Innovative Programs

SEE Hawaii Work Program

Mission/Goal of Program

The Supporting Employment Empowerment (SEE) Hawaii Work Program is a statewide subsidized employment program that involves the business community in the Universal Engagement effort to provide Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients with on-the-job training and meaningful employment opportunities. The SEE employee is able to meet federally defined work requirements and receives subsidized earned income while the SEE employer acquires an employee who is trained at a reduced cost.

SEE Hawaii Work takes the concept of apprenticeship and expands it into an effective training-for-hire model with private sector management. The State contracts with a private employment service agency to market SEE, take and fill job orders from companies, and provide ongoing support to employers and employees.

Programs/Services Offered

TANF recipients that are SEE participants can earn standard industry wages and receive the same benefits as other employees in a similar position, such as paid vacation and sick leave. SEE reimburses participating private employers for the SEE participant's wages at a rate equal to the state minimum wage plus $.50 for each additional $1.00 per hour paid over the minimum wage, and 14% of the total subsidized wages to cover training and employment related expenses, such as Unemployment Insurance, Workers Compensation and FICA. The SEE Hawaii Work “Graduates”; those who complete the reimbursement period have a 82.5% success rate of being retained by their employer.

Start Date
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
Type of Agency/Organization
State TANF Agency
City
Honolulu
State
Hawaii
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
TANF recipients
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
Subsidized Employment
Education and Training
On the Job Training
TANF Program Administration
Collaborations and Partnerships
Innovative Programs

SWIFT (Successful Incentives for TANF)

Mission/Goal of Program

ARCHS’ Missouri Community Work Support Grant assisted adults participating in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to remove sanctions through an innovative two-pronged approach focusing on “rapid response” engagement and “transitional job” training. Service area is St. Louis City and County. This program focuses on assisting TANF participants with multiple barriers i.e. limited work experience, sanctioned status, conciliation status, or residing in transitional housing, obtain work experience.

Programs/Services Offered

The program included several wrap-around and supportive services focused on engagement and work experience for these eligible TANF participants including: a five-month transitional job, clinical case management, life skills development, transportation assistance, childcare referral, payment for work related expenses, short term skills training, and substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health intervention. More than 80 area employers were recruited to participate providing thousands of hours in donated on-the-job-training.

Start Date
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Type of Agency/Organization
Other
City
St. Louis
State
Missouri
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
St. Louis City & County Sanctioned TANF Recipients
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
Job Readiness
Transitional Jobs
TANF Program Administration
Case Management
Sanctions
Innovative Programs

All Faith Community Services

Mission/Goal of Program

All Faith Community Services is a faith-based, self-help community service organization in Buckeye, Arizona. It is a non-profit, charitable, 501 (c) (3) which receives its funding from private donations, grants and charitable contributions. It is supported by churches, businesses and individuals who want to foster positive change in the community. All Faith provides emergency assistance, such as food, clothing and that to meet basic needs. However, it also provides the impetus, training and resources to get people from poverty to productivity. Through its individualized case management, training and support programs, All Faith takes a self-help approach to encourage individuals to - build work skills - get a job – overcome obstacles and improve their lives as well as those of their families.

Programs/Services Offered

There are a number of support programs offered at All Faith Community Services to address emergency needs: 

The Food Plus program is available to pregnant or post-partum women and children between the ages of one and six who are living in a household at 185% or less of poverty level.  The program also is available to seniors who are 60 or older living at 130% or less of poverty level.  The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is an ancillary food program which provides five food staples a month to low-income individuals.  They also provide Emergency Food & Baby Boxes to individuals and families based on the poverty guidelines.  They also support the community Famers’ Market

As part of their "One Stop Shop" All Faith has a number of great partnering agencies. Whether by appointment or walk-in these agencies are able to assist with:

  • SNAP Applications - also best known as "Food Stamp Benefits"
  • AHCCCS Applications - Medical Benefits
  • Senior Medicare/Medicaid Information
  • GED/Tutoring

In addition, STEPS (Skills-Training-Education/ Employment-Program-Services) provides All Faith’s clients with the necessary tools to get them trained and into the workforce.  All Faith’s STEPS program is a 3-month to 2-year program aimed at making sure that clients have the education, training and skills necessary to get them gainfully employed.

