FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, July 31, 1995
Contact: Michael Kharfen (202) 401-9215
HHS APPROVES WELFARE REFORM DEMONSTRATION FOR WEST
VIRGINIA
HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today approved "Joint Opportunities
for Independence" (JOIN), a statewide welfare demonstration project
for West Virginia. West Virginia is the 30th state to receive approval
for a welfare waiver under the Clinton administration.
"West Virginia's program emphasizes
President Clinton's goal of moving people into work quickly," said
Secretary Shalala. "The demonstration provides strong supports
and penalties to ensure that two-parent Aid to Families with Dependent
Children (AFDC) families take their work responsibilities seriously."
The demonstration provides opportunities
for adults in two-parent families to gain valuable work experience with
private employers, while adding a travel expense stipend and an income
disregard to assist these working families. The private employers who
provide JOIN work experience positions would pay individuals $1.00 per
hour to cover work and travel expenses. This amount would then be disregarded
in the determination of AFDC-Unemployed Parent eligibility and benefit
levels.
The state will impose fiscal sanctions on the family in the event that
an adult fails to participate in JOIN. Participation will not be required,
however, of parents already participating in a Job Opportunities and
Basic Skills Training Program (JOBS) activity. The state will provide
child care when both parents participate in program activities and will
continue to exempt families who lack adequate transportation.
"The JOIN demonstration invests in families by providing work experience,
job training and child care critical to achieve economic self-sufficiency,"
said Mary Jo Bane, HHS assistant secretary for children and families.
"West Virginia is directing its innovation in welfare reform to
a work-intensive program to ensure parents a more successful transition
from welfare to work."
The demonstration will operate for five
years, beginning Oct. 1, 1995, and include a rigorous evaluation.
###
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials
are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
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