Gateway to Opportunity: Improving Parental Employment and Family Well-Being Outcomes

Record Description

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), hosted the Gateway to Opportunity: Improving Parental Employment and Family Well-Being Outcomes national TANF convening on September 1 – September 3, 2015 at the Renaissance Washington D.C. Downtown Hotel. The convening brought together TANF program administrators and national experts to promote dialogue around topics such as job-driven and career pathways training, TANF-WIOA coordination, client assessment and case management strengthening, the role of executive skills in employment outcomes, and two-generation approaches to family economic security. Gateway to Opportunity: Improving Parental Employment and Family Well-Being Outcomes provided attendees with opportunities to engage with their peers and experts from the field, to discuss best practices and the latest research, to converse with federal commissioners and ACF staff, as well as to plan ways to improve TANF programming for low-income families in their communities.

Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-10-20T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2015-10-21
Upload Files
Attachment Size
State TANF Summit Summary Report 1.33 MB
Agenda 783.38 KB
Participant List 516.79 KB
Session Descriptions 798.26 KB
Opening Plenary Presentation - Gertrude Lynn Brown 266.13 KB
Opening Plenary Presentation - Joe Jones 1.38 MB
Opening Plenary Presentation - Dr. Sheila Katz 886.18 KB
Domestic Violence Assessment and Service Coordination - Dr. Marylouise Kelley 1.36 MB
Drug Testing Practices in TANF - Gary Allen 164.87 KB
Integrating Career Pathways Components into TANF Programs - Kermit Kaleba 856.69 KB
Helping Families Develop Social Capital to Foster Economic Security - Dr. Megan Smith and John Padilla 1.48 MB
Helping Families Develop Social Capital to Foster Economic Security - Mauricio Lim Miller 2.58 MB
Helping Families Develop Social Capital to Foster Economic Security - Dr. Mario Small 400.31 KB
Promoting Child Well-Being and Family Self-Sufficiency Through Improved Non-Custodial Employment - Bob Prevost 237.23 KB
Promoting Child Well-Being and Family Self-Sufficiency Through Improved Non-Custodial Employment - Lauren Antelo 1.24 MB
Promoting Child Well-Being and Family Self-Sufficiency Through Improved Non-Custodial Employment - Tamara Thomas 962.68 KB
Two-Generation Approaches - Dr. Megan Smith and John Padilla 2.98 MB
Two-Generation Approaches - Shelley Waters Boots 1.12 MB
BIAS-GOALS - Emily Schmitt 517.63 KB
TANF Data Q&A - Yun Song 243.88 KB
Improving Business Processes for Delivering Work Supports for Low-Income Families - Heather Hahn 202.56 KB
Reframing Human Services for the 21st Century - Michael Laracy 1.86 MB
Reframing Human Services for the 21st Century - Michael Laracy, part 2 1.34 MB
Integrating Career Pathways into a TANF Context - Karon Rosa 1.28 MB
Integrating Career Pathways into a TANF Context - Gilda Kennedy 1.79 MB
Promoting Interoperability Across Human Services and the ACA - Jack Rogers 366.56 KB
Promoting Interoperability Across Human Services and the ACA - Stan Dorn 344.78 KB
Promoting Interoperability Across Human Services and the ACA - Uma S. Ahluwalia 2.36 MB
Integrating Mental Health Services for TANF Recipients through ACA Collaboration - Denise Marzullo 1.88 MB
Integrating Mental Health Services for TANF Recipients through ACA Collaboration - Lori Beyer 345.2 KB
Integrating Mental Health Services for TANF Recipients through ACA Collaboration - Phyllis Ottley 161.45 KB
Integrating Trauma-Informed Care into Human Services Programs - Kathy Szafran 2.57 MB
Integrating Trauma-Informed Care into Human Services Programs - Susan Dreyfus 1.72 MB
Integrating Trauma-Informed Care into Human Services Programs - Spotlight on Poverty 101.97 KB
Integrating Trauma-Informed Care into Human Services Programs - Change in Mind 61.45 KB
Integrating Trauma-Informed Care into Human Services Programs - Family Policy Council 351.31 KB
Integrating Trauma-Informed Care into Human Services Programs - WorkFirst 881.3 KB
Does 1 + 1 = 3? Two-Generation Approaches to Improve Parental Employment and Family Well-Being Outcomes - Sisifo Taatiti 226.72 KB