Start Date
Wednesday, October 1, 2003
Type of Agency/Organization
Community-based Organization
City
Buckeye
State
Arizona
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
Low income, no income, homeless, displaced workers, welfare-to-work, undocumented clients, those unable to get TANF, etc.
Topics/Subtopics
Asset Building
Financial Literacy and Education
TANF Program Administration
Collaborations and Partnerships
Innovative Programs

Faith Connections

Mission/Goal of Program

Faith Connections is an interdenominational, faith-based program in Wilson, North Carolina that works with government agencies to provide assistance to working families. The program is Wilson’s first collaborative program linking churches and pastors to those with needs unmet through public assistance. Faith Connections was designed by the Wilson County Department of Social Services (DSS) and is an accessible call-in resource. Program goals are to assist working families by providing the resources needed to maintain employment while supporting the unemployed with provisions to help them manage from week to week. The initiative's mission is to provide real time access to faith-community programs, services, and financial resources to alleviate "unmet" needs of families experiencing financial, personal, or family crisis. Faith Connections access pastors as individual needs arise that might best be addressed by their individual gifts and talents or the services/ resources offered by the ministry of their church.

Programs/Services Offered

Faith Connections is often a service to individuals unable to access assistance from DSS. The program has provided individuals with computers donated by a local organization, clothing items, cars, car repairs and financial assistance averaging 100 to 150 dollars. In addition, pastors provide counseling services and link recipients to local churches while strengthening the faith-based community in the Wilson area.

Since the program initially began through March 2010, 70 partnering churches/non-profits have participated in Faith Connections. The program has received national recognition and is part of a research project by the Charitable Choice Institute at the State University in New York.

Type of Agency/Organization
Other
Geographic Area
Rural
City
Wilson
State
North Carolina
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
Families in Need
Topics/Subtopics
Supportive Services
Post-employment Supports
TANF Program Administration
Collaborations and Partnerships
Innovative Programs

Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services

Mission/Goal of Program

The mission of the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services is to assist county residents to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency; provide services to strengthen individuals and families; and, join our community partners in the protection of vulnerable children and adults. The county provides co-located services and linkages to programs that assist low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs and achieve their maximum potential.

Programs/Services Offered

The Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services operates two Community Resource Centers (CRC) to provide low-income county residents with access to a range of programs and services. The CRCs are located in our Annapolis and Glen Burnie offices and provide One-Stop services to low-income county residents. The CRCs experience approximately 7,000 visits each month from county residents. The majority of these customers are applying for government benefits, including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance and Medicaid. However, a significant number also come into the CRC to access services from one of our numerous partners who are co-located within the CRC. Partners who provide services on site include:

  • Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation – AAWDC provides access to the Maryland Workforce Exchange and links job seekers with training opportunities and job vacancies. Primary Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services provided in the CRC focus on targeted populations including veterans, ex-offenders and low-skilled adults.
  • The Literacy Council of Anne Arundel County – provides adult literacy services to county residents through volunteer tutors. Visitors to the CRC may meet with a Literacy coordinator who can assess the individual’s needs and match the person with an available literacy tutor.
  • Health Choice – assists recipients of Medical Assistance to enroll in an approved Managed Care Organization to receive medical services. 
  • Division of Vocational Rehabilitative Services – assists county residents with disabilities by providing comprehensive assessments, access to training and employment supports.
  • Anne Arundel Community Action Partnership – conducts outreach and provides information regarding Head Start services available to county residents. Head Start enrollment services are provided directly in the CRC. The Community Action Partnership is also the county’s provider of Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program services.
  • Organization of Hispanic/Latin Americans of Anne Arundel County – provides information regarding health, employment, housing, immigration and legal services to Hispanic county residents.
  • YWCA of Anne Arundel County – provides domestic violence counseling services and referrals.
  • Family Support Center – provides holistic services on site to parents with children under three years of age. Services include GED and Adult Basic Education classes, After-School services and homework assistance, summer youth programs, support groups, Young Fathers and Responsible Parent Employment Network services for non-custodial parents, on-site child care services and case management services.
  • Jobs Work! Arundel (JWA) – provides specialized workforce development services for families receiving TANF benefits. JWA enrolls TANF recipients and delivers Career Corner, a three-week job readiness workshop. Upon completion of Career Corner, TANF recipients then move into the Placement Phase where they are engaged in employment with jobs developed by JWA staff or into Work Experience Internships and/or training and education activities.
  • Kinship Navigator Services –provides information, referral and limited case management services to Kinship Caregivers in the county. The Navigator also runs support groups on a regular basis for these Kinship Caregivers and coordinates with the county’s public schools Pupil Personnel Service and the county’s Department of Aging, among others.
Type of Agency/Organization
State TANF Agency
City
Annapolis
State
Maryland
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
Low-Income Residents of Anne Arundel County (approximately 7,000 visits per month)
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
Services Integration
Innovative Programs

Family Pathfinders

Mission/Goal of Program

In September 1996 Family Pathfinders was created by John Sharp, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in response to welfare reform. The program goal was to enlist community support for welfare reform efforts by partnering with faith and civic groups to form mentoring teams to work with families on their journey to self-sufficiency.  Over the years, they have expanded their mentoring program to serve additional low-income clients and the reentry population and broadened their programming to include job readiness and financial literacy.

