supporting work: how state policy decisions can support employment and working ohioans
TRANSCRIPT
Supporting Work
How State Policy Decisions Can Support Employment and Working Ohioans
a statewide coalition of over 475 organizations working together to promote health and human service budget and policy solutions so that all Ohioans live better lives.
Advocates for Ohio’s Future is…
Bill SundermeyerState Director
Advocates for Ohio’s Future
Gail ClendeninCommunications Director
Advocates for Ohio’s Future
Wendy PattonSenior Project Director
Policy Matters Ohio
Beth KowalczykChief Policy Officer
Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging
(o4a)
Joel PottsExecutive Director
Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association (JFSDA)
Median income in Ohio has declined 13% to $46,873
50% of households in Ohio have an income $46k or less
Franklin County Family Budget Vs. Median Income
Jackson County Family Budget Vs. Median Income
AOF OVERALL POLICY OBJECTIVES AOF believes all Ohioans should have the opportunity to
participate in the economy, afford the basics, and pursue higher quality of life
Work should allow workers to lift themselves out of poverty, but not all jobs mean a living
Health & human services can play a critical role in supporting Ohioans
WORK-RELATED POLICY OPPORTUNITIES
Person-Centered Case Management
Direct Service Workforce
Programs that support working Ohioans
PERSON-CENTERED CASE MANAGEMENT
Joel Potts, Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association
THE EVOLUTION OF WELFARE REFORM
1930’s – Social Security Act
Income Maintenance
Stay at home
Development of income-qualifying programs
THE EVOLUTION OF WELFARE REFORM
1960’s – “War on Poverty”
Strengthened safety net
Significantly expanded safety net programs – including
Medicaid and food stamps
THE EVOLUTION OF WELFARE REFORM
1980’s – State Innovation encouraged through waivers
Shift to focus on work
Expansion of work and training programs
New focus on job placement
THE EVOLUTION OF WELFARE REFORM
1990’s – State Block Grants/TANF Employment becomes a clear goal Family stability goals (2-parents, marriage,
reduce out-of-wedlock births) become more prominent
Job retention emerges as a key strategy Flexible funding through TANF allows for
investments for job retention
THE EVOLUTION OF WELFARE REFORM
1990’s – State Block Grants/TANF – Cont. Broader focus on low-income families,
recognizing that work supports for non-welfare families are key prevention tools and further support for the strengthening of families and workforce/economic development
Allowed greater efforts and investments in prevention strategies
THE EVOLUTION OF WELFARE REFORM
2015 and Beyond – Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Job placement, job retention, and job advancement achieve equal
importance Welfare reform makes a stronger link to child welfare services,
recognizing the value of early childhood interventions in preventing later us of public resources, including but not limited to welfare, and recognizing that independence from welfare cannot be truly achieved without addressing family issues – including behavioral health, domestic violence, education, and other significant barriers to full employment
THE EVOLUTION OF WELFARE REFORM
2015 and Beyond – Cont. Strategies to reduce public assistance dependency for
all means-tested programs Shift from serving primarily “welfare-eligible” families to
“low-income” families Tie public assistance benefits to work supports and
economic development Focus on young adults and youth aging our of foster
care
PERSON-CENTERED CASE MANAGEMENT - OUTLINE
Who would be eligible for the program?
Who would administer the program?
What services would be provided?
What performance measures would be used?
What is the role for TANF/WIOA administering agencies?
BUILDING ON EXISTING STRUCTURES
This is not a new concept
Successful TANF models throughout 1990’s and early 2000’s
Consolidation of TANF and WIOA programs already occurs in 63 counties
Blending of TANF and WIOA funding in place in the majority of Ohio counties
LESSONS LEARNED AND MOVING FORWARD
Computer infrastructure and sharing of information a must
It’s going to be expensive
Success will take time and require a long-term commitment
Must not “cream” the system
Reform cannot start or finish at JFS doors
Requires a strong, comprehensive, upfront assessment
Must build community infrastructure to support comprehensive needs of the client
DIRECT SERVICE WORKFORCE
Beth Kowalczyk, Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging
DIRECT SERVICE WORKFORCE: PROBLEM
Rebalancing
High turnover in workforce
Quality of care
DIRECT SERVICE WORKFORCE: PROBLEM
Shortage of workers Need will only increase
DIRECT SERVICE WORKFORCE: WHO? Aging Developmental Disabilities Physical Disabilities Behavioral Health
DIRECT SERVICE WORKFORCE: PURPOSE
Improve direct service workers’ pay, benefits, training, supervision, work environment and impact on people they support
Better outcomes of care Improve employment opportunities
DIRECT SERVICE WORKFORCE: OUTCOMES
Increased wages and benefits System reform – focus on outcomes Improved worker satisfaction and lower
turnover rates
DIRECT SERVICE WORKFORCE: STATUS OF STATE BUDGET 6% wage increase for direct service workers
in Developmental Disabilities programs introduced by the Governor – removed by the House, being reconsidered by the Senate
10% rate increase for agency home care aide rates for Medicaid and Aging waivers in House version of budget
DIRECT SERVICE WORKFORCE
Currently we are on hold for any new clients and do not have any PASSPORT clients that we are serving. After much analysis we have determined that we cannot continue to provide services through the PASSPORT program. The rate we are paying our caregivers has increased significantly over the past year in order to hire and retain quality individuals. Our other business costs have continued to increase and will again next year with the mandatory health insurance for employees….[T]he cost of doing business has surpassed the increases in reimbursement.
