Public Comments on WV WORKS Program Reductions
Effective August 2004
General Overview
As of June 29, 2004, the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) had received almost 500 comments from recipients, social service professionals, educators, WV WORKS staff and other community members regarding the proposed Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) changes and program reductions. Although a small number approved the proposals, the vast majority of the Respondents were opposed to the changes. Their concerns were that the needs of WV WORKS participants were not being considered and the their quality of life would be greatly diminished if the reductions occurred as proposed. A breakdown of the more specific comments follows:
Reduction of Cash Assistance Checks
The Agency received 46 comments against the reduction of cash assistance checks. Many of these comments addressed the issue of the high cost of living and how TANF recipients will be able to deal with this sudden loss of income. Concerns are that parents will be spending less time with their children because it will be necessary for them to find part-time jobs to supplement the reduced check. Respondents express concern that their children will be spending additional time in daycare. They worry that their reduced income will not allow them to meet their basic shelter and utility expenses or have money to purchase the hygiene and cleaning supplies necessary to maintain a healthy environment. Several suggested that this cut will have the effect of changing their focus from personal achievement to basic survival. They are afraid they will be unable to finish the educational or training activities they are attending and this will serve to lengthen the time it takes them to become self-sufficient and off of the WV WORKS Program.
Organizations responding were concerned that the 25% reduction will reduce
the income level of recipients to 1/4 of the FPL. At this level, the households
would have less than $1 per day available to them after shelter and food expenses.
WV has adequate funding to continue programs at the current levels, but only
if TANF funds are used for these programs.
RESPONSE TO COMMENTS: Effective August 2004, WV WORKS Cash assistance checks
will be reduced by 25%.
PROPOSED REDUCTIONS IN SUPPORT PAYMENTS AND SERVICES
Transportation Payments
The Agency received 23 comments opposing the reductions and 11 expressing support for cutting some current support payments.
The comments that opposed any reductions were concerned that with the cost of gasoline being so high, it would cost more to travel to their work than the payment will reimburse them. This was a particular concern for participants who must take their children to daycare on the way to school/work. Several worried that this amount would not be enough to cover the costs of searching for employment.
Although several respondents stated that they felt transportation payments were too high, the majority of the comments in favor of reductions focused on the amount the Agency pays for car repair and the amount available for clothing for adult participants.
Organizations responding expressed concern that less than half of the TANF program funds are being directed to WV WORKS payments and WV WORKS “core” welfare reform areas, such as transportation payments and support payments.
RESPONSE TO COMMENTS: Beginning August 2004, Transportation Reimbursements will be reduced by 50%, from a limit of $200 per month to $100 per month, paid in increments of $2.50 or $4.00 per day.
Reduction of School Clothing Allowances
Fifteen responses were received opposing the reduction of School Clothing Vouchers. All of these comments focused on the high cost of clothing and the need for children to have decent clothes to wear to school. Having acceptable clothes at school helps to increase a child’s self-esteem and often leads them to perform better in school. Several pointed out how cruel other children can be to children that don’t “fit in”. Their concerns were that the reduction will allow children to have fewer clothes for school and that can snowball into larger problems in school.
RESPONSE TO COMMENTS: For the 2004 school year, the amount of School Clothing Allowance Vouchers will be reduced from $150 to $100 per child.
Eliminate TANF funded ABE Classes
The Agency received 23 comments specifically addressing the elimination of this this grant. These respondents felt that the service and the teachers in the TANF funded class were more geared toward the needs of TANF clients and were more helpful. They fear that mixed in a regular ABE class, they will not receive as much personal attention.
Organizations were against eliminating this contract, the reduction in the number of TANF classes would reduce access to education in some of the smaller counties. And again, concern was expressed over the inability of WV to provide “core” services to TANF clients while spending TANF funds on other social services and programs.
RESPONSE TO COMMENTS: The grant with the Department of Education to provide
TANF funded ABE classes was eliminated.
Eliminate Pre-Employment Vision/Dental referrals.
Eleven responses indicated that this grant should be continued because it provides services that are not offered elsewhere, Medicaid will not pay for adult dental work and poor teeth can keep someone from being hired for a particular job. Several responses pointed out that several licensing boards require dental inspections as part of the physical exam to quality for a license. It was also noted that it is difficult to keep a job if a person has continuing dental problems, including infections and pain.
The two responses indicating that this cut was appropriate felt that some referrals were given inappropriately.
Concern expressed by the organizations responding were that funds are being made available to Social Services, other programs and for funding administrative costs, while the Agency cuts the basic benefits to WV WORKS participants despite the fact that funds are available to maintain the Program.
RESPONSE TO COMMENTS: No new services will be authorized after June 30, 2004 for Pre-Employment Vision/Dental Services. Existing obligations will be honored.
Elimination of the 6-month Job Retention Bonus.
We received 2 responses that were against eliminating this bonus. Both indicated that some reward should be given for maintaining employment for this period and that it would serve as a motivating factor to keep a job.
RESPONSE TO COMMENTS: The 6-month Job Retention Bonus was eliminated as of August 1, 2004.
Elimination of the GED Bonus.
Three responses indicated these bonuses served to motivate participants to earn a GED.
RESPONSE TO COMMENTS: Effective August, 1, 2004 this program will be eliminated.
Eliminate the grant for Community Access to provide Intensive Case Management services to “difficult to serve” participants.
The Agency received 33 responses specifically in support of Community Access. The clients who responded felt that Community Access was a worthwhile program and most felt that it provided the kind of overall services that they needed to help them get a job and leave “welfare”. Several responses were from community members or Education Professionals that praised the work of Community Access. Most of the Respondents indicated that they did not believe that DHHR Caseworkers would be able to provide the level of service that Community Access Caseworkers are able to provide due to the size of the DHHR caseloads.
RESPONSE TO COMMENTS: The Community Access grant was eliminated.
Public Comment on Child Care Cuts Summary of Responses to Proposals
General Overview
As of June 29, 2003, the Division of Early Care and Education has logged in over 600 comments that dealt specifically with cuts to the child care program. Comments and letters were submitted to the Governor’s office, the Secretary’s office, the Commissioner’ office and a few directly to the Division of Early Care & Education. Many comments were phoned in, some were mailed, and a large number came in electronically to various state government web sites. Over 60 comments were submitted electronically at the State Plan Public Comment Site. All opposed the cuts. The comments came from parents who would lose child care, child care center directors and family child care providers, grandparents, advocacy groups, health care providers, state employees, and even from private pay parents concerned that they would lose their child care provider or center.
Many individuals just indicated that they were opposed to any cuts. By far, the largest number (approximately 543 comments) were related to reducing the number of families eligible to receive child care. However, approximately 72 comments related to cutting the Traveling Resource and Information Library System (TRAILS) vans. