G&A has been conducting policy and programmatic research on Welfare reform since the initial stages of TANF implementation two years ago. In the last 2 years G&A has been involved in nearly all the major WtW initiatives and proposals in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties as well as shepherding employment initiatives in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Stanislaus Counties. G&A policy expertise in Welfare to Work includes planning and research experience in services to noncustodial parents, child support enforcement, Child Support Assurance, post-employment services, limited English proficient (LEP) clients, wage-based employment, youth employment initiatives, individual development accounts, family self-sufficiency programs, Section 8 WtW Voucher assistance, and workforce development. Aside from planning and proposal development, G&A is also currently providing direct technical assistance for the implementation of NCP employment programs and a Child Support Assurance Demonstration in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, and a Department of Labor WtW Demonstration project in the City of Richmond. Some of the major organizations which rely on G&A expertise in WtW planning and program development include the Contra Costa Department of Social Services, Alameda Social Services Agency, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, the City of Richmond Private Industry Council, Rubicon Programs Inc., Manpower Inc., the San Francisco International Airport, the Housing Authority of the City of Richmond, and the Housing Authority of the County of Stanislaus.
Over $30 million in housing assistance has been developed through G&A proposals.
- Contra Costa County Department of Social Services, Noncustodial Parent Employment and Training Demonstration:
A three million dollar, three year State DSS demonstration project to support employment and supportive services for noncustodial parents of children who are CalWORKs recipients. The project utilized a design which built off the Parent's Faire Share model pioneered by the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation and included the development of partnerships with the Contra Costs DA's Office, Family Court Mediation Services, Albion Inc., Battered Women's Alternatives, St Vincent DePaul, the Family Stress Center, the Richmond Private Industry Council, the Contra Costa Private Industry Council, and the EastBay Works employment system. Funded for $3 million.
- Richmond Private Industry Council and Rubicon Programs Inc.: RichmondWorks! Department of Labor WtW Demonstration Program:
G&A facilitated the planning process and proposal development for a 3.2 million dollar proposal to the Department of Labor to serve hard to serve and welfare dependent TANF recipients in the City of Richmond. This process included the creation of partnerships with over 20 service agencies as well as private employer linkages resulting in the creation of over 600 employment opportunities for RichmondWorks! Participants. These commitments included the provision of space and flexibility for participants to receive employment skills training, retention services, and vocational development at the job site. Other innovative aspects of this process included specialized support for sheltered employment with Rubicon Programs Inc., subsidized on the job training opportunities, and dedicated funds for childcare capacity enhancement in the city of Richmond. Funded for 3.2 million.
- Rubicon Programs Inc.: Governor's 15% WtW Demonstration Initiative:
G&A facilitated proposal development for a $800,000 dollar proposal to the California Employment Development Department to serve hard to serve and welfare dependent TANF recipients in the unincorporated vicinity of North Richmond in Contra Costa County. This project included the creation of mechanisms to increase internal transportation and childcare capacity through the expansion of local transportation providers and training of TANF recipients to act as family day care providers. It built on an existing Service Integration Team demonstration piloted by Contra Costa County that created a family and community support one-stop center with staff from across the County service continuum. Funded for $600,000
- East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC), Department of Labor Competitive Proposal.:
G&A facilitated a planning process that included 8 culturally-based CBO's in the Fruitvale/San Antonio District of Oakland for to create a plan for intensive employment and supportive services for Limited English Speaking CalWORKs recipients. The resulting continuum of services is intended to meet the needs of this population for more culturally sensitive and intensive employment and supportive services necessary as these individuals transition into the American world of work. Innovative aspects of this project included an extended peer support model, Wage based employment, Vocational ESL courses aligned to local job opportunities, and the creation of specialized childcare and transportation advocacy mechanisms for clients.
- Housing Authority of the County of Stanislaus, Section 8 WtW Voucher Proposal:
G&A facilitated a planning process and proposal description to create a partnership between StanWORKs, Stanislaus County's CalWORKs program, and the Stanislaus Housing Authority's family self-sufficiency program. The resulting continuum of services created an Authority/StanWORKs integration team that would provide integrated case conferencing, referrals to supportive services, employment development, and incentives such as Individual Development Accounts to qualifying Section 8 voucher recipients within the Housing Authority. This partnership include over $12 million in leveraged resources from the County for services to program participants for the 5 years of the project.
- Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, Child Support Assurance Demonstration Project:
G&A facilitated a regional two-county planning process to create a Child Support Assurance (CSA) Demonstration project for CalWORKs single parent families where the custodial parent has obtained initial employment and there is a current support order for a noncustodial parent who can be served with NCP employment services. Innovative aspects of the CSA project are intensive case management with emphasis on retention and career development; an extended benefit disregard to 200% of poverty; greater integration of Social Services and DA family support; NCP employment and supportive services; and a streamlined budgeting and reporting process for a range of services including MediCal, Food Stamps, and Healthy Families. Alameda and Contra Costa were 2 of the 3 Counties chosen in California for participation in the Demonstration.
- Regional Innovative Homeless Initiative:
Jobs for the Homeless Consortium: Facilitated an eight county collaboration to create the Regional Employment Collaborative, a $1.8 million initiative to create regional strategies for improving employment services for person who are or have been homeless. Funded for $1.8 million.
Welfare Reform Technical Assistance Projects |
