VII. Next Steps
The primary goal of the Welfare-to-Work Coalition is to move welfare recipients into jobs and to provide them with training and supportive services necessary to keep them employed and moving towards better jobs leading ultimately to self-sufficiency. With over 80 community organizations committed to this goal, the Coalition is on its way to making self-sufficiency a reality for many Austin/Travis County residents.
Considerable research and planning have occurred to this point. This has culminated in the publication of two reports, and in the outlining of a process and structure to move people from public assistance toward self-sufficiency. In the final phase, three primary steps remain:
- the proposed process and structure must be built up and implemented
- specific action steps will be identified and adopted to make this happen and
- resources will be gathered to complete the implementation.
The self-sufficiency process and structure contained in this "Phase II" report will continue to evolve as they are implemented. Coalition members have already participated in a "test day" which applied the model to specific, real-person cases to determine its viability, practicality and functionality. Several lessons were learned and appropriate changes made to strengthen the process and structure. As an example, the flow chart on page 26 representing the process may need to be more circular and flexible to capture existing conditions such as multiple entry points, varieties of needs, and more customer choice.
As the Coalition continues to work toward implementation, member agencies must continue to communicate effectively and leverage both human and financial community resources. Furthermore, the costs of various actions and specific, responsible organizations must be identified to complete this next phase.
In order to further strengthen the employer component of this structure, one of the Coalition's future endeavors will be to create a practical employer guide. A major part of the next component to this process involves identifying employer needs, concerns and responsibilities in relation to the transitioning TANF population. Examples of information that may be included are: analysis of job competencies, definition of a basic skill set as defined by employers, listings of training providers,and a description of standard skills specific to certain industrial jobs.
In order to gage the effectivenss of the Self-Sufficiency Process, the Coalition will develop an internal evaluation system. Performance measures will be created for each strategy along the three need levels of workforce development, supportive services, and subsistence requirements. With appropriate resources, a baseline and follow-up data collection system will be implemented to provide data on the impact of the process on individual clients and the community as a whole.
The following Phase III strategies have been suggested:
I. Services
- make services more accessible to customers at computer-equipped virtual one-stop service points
- train case managers to become case "analysts" who will test, evaluate, identify and prioritize need, establish eligibility, confirm service and funding availability, consider customer preferences and service accessibility, and establish interactive links and flow for each case
- develop an integrated referral process for customer that can be put into place as quickly as possible
- identify gaps in service and needs for service
- implement a system to ensure accountability for services provided
- develop and implement a transportation system for the indigent
II. Process
- using a "Welfare Management Information System" (WMIS), such as TWIST, In the Future, the Health and Human Services Network, and/or TIERS, establish database linkages among all participating organizations and agencies so that customer progress can be tracked with reference to individual self-sufficiency plans set up by case analysts
- use the WMIS to eliminate duplications of effort and unnecessary services
- include in WMIS database information on legal, citizenship, criminal justice and other critical and rapidly changing issues
- develop Phase III action plans with objectives, timelines and responsible organizations
- ask Capital Area Workforce Centers to develop the Phase III process into a program management system
- incorporate the work and recommendations of current community efforts in childcare, affordable housing, and indigent healthcare as they become available
III. Resources
- organize existing fragmented resources to create a functional network of services necessary for individuals and families to move toward self-sufficiency
- solicit no-cost business planning and tracking support from the University of Texas and WMIS support from high tech corporations
- implement a marketing plan that will educate all sectors of the community on the Welfare-to-Work Phase III implementation plan
- ensure involvement in the Coalition Phase III effort of the following: churches, businesses, legal system, elderly, HIV organizations, juvenile justice system, human resource departments, employee assistance programs, workforce development and workforce center personnel
The Coalition has defined and developed the process and structure necessary to assist community members in moving toward self-sufficiency. What remains is to operationalize that model and work toward securing adequate resources for its implementation. Coalition members are dedicated to meeting these challenges.
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