-PASSPORT Home Care Provider
WORKING FAMILIES IN THE LOW-WAGE ECONOMY
Wendy Patton, Policy Matters Ohio
“Public assistance” means “work supports” to workers and employers.
75% OF THE LARGEST CATEGORIES OF JOBS IN OHIO LEAVE FAMILIES WITH KIDS IN
POVERTY
THE COST OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY IS HIGHER THAN WAGES FOR MANY FAMILIES WITH KIDS.
WORK SUPPORTS = PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT HELP LOW-INCOME WORKERS STAY IN JOBS Public Childcare Assistance – Helps parents work,
employers have a stable workforce.
WORK SUPPORTS = PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT HELP LOW-INCOME WORKERS STAY IN JOBS Public Childcare Assistance – Helps parents work,
employers have a stable workforce. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Rewards work, helps
families weather a rough patch like job loss or death in the family, that lowers family income.
WORK SUPPORTS = PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT HELP LOW-INCOME WORKERS STAY IN JOBS Public Childcare Assistance – Helps parents work,
employers have a stable workforce. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Rewards work, helps
families weather a rough patch like job loss or death in the family, that lowers family income.
Health care (Medicaid)– Makes people healthier, less sick days, less crisis, and more productive.
WORK SUPPORTS = PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT HELP LOW-INCOME WORKERS STAY IN JOBS Public Childcare Assistance – Helps parents work,
employers have a stable workforce. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Rewards work, helps
families weather a rough patch like job loss or death in the family, that lowers family income.
Health care (Medicaid)– Makes people healthier, less sick days, less crisis, and more productive.
Food stamps (SNAP) – Critical to health, productivity of workers and children.
WORK SUPPORT: PUBLIC CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE Major concern for employers – factor in stabilizing
a low income work force.
WORK SUPPORT: PUBLIC CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE Major concern for employers – factor in stabilizing
a low income work force. Ohio has the 2nd lowest initial eligibility for
childcare assistance in the nation.
WORK SUPPORT: PUBLIC CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE Major concern for employers – factor in stabilizing
a low income work force. Ohio has the 2nd lowest initial eligibility for
childcare assistance in the nation. Rules are built for 9 to 5 jobs, but the low wage
labor market doesn’t work that way.
WORK SUPPORT: PUBLIC CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE Major concern for employers – factor in stabilizing
a low income work force. Ohio has the 2nd lowest initial eligibility for
childcare assistance in the nation. Rules are built for 9 to 5 jobs, but the low wage
labor market doesn’t work that way. Need higher eligibility, continuous eligibility.
WORK SUPPORT:EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
HEALTH CARE: A BASIC HUMAN NEED AND A WORK SUPPORT Prior to the Affordable Care Act, low income
working adults had no access to care. This caused personal and societal economic crisis:
for example, studies found Medical crisis was a leading cause of foreclosure.
Medicaid expansion provides health care to low income working adults up to 138 percent of poverty, helping people manage chronic diseases before they become crisis
WORK SUPPORT: FOOD AID, FOOD STAMPS Advocates for Ohio’s Future supports the Ohio Association of
Foodbanks request for $20 million per year Demand for emergency food assistance is up 40 percent across the
state since 2010. Food stamp cuts eliminated 258 million meals since the end of 2013 in
spite of rising demand. This request reflects an increase of $5.5 million per year and a mere
83¢ per person, per meal served by Ohio’s hunger relief network. Nearly half of families using food aid are seniors or children. Half of the households are working families. Adults without kids must
work in order to get food aid.
THE STATE BUDGET
Bill Sundermeyer, Advocates for Ohio’s Future
UPDATE ON THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS
The Senate
Conference committee
Timeline
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