Making Every Hour Count

Transcription

1 Making Every Hour Count Reporting Strategies to Maximize Client Flexibility CalWORKs Training Academy December 5, 2017

2 Welcome and Introductions Geoffrey Miller, CDSS Performance Oversight Section Chief Bill Velasquez, Federal Data Reporting & Analysis Bureau Staff Services Manager I Michael Billingsley, CDSS Performance and Policy Research Analyst II

3 Presentation Overview Reformed CalWORKs CalWORKs and TANF requirements Aligning Activity Time Limits Reporting Time Limited Activities Vocational Education Job Search/Job Readiness WPR Status Question / Answer

4 A Reformed CalWORKs

5 A Reformed CalWORKs Senate Bill 1041 (Chapter 47, Statutes of 2012) WTW 24-Month Time Clock (WTW 24-MTC) Aligned hourly requirements with TANF Reengaged short-term young child exempt (AB X4 4) New once-in-a-lifetime young child exemption Semi-annual reporting Cal-Learn restoration

6 A Reformed CalWORKs Assembly Bill 74 (Chapter 21, Statutes of 2013) Online CalWORKs Appraisal Tool (OCAT) Changes to up-front sequence of WTW activities (Initial Engagement) Family Stabilization (FS) Expanded Subsidized Employment (ESE)

7 WTW 24-MTC 24 cumulative months of 48 months on aid More flexible activities Less strict hourly requirements No activity time limits Four years of education and training Two years of full-time education using the WTW 24-MTC One year of full-time education meeting CalWORKs federal standards (12 month limit) Fourth year in part-time education (combined with work activities)

8 WTW Hourly Requirements CalWORKs minimum standards (24-MTC) Increased flexibility for job preparation No core hour requirement / lower hourly requirement for some AUs Full array of activities available No activity time limits CalWORKs federal standards Must meet after or to preserve WTW 24-MTC Core hour requirement More work-like activities Time limited education and job search State requirements based on, but not identical to TANF requirements

9 A New WTW Flow Work-first approach to work-focused Initial Engagement Upfront identification and treatment of barriers WTW 24-MTC CalWORKs Minimum Standards More flexible activities and services Enhanced employment preparation Emphasis on barrier removal CalWORKs Federal Standards Progress to higher levels of participation

10 A Reformed CalWORKs and the TANF Framework

11 Flexibility and Accountability CalWORKs More Flexible (WTW 24-MTC) Lower Hourly Requirements No Core Requirements Longer Activity Time Limits Exemptions TANF Less Flexible Strict Hourly Requirements Core Hourly Requirements Activity Time Limits All WEI Required/Few Exceptions Less Flexible Meet CalWORKs federal standards after 24 months (aligned with TANF)

12 Hourly Requirements Singleparent, child under 6 Singleparent no child under 6 Twoparents CalWORKs Minimum Standards Federal Standards 20 hours weekly 20 core hours weekly 30 hours weekly 30 (20 core) hours weekly 35 hours weekly 35 (30 core) hours weekly TANF Hourly Requirements 20 core hours weekly 30 (20 core) hours weekly 35 (30 core) hours weekly Average Total hours divided by 4.33 Total hours divided by 4.33 Total hours divided by 4.33 Activities/ Time Limits All CalWORKs activities No activity time limits Core and non-core activities Time limited education and job search / job readiness Core and non-core activities Time limited education and job search / job readiness CalWORKs exemptions CalWORKs exemptions TANF Exclusions and Disregards

13 CalWORKs Federal Standards and TANF Requirements Separate yet aligned Identical in: Core and non-core countable work activities Hourly participation requirements Calculation of participation hours Time limited activities

14 CalWORKs Federal Standards and TANF Differences: Requirements CalWORKs exemptions vs. TANF exclusions/disregards Two-parent AU vs. Two-parent family FLSA deeming Alignment of activity time limits

15 CalWORKs and TANF Requirements Intent: WTW 24-MTC requirements meeting TANF WPR CalWORKs federal standards meeting TANF WPR requirements Implementation depends on: Alignment of CalWORKs and TANF activity time limits (to the extent possible) Reporting activities in appropriate categories (ACL 17-08)