Mobility Challenges for Households in Poverty

Record Description
This research-to-practice brief highlights data from the 2009 National Household Travel Survey. Data indicates that low-income households spend a higher proportion of their income on transportation expenses. This disproportionately affects African Americans and Hispanics, who experience the highest rates of poverty. Interestingly, this brief explains that low-income individuals experience transportation differently, depending on the city in which they reside. In Los Angeles and Atlanta, low-income populations have shorter travel radiuses between home and work than the average population. In New York, this trend is the opposite – individuals in poverty are more likely to travel further distances to find work. These trends and challenges have implications for all urban residents, which seem likely to persist in the face of rising transportation costs.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-07-26T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://nhts.ornl.gov/briefs/PovertyBrief.pdf
Question / Response(s)

Question from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services

Question Text

A representative from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services’ Policy and Program Development Unit would like to find out more information about effective transportation models in rural areas that address the needs of TANF recipients and can demonstrate effective program measurements and positive outcomes. Contact information would be helpful.

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Date
May 2015
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
State of Alaska, DHSS, Policy and Program Development
State
Alaska
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
Access and Availability
TANF Program Administration
TANF Regulatory Codes

OFA PeerTA Website Demo

Record Description
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted this webinar that highlights the redesigned OFA PeerTA (PeerTA) website. PeerTA facilitates information sharing between states, counties, localities, tribal organizations, and community-based organizations working with TANF participants and families. The PeerTA website functions as the communications vehicle for the PeerTA model by facilitating dialogue at the state, county, local, and tribal level. In this brief webinar, we provided a demo of the key features of the PeerTA website and how the website can support TANF stakeholders in their work with families.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-04-28T11:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Upload Files
Attachment Size
PowerPoint 1.23 MB
Transcript 284.45 KB

ACF Blog Spotlight

Record Description
The ACF blog - The Family Room - talks about new initiatives at the agency, success stories and policy announcements. The blog also provides links that help direct viewers to other parts of ACF's website.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-02-03T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/blog
Innovative Programs

Village Vans

Mission/Goal of Program

Village Vans was created to provide safe, free, door-to-door transportation to work support related locations, and they offer free customized job skills training.  Vans are driven by eligible volunteer job seekers receiving current work experience, job search coaching, and skill building instruction. Ninety-three percent of fully participating volunteers have found good jobs while in the program.

Programs/Services Offered

Village Vans was created to provide safe, free, door-to-door transportation to work support related locations, and they offer free customized job skills training. 

Village Vans provides free transportation for work-related activities to low-income job seekers in Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater's greater urban areas in Washington, State. They also provide free transportation to:

  • Your new job
  • Job interviews
  • Job training sites
  • WorkSource Center
  • DSHS
  • Childcare Centers

The Driver Training and Job Skills Program is a free, professional training program designed to help build a career, not just a job.  In addition to on-the-job driving experience, the program includes professional training.

  • Communication skills
  • Computer skills
  • Resume writing
  • Interview techniques
  • Professional ethics
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Organizational skills
Start Date
Friday, February 1, 2002
Type of Agency/Organization
Other Public Agency
City
Olympia
State
Washington
Geographic Reach
Multisite
Clientele/Population Served
Low-income job seekers or workers
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
URL
https://www.intercitytransit.com/villagevans

Trending on Peer TA

Title X Family Planning Services Grants

Innovative Programs

KEYS (Keeping Employment equals Your Success) Auto Loan Program

Mission/Goal of Program

The KEYS Auto Loan Program is the Employment & Human Services Department’s (EHSD) low-interest auto loan program intended to provide auto loans to help employed CalWORKs participants in Contra Costa County, to purchase a vehicle. The loan has a maximum dollar amount of $7,000 and up to a 3-year term (Loans over $6,000 carry a 3- year term; loans below $6,000 carry a 2-to-3-year loan term.) This auto loan program targets those participants for whom an automobile is the only practical means of transportation to employment or training, and who would otherwise not be able to obtain an auto loan.

Programs/Services Offered

The KEYS Auto Loan Program is the Employment & Human Services Department’s (EHSD) low-interest auto loan program for employed CalWORKs participants who have difficulty obtaining an auto loan from other sources.

Referral to the KEYS program is through the CalWORKs participant’s EHSD case manager.