In October 2014 Family Pathfinders was named a Top-Rated 2014 Nonprofit by GreatNonprofits and awarded a spot on the GreatNonprofits Hall of Fame. 

Programs/Services Offered

Mentors join hands with an individual or family for one year, helping them make the very difficult transition to financial stability.  Each mentor provides a broad range of support including budgeting, job preparation, decision making, emotional support, parenting advice and goal setting.  Mentors support a family by helping them set goals and create plans to attain those goals. In addition, mentors provide assistance with problem solving, connection to community resources, decision making, money management, parenting issues, and emotional support. They are closely involved in the lives of their clients.

Financial Literacy: classes help students identify ways to better manage their money, reduce expenses, save for emergencies and improve their self-advocacy skills in a fun and interactive setting. Using the FDIC “Money Smart” curriculum and class role play activities, the students learn basic steps for creating a household budget, choosing and using banking resources, identifying borrowing risks and benefits, improving credit and saving for financial goals. All students receive a “budget box” which is a portable file with tools to help them create a budget and manage their financial records and bills.

Financial Coaching: Pathfinders provides financial coaching to help low and moderate income people attain financial stability. Financial Coaching builds on financial (education/management) skills to address personal needs for improving financial behaviors. Each client-driven session is led by a volunteer Coach with training in budgeting, banking and borrowing, and credit.

Start Date
Sunday, September 1, 1996
Type of Agency/Organization
Non-profit social services agency
City
Fort Worth
State
Texas
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
Low income families, homeless individuals, TANF recipients, working poor
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
Mentoring
TANF Program Administration
Collaborations and Partnerships
Question / Response(s)

Question from State of Montana/DPHHS

Question Text

A representative from the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services would like to know if other States have a matrix, table, or other method to calculate countable hours for online job search activities?

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Date
March 2014
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
State of Montana/DPHHS
State
Montana
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
Job Search
TANF Program Administration
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from State of Montana/DPHHS

Question Text

A representative from the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services is interested in learning how other States have re-designed their TANF programs to streamline the variety of social support and job placement services available for TANF participants?

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Date
February 2014
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
State of Montana/DPHHS
State
Montana
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
TANF Redesign
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from Kansas Department for Children and Families

Question Text

A representative from the Kansas Department for Children and Families (KDCF) stated that Kansas recently passed suspicion-based drug testing requirements for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) applicants and recipients. Any adult who demonstrates substance abuse symptoms is required to be tested for controlled substances. This statute is to be implemented by January 1, 2014. If any State has a position description and/or flowchart of their process that they can share, please contact Judy Kennedy, TANF Program Manager at judy.kennedy@dcf.ks.gov. Questions that they have include:

Pre-testing
-What determines if and when a person gets tested in your State?
-Would you be willing to share the criteria used to determine your referral for testing?
-Who monitors the referrals for drug testing, if anyone?
Testing
-What type of test does your State utilize to determine if a person is abusing drugs?
-Do you have a contract with a vendor to administer and monitor the results, or is the drug testing done by existing staff?
-What substances does your State test for?
-What type of testing do you administer and where is testing administered?
-How do you test when an individual lives in an isolated or rural area when drug testing sites are not readily available?
-Have you experienced many false positives test results due to prescription drugs used for medical purposes?
-Have you encountered or had to address any HIPPA issues with regards to a person's medical information?
Treatment
-If substance abuse treatment is part of the eligibility requirement for TANF in your State, who is responsible to pay for this?
-Does your State set a defined time period for which an individual must undergo treatment prior to regaining eligibility for TANF? If so, what is it? If not, how do you determine or "define" when an individual has completed treatment.
-In addition to treatment, are individuals who test positive required to complete any additional requirements prior to regaining eligibility for TANF?

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Date
May 2013
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Kansas Department for Children and Families
State
Kansas
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

Question Text

A representative from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families would like to know if any states provide cash incentives to noncustodial parents (NCP's) as a component of TANF employment programs?

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Date
September 2012
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
State
Wisconsin
Topics/Subtopics
Special Populations
Non-custodial Parents
TANF Program Administration
TANF Regulatory Codes