Welfare To Work Reform / What You Taxes Pay For

Welfare to Work Reform

What your taxes pay for?

By

TONI WILSON

Outline

County Program

-Purpose (involving Welfare recipients)

-Welfare to Work Program

-Activities

-AP R&R's

Advantages

-Affordable childcare

-Providers

-Successful Parents (goal)

Disadvantages

-Middle Class View Point

-Waiting List

-Losing Childcare

Conclusion

-Middle Class vs. Welfare

County Program

In 1996 Bill Clinton passed an Act (Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA)) that moved welfare recipients off of aid and on to becoming working productive citizens. Under the Act, welfare recipients would have two years to find a job and get off of aid. Several programs were designed in order to help encourage and eventually get the recipients on their way to being successful citizens. Our tax dollars fund these programs.

The program, more commonly known as the Welfare-to-Work program was broken up into different stages in order to best help the recipients. Once the participant (welfare recipient) signs up for Welfare, he/she is assigned a gain worker who is there to help guide them through the program. The gain worker interviews the participant and tries to get a feel for what the participant wants to do in life. From there the gain worker assesses what program is best for the participant.

There are several activities that the participant can join. Job Club, which is designed to help you find a job. Self-Initiative Program, which is designed to help participants with school. Vocational Training, which is designed to train the participant in a certain field or interest. In some instances, participants are co-dependent on drugs or have mental problems. There are programs designed to help the participant get off of the drugs and get help. There is also counseling for those who need the mental help. Most participants come from high crime, poverished communities that have started to affect and influence them in many ways. The welfare -to- work program is designed to help you become a stable parent. There are parenting classes offered and childcare for your children.

Childcare is provided to participants who can not afford to pay a babysitter on their own. The participant picks a person or school to watch their child (ren) and it is paid for through the Welfare-to-work program. Several agencies

(AP R&R) were formed and funded by the county in order to help pay for the childcare portion. AP R&R's strictly handle the childcare portion of the participants program. They pay the providers a set portion of money every month to watch children. The participant is allowed to pick who they want to watch their children, whether it is a relative or a school or a daycare. The providers are thoroughly screened and must submit as well as fill out documents pertaining to childcare. Once that process is over, the provider is paid every month at a certain rate. The provider is allowed to pick the amount they want to receive as long as it is below the market rate (rate of pay set by the county). Since the participants don't have to worry about paying for childcare, they can concentrate on achieving the goals that they have set for themselves in the program. As the program goes on, they become more independent and eventually progress into jobs so they can support themselves.

Advantages

The AP R&R's are broken up into three different stages. Stage one is designed for participants who have just joined the program and need training or help finding a job. Stage two is designed for participants who have been in Stage one and are progressing in to work and/or schooling. Participant should have an income coming in while they are in stage two. The participant, depending on their gross monthly intake pays a parent fee. Stage three is a follow up of stage two; the participant should have established a work history and can maintain a stable healthy lifestyle without aid.

In turn, babies are well taken care of and grow up healthy and strong. Money is being circulated in the community and