In its 20+ years as a program KEYS has provided 150 loans to CalWORKs participants in Contra Costa County to assist them in maintaining their employment. The program has a maximum loan amount of $7,000.00 and an average monthly loan payment of $180.00 a month. All vehicles financed through the program are diagnostically inspected by a certified mechanic at no cost to the loan participant. The program also provides budget management material to all loan participants as well as car maintenance on their vehicle that they finance through KEYS.

Responses from the participants in the program were very positive.

Start Date
Wednesday, January 1, 2003
Type of Agency/Organization
Other Public Agency
City
Martinez
State
California
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
Active CALWORKS participants in Contra Costa County
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
Car Purchase Programs
Supportive Services
Post-employment Supports
URL
https://ehsd.org/benefits/calworks-welfare-to-work-program/transportation/

Trending on Peer TA

Title X Family Planning Services Grants

Innovative Programs

Good News Garage

Mission/Goal of Program

Good News Garage creates economic opportunity by providing affordable and reliable transportation options to people in need. Good News Garage accepts donations from across New England and eastern New York and currently serves residents of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Good News Garage has provided over 5,000 vehicles to local New England families since 1996.

Programs/Services Offered

Good News Garage, a program of Lutheran Social Services, accepts, repairs and awards donated vehicles to individuals and families through a variety of programs. Clients use the vehicles to get to work, bring their children to the doctor, extra-curricular activities, access affordable housing and more. The vehicle help clients break the cycle of poverty by becoming financially self-sufficient. All vehicle donations to Good News Garage qualify for a tax deduction, some qualifying for the highest deduction allowable under IRS regulations. Eligibility requirements to receive a vehicle vary from state to state.

Start Date
Monday, January 1, 1996
Type of Agency/Organization
Community-based organization; Nonprofit social service agency
City
Manchester
State
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New York
Vermont
Geographic Reach
Multistate
Clientele/Population Served
Low-income families and individuals in need of transportation
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
Car Purchase Programs
URL
https://www.goodnewsgarage.org/

Trending on Peer TA

Title X Family Planning Services Grants

Innovative Programs

The Car Ministry Program

Mission/Goal of Program

The Car Ministry is dedicated to helping the poor, the needy, full-time ministry workers like pastors, evangelists, missionaries and other Christian workers to obtain auto transportation. "The Car Ministry," was started in Falls Church, Virginia in 1984. It is one of the first car donation charities. The Car Ministry accepts donated cars and trucks for the purpose of giving them to the poor and needy plus those in fulltime Christian work.

Programs/Services Offered

Car Ministry program accepts donated vehicles, checks their condition, and assesses the need for repairs. Then, the ministry gives the car or truck, at no cost, to someone in serious need, or the program uses the car to further the goal of providing transportation. The program has a long waiting list of people in need.

The Car Ministry insists that the donated vehicles must run well and pass Virginia safety and emission tests before they are given. Most charitable organizations simply pass them through or sell them without repair, a disservice to needy people who cannot afford to pay for immediate car problems. People are referred to the Car Ministry by social workers and pastors. Once given a vehicle people have opportunity to get to work and take care of family needs. Between 50 and 150 vehicles are given each year depending on the number donated.

Start Date
Sunday, January 1, 1984
Type of Agency/Organization
Community-based Organization
City
Falls Church
State
Virginia
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
Staff members of a local ministry; a missionary; a needy family; an international student; a minister or priest; a single parent; a seminarian
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
URL
http://www.carministry.org

Trending on Peer TA

Title X Family Planning Services Grants

Question / Response(s)

Question from Pennsylvania Department of Welfare/Bureau of Employment and Training Programs

Question Text

A representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare/Bureau of Employment and Training Programs would like to know what level of participation is expected of a TANF recipient who claims to be unable to get a job or participate in other core-work activities due to lack of transportation (e.g., no drivers license, no access to public transportation, no car, etc.). Please address:

  • Do States allot time for the individual to make transportation arrangements, or do they provide supports for transportation assistance?
  • What is maximum time allowed to make transportation arrangements?
  • What do States do when transportation solutions are not found during that timeframe (e.g., sanction, case closure, etc.)?
  • What type of transportation subsidies (e.g., upfront mileage, car purchase, cab fare, gas cards, etc.) are offered?
  • What are the maximum benefits provided to the client?
  • For how are long transportation subsidies provided?

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Date
November 2011
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Dept of Welfare/Bureau of Employment and Training Programs
State
Pennsylvania
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
Access and Availability
Transportation Subsidies /Vouchers
TANF Regulatory Codes