obtain and keep employment.

As a condition of receiving federal funds for the WorkFirst program, states must meet work participation rates for those families receiving the federal funds. Work participation rates are determined by dividing the number of families receiving WorkFirst grants that are engaged in work activities by the total number of families receiving the grants. Unless a good cause exemption applies, recipients of public assistance must be engaged in work or work activities as a condition of continued eligibility. The federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 modified how work participation rates are calculated and the type of activities states may count in determining participation rates. In order to meet federal work participation requirements, WorkFirst parents must participate 30 hours per week in countable activities. The first 20 of these hours must be in a core activity, such as job search, subsidized or unsubsidized employment, or vocational education. Once this 20-hour core activity requirement is met, the remaining 10 hours may be in a core or non-core activity.

WorkFirst training and education programs are available at all 34 state community and technical college campuses as well as through community-based organizations and some private colleges and include the following:

Customized Job Skills Training: short-term (8 - 22 weeks) employer-driven training to quickly develop skills for work.
High Wage/High Demand, Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST), and Vocational Education: one-year certificate and degree programs targeting high-wage jobs in high-demand occupations. WorkFirst tuition assistance is available to help cover tuition, books, and fees.
Work-Based Learning: externships, clinical experiences, co-operative learning, and Work Study opportunities to provide authentic work experiences in conjunction with formal training designed to enhance employability and help parents secure higher wages at job entry.
Wage Progression: job skills and education to increase skills and earning potential, including part-time vocational education courses.
Other basic skills and employment-related training programs to address specific training gaps, including limited English and basic skill deficiencies. Training may focus on building job skills through improved English or literacy levels.

Other State Programs Designed to Assist Low-Income Families.

In addition to WorkFirst, there are a number of other state programs designed to support parents who are working to improve the financial well-being of their families, including:

Working Connections Child Care: child care subsidies for households with income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL).
Basic Food: monthly food benefits for households with income up to 200 percent FPL.
Transitional Medical Assistance: post-WorkFirst extensions of family medical benefits for up to 12 months for families who meet certain criteria. Children in low-income families also may qualify for coverage under other medical programs.
Transitional Food Assistance: post-WorkFirst food assistance for up to six months.
Career Services: up to $650 over six months and job retention/wage progression services for parents leaving WorkFirst and low-income parents who are working 30 or more hours a week.