A representative from Boulder County Community Services would like to know if any local governments have experience with targeting entry-level public sector jobs for low-income workers outside of a subsidized wage or On the Job Training (OJT) program? Boulder County Community Services and another county government is also interested in exploring policies, practices or other strategies to remove barriers to entry-level jobs at municipal and county governments.

A representative from the Washington State Department of Social & Health Services is seeking strategies to increase opportunities for public assistance recipients to maintain bank accounts with the goal of increasing financial literacy and financial management skills.

A representative from the Missouri Family Support Division is seeking information regarding Temporary Assistance diversion payments:

• What is the diversion payment amount (or how many months TA benefit does it equal)?
• What has been the annual cost of the diversion program to the state?
• How many/what percentage of TANF applicants opt for the diversion payment? What restrictions are imposed when an applicant opts for the diversion payment?
• Has the implementation of the diversion program had a positive impact on the TANF Work Participation Rate? If so, what was the overall impact?
• What has been the annual cost of the diversion program to the state?
• How many/what percentage of TANF applicants opt for the diversion payment?
• What restrictions are imposed when an applicant opts for the diversion payment?
• Has the implementation of the diversion program had a positive impact on the TANF Work Participation Rate? If so, what was the overall impact?

A representative from the New York Human Resources Administration would like to know if anyone recommends an assessment tool to measure the employment-related motivation level of cash assistance for clients? New York is looking for a tool that will allow them to compare motivational levels among different groups of clients to determine whether a particular intervention is successful in increasing clients motivation to find and maintain employment.

The Peer TA Network would like to know how States/Counties are handling increased demand in child care assistance despite decreased funding? What innovative approaches are being taken to serve low-income working families that need child care assistance?

A representative from the Oregon Department of Human Services is interested in learning about innovative strategies/best practices for intensive, short interval case management of TANF clients.

A representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare would like to learn about a verification process for when a client does a job search activity? Do States accept client statements for the number of hours of independent job search (such as out and about putting in applications and online applications which could be submitted from home)? Pennsylvania wants to see if there is precedent in other plans that the Feds have approved. Thanks from PA!

A representative from the Peer TA Network would like to know what job development strategies and specific curricula TANF programs have used to result in successful job placement and retention for TANF participants? This could include employer outreach, labor market research, subsidized employment and transitional jobs, strategies for special populations, using workforce intermediaries, and training for frontline workers.

A representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare would like to know what states do to manage employable TANF clients by allocating TANF payments (after-the-fact) based on participation?

The Peer TA Network is interested in potential topics that users are interested in for future Webinars.