Improving Employment Outcomes: The Role Of TANF and WIA

National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference July 14, 2011

www.transitionaljobs.net

Melissa Young

myoung@heartlandalliance.org

Presentation Overview

Overview – Workforce Investment Act, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Expert Panelist Presentations – Q&A

Next steps & Opportunities for future involvement

National Transitional Jobs Network

The NTJN exists to ensure that policies account for the hard-to-employ, that programs are

able to effectively serve as many individuals as possible, and that best practices and

technical assistance are widely shared and implemented throughout the network.

Technical Assistance State and Federal Advocacy Monthly Newsletters – sign up at www.transitionaljobs.net National Conference

Transitional Jobs Panelists/Q&ATransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsWIA/TANF Overview Next Steps

Authorizes national public employment and training system – a universal system System includes state and local Workforce Investment Boards and One-Stop System for service delivery Current system has conditional priority of service for low-income and TANF recipients Current system includes mandates for receiving core followed by intensive services

Workforce Investment ActDepartment of Labor - 1997

Transitional Jobs Panelists/Q&ATransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsWIA/TANF Overview Next Steps

Core Services – skills assessment, access to job listings, information about careers and local labor market conditions, and some assistance with job search activities.

Intensive Services – skills assessments, career counseling, development of individual employment plans, and short-term prevocational training

Training Services – occupational skills training, on-the-job training, job readiness training, and adult educational d literacy activities if provided alongside training activities

Workforce Investment ActDepartment of Labor - 1998

Transitional Jobs Panelist/Q&ATransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsWIA/TANF Overview Field Advancement

Block grant to states - States have broad flexibility to use funds to meet goals of TANF program TANF distinguishes between eligibility between “assistance” and “non-assistance” States have some discretion in determining eligibility Individuals on “assistance” must be participating in set of allowable work activities

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Department of Human Services - 1996

Transitional Jobs Lessons LearnedTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsTransitional JobsWIA/TANF Overview Field Advancement

Funding constraints, lack of funding, diverted funding Performance measures Sequence of services Lack of flexibility in using funds for barrier removal Difficulty blending resources because of different

performance measures, intake or reporting processes, state database coordination, culture, etc.

Identified Challenges: Using WIA and TANF Funds to Support Individuals Experiencing Homelessness & Individuals with Barriers to Employment

Marlena Sessions

Linette Davis

Panelists & Q&AWIA/TANF Overview Next Steps

Expert Panelists Remarks

Panelists/Q&A

WIA/TANF Overview Panelists & Q&A Next Steps

Questions & Discussion

Panelists/Q&A

Panelist/Q&A WIA/TANF Overview Next Steps

Local/State Level: Build champions for homeless employment services Advocate that employment goals are added to your local plans to end homelessness Encourage collaboration at state level between labor, human services, and housing Leverage public and private funding to pilot or test employment interventions Leverage local referrals and build relationships with employment service providers

What you can do….

Next Steps

Panelist/Q&A WIA/TANF Overview Next Steps

What you can do…

Next Steps

National Level: Work with the NTJN and others around ensuring that Workforce Investment Act reauthorization accounts for the employment needs of all individuals experiencing homelessness Weigh-in with your federal Reps and Senators around the need for more employment resources for individuals experiencing homelessness

Panelist/Q&A WIA/TANF Overview Next Steps

What you can do…

Next Steps

National Level: Work with the NTJN and others around ensuring that Workforce Investment Act reauthorization accounts for the employment needs of all individuals experiencing homelessness Weigh-in with your federal Reps and Senators around the need for more employment resources for individuals experiencing homelessness

Panelist/Q&A WIA/TANF Overview Next Steps

Don’t forget to:

Next Steps

Sign up for NTJN e-communication and alerts to get the latestinformation & opportunities to take action – www.transitionaljobs.net

Visit NTJN website frequently for tools and resources to build relationships with your members of Congress.

Contact us directly for support in engaging your members of Congress.