16 The challenge TANF Time Limits Vocational Education (12 Months Lifetime) Job Search and Job Readiness (4 consecutive/6 total weeks in a 12-month period) WTW 24-MTC Vocational Education Barrier Removal activities (job search and job readiness)

17 Aligning Activity Time Limits CalWORKs Federal Standards and TANF In order to Prevent burning time-limited activities during the WTW 24-MTC Ensure CalWORKs federal standards count positively toward the WPR By Reporting activities in the TANF sample appropriately Recording participation in the casefile

18 Reporting and Tracking Time Limits All cases subject to TANF activity time limits Sample cases: data reported in accordance with ACL 17-08; document in casefile Non-sample cases: track time limited activities reportable (if had been pulled in the sample) under ACL 17-08; document in the casefile. Example: client using the WTW 24-MTC, voc ed hours reportable as other and is not counted against 12-month time limit.

19 Misalignment of Activity Time Limits The CalWORKs and TANF activity time limits become misaligned when: Vocational Education CalWORKs exempt or excused volunteers CalWORKs initial engagement period Job search/job readiness as an initial engagement activity

20 Reporting Time Limited Activities

21 Reporting Time Limited Activities Vocational Education (ACL 17-08) Using the WTW 24-MTC» Report as other work activities Meeting CalWORKs federal standards Core met with vocational education (12-month limit)» Report as vocational education Core met with another activity(ies)» Report as non-core job skills training directly related to employment or education directly related to employment

22 Example of Voc Ed Federal Data Reporting Sarah is in her second year as a full-time community college student. She exhausted her federal 12-month limit on vocational education Now using her WTW 24-MTC to meet CalWORKs minimum standards. She is assigned to vocational education on the left side of the WTW plan. Federal Reporting Sarah is pulled into the WPR sample Participation in education while using the WTW 24-MTC is reported as other work activities.

23 Reporting Time Limited Activities Job Search and Job Readiness (ACL 17-08) Pre-WTW plan or using the WTW 24-MTC Hours in job search and job readiness (not meeting core requirement) should not count on the TANF 4 consecutive week, and 6-week limit» Report as other work activities If pre-wtw plan core and overall met» Report as job search and job readiness Meeting CalWORKs federal standards (WTW Plan) Hours in job search and job readiness count toward the TANF 4 consecutive week, and 6-week limit» Report as job search and job readiness If TANF time limit exceeded within the 12-month period or core is met with another activity(ies)» Report as other work activities

24 Example of Job Search and Job Readiness Federal Data Reporting Matt is participating in job search and job readiness as an initial engagement activity (pre- WTW plan). Matt is participating enough hours to meet CalWORKs federal standards; however, he has not yet entered a WTW plan and is not yet subject to CalWORKs hourly requirements. Federal Reporting Matt is pulled into the WPR sample. The county determines his pre-wtw plan participation meets TANF requirements his participation is reported as job search and job readiness.

25 Example of Job Search and Job Readiness Federal Data Reporting Robin has a 20-hour requirement She is using the WTW 24-MTC to participate in job readiness activities (10 hours per week) and Adult basic education (10 hours per week). She has time remaining on her federal job search and job readiness time limit Meeting CalWORKs minimum standards. Federal Reporting Robin is pulled into the WPR sample Participation in job search and job readiness while using the WTW 24-MTC is report as other work activities.

26 WPR STATUS Overall WPR FFY Required 50.0% 50.0% 50.0% 50.0% Achieved 25.1% 29.8% 55.7% 60.7% Two-Parent WPR FFY Required 90.0% 90.0% 90.0% 90.0% Achieved 30.9% 25.5% 61.4% 69.9%

27 State WPR Penalty Status Original Penalties $ 1.8 BILLION Projected Penalty Estimate $ 40 Million

28 Looking ahead Mitigated WPR Risk.Currently Expanded CalWORKs Client Flexibility Variables: Federal Changes? Economic Outlook?

29 Questions? Geoffrey Miller, Section Chief Phone: Bill Velasquez, Staff Services Manager I Bill.Velasquez@dss.ca.gov Phone: Michael Billingsley, Research Analyst Michael.Billingsley@dss.ca.gov Phone: