Are Your Clients Ready to Set the 24 Month Time Clock? Technical Assistance Training on Utilizing the 24 Month Time Clock December 5-7, 2017
Welcome and Introductions CalWORKs Employment Bureau Program Oversight and Policy Section Geoffrey Miller, Section Chief David Dauer, Program Policy Unit Manager Kayla Paulick, Program Policy Analyst Michael Billingsley, Program Research Analyst
Presentation Overview A Reformed CalWORKs The 24-Month Time Clock Challenges and Opportunities
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
Assembly Bill 74 (Chapter 21, Statutes of 2013) Online CalWORKs Appraisal Tool (OCAT) Changes to up-front sequence of WTW activities Family Stabilization (FS) Expanded Subsidized Employment (ESE)
From Work-first to Work-focused Upfront identification and treatment of barriers More flexible activities and services Enhanced employment preparation Initial emphasis on barrier removal leading to higher levels of participation
A New WTW Flow Self Initiated Plan (SIP) Hourly Requirements Orientation Appraisal OCAT Initial Engagement Activity Assessment Develop WTW Plan CalWORKs Minimum Standards 24-MTC CalWORKs Federal Standards Not Sequential Job Search, Barrier Removal, FS
OCAT Fully implemented in 2015 Standardized Web-based Immediate referral to appropriate services Intended to be a holistic assessments of clients aspirations, abilities, and barriers
Initial Engagement Activities Family Stabilization Job Search/Job Club Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Domestic Abuse Services Other Services Homeless assistance Learning needs Special work, education, or other training programs
Assessment Review and Evaluate: Client goals and aspiration Supportive services needs Barriers and limitations Work readiness Effectiveness in initial engagement activities Develop WTW Plan Assigned activities Hourly requirements Supportive Services
WTW Hourly Requirements Singleparent, child under 6 Singleparent no child under 6 CalWORKs Minimum Standards (WTW 24-MTC) 20 hours 20 core hours CalWORKs Federal Standards 30 hours 30 (20 core) hours Two-parents 35 hours 35 (30 core) hours Total hours divided by 4.33 Total hours divided by 4.33 All CalWORKs activities No activity time limits Core and non-core activities Time limited education and job search / job readiness CalWORKs exemptions CalWORKs exemptions
WTW Hourly Requirements Flow Chart in ACL 14-80 Attachment A
Activities CalWORKs Minimum Standards (WTW24-MTC) (No Core activity requirements) Unsubsidized employment Self Employment Subsidized private or public sector employment Grant-based on-the-job training Work study Work experience Community Service Vocational Education On-the-job training Job search and job readiness Mental health services Substance abuse services Domestic abuse services Supported work and transitional employment Job skills training directly related to employment Satisfactory attendance in a secondary school or in a course leading to certificate of general educational development Education directly related to employment Adult basic education Participation required by school to ensure child s attendance Other activities necessary to assist in obtaining employment CalWORKs Federal Standards Core Activities Unsubsidized employment o Self employment Subsidized private or public sector employment o Grant-based on the-job-training o Work study Work experience Community Service Vocational education On-the-job training Job search and job readiness o Mental health services o Substance abuse services o Domestic abuse services Providing child care to community service program participants Non-Core Activities Job skills training directly related to employment Satisfactory attendance in a secondary school or in general educational development course Education directly related to employment Additional Activities Not Counted Other activities necessary to assist in obtaining employment
The WTW 24-Month Time Clock Flexible Paths to Positive Client Outcomes
WTW 24-MTC: A shift from the work-first paradigm Client-focused Remediation and Preparation Flexible Services Less Restrictive Work Requirements CalWORKs Minimum Standards Long-term approach to successful outcomes
24 months of flexibility Cumulative over 48 months No core hour requirement No activity time limits Lower hourly requirements for some Barrier removal Education and Training
Barrier Removal Activities 24 months of services: Mental Health Substance Abuse Domestic Violence Family Stabilization After WTW 24-MTC Continued services Limited to 4 consecutive/6 weeks total in 12-month period (Job search and job readiness)
Expanded Education & Training Up to 4 years Two years of full-time education using the WTW 24-MTC One year of full-time education meeting CalWORKs federal standards (Vocational Education 12 month limit) Fourth year in part-time education (combined with work activities)
Clock Stoppers Met CalWORKS federal standards WTW exemption Good cause 50 percent of monthly requirement Domestic abuse waiver WTW sanction Appraisal, job search, assessment, developing WTW plan Job search is 50 percent of WTW plan Excused parent
WTW 24-MTC Extensions Likely to be employed within six months Unique labor market temporary barrier to employment Education in progress Treatment in progress Diagnosed learning or other disability Hearing date established for SSI disability benefits Two-parent AU, one parent yet to exhaust 24-MTC
Transitioning to CalWORKs Federal Standards
End of WTW 24-MTC Transition Process ACL 15-03 Attachment B
End of WTW 24-MTC Transition Months 18-21 Months 18-23 Months 23-24 Month 24 Process WTW 43, Notice Of Your 24-MTC Ending Soon (county notification of months remaining on the 24-MTC) WTW 46, End of the 24-MTC Review Appointment Letter sent to client End of 24-MTC Appointment NA 1276, End of WTW 24-MTC Notice of Action sent to client
End of WTW 24-MTC Appointment Check List Determine if a WTW exemption applies Determine if a WTW 24-MTC extension applies (Complete the WTW 45, WTW 24-MTC Extension Determination form) Determine exact standing on the WTW 24-MTC Months unticked? Expiration date Revise or develop a new WTW Plan to meet CalWORKs federal standards
Transitioning to Federal Standards Required to meet CalWORKs federal standards only after a post-wtw 24-MTC WTW plan is in place Post-WTW 24-MTC WTW plan Supports client goals and addresses needs Occupational goals Education and training Employment barrier remediation Supportive services
CalWORKs Federal Standards State requirements based on, but not identical to federal TANF requirements Core hour requirements, time limited activities May stop a month from counting on the WTW 24-MTC Must meet after exhausting the WTW 24-MTC
Removed From Aid Identical to the Sanction process Applies after a client has exhausted the WTW 24-MTC and any extension to the WTW 24-MTC (regardless of whether post 24-MTC WTW plan is in place) Revised forms in ACL 15-62
WTW 24-MTC Observations
Service Utilization Changes Activity Category 5 year % change (2012-2017) Barrier Mitigation + 13.6% Employment + 9.1% Education/Training - 14.2% Data Source: WTW 25 & 25A
WTW Services and the Unemployment Rate, 2007-2016
Individuals 24-Month Time Clock Status
WTW 24-MTC Challenges and Opportunities
WTW 24-MTC Challenges Difficult to explain to clients Case complexities Time clock tracking WPR
WTW 24-MTC Opportunities For Administrative Improvements RAND study CalWORKS 2.0 Cal-OAR performance measures Automation changes WPR compliance For Clients No harm Relatively untested potential Individualized meaningful services
Successful CalWORKs Program Outcomes
Completed Certification Program Jack has a 4-year-old son and is married to Blithe who is on SSI. Jack WTW 24-MTC Attended a community college HVAC certification program (20 hours per week). Met CalWORKs federal standards Continued community college HVAC certification program (20 hours per week). Obtained an on-the-job training position with an AC repair company (10 hours per week). Was subsequently hired as a AC technician with the company after completing certification.
Family Stabilization & Employment Stacy is a single mom with an 8-year-old daughter. WTW 24-MTC Received Family Stabilization services to find an emergency homeless shelter, then transitional housing. CWD determined Good Cause, WTW 24-MTC stopped for 4 months. Received mental health/substance abuse services (5 hours per week), participated in community service (5 hours per week) and attended adult basic education to earn a GED (20 hours per week). Met CalWORKs federal standards Obtained a clerical job through subsidized employment (20 hours per week) and participated in customized job skills trainings through her employer (10 hours per week). Stacy s employer offered a full-time position as an administrative assistant through unsubsidized employment.
Contact Information Geoffrey Miller, Section Chief Email: Geoffrey.Miller@dss.ca.gov Phone: 916.654.6091 David Dauer, Unit Manager Email: David.Dauer@dss.ca.gov Phone: 916. 651.6567 Michael Billingsley, Research Analyst Email: Michael.Billingsley@dss.ca.gov Phone: 916.653.7264 Kayla Paulick, Program Analyst Email: Kayla.Paulick@dss.ca.gov Phone: 916.654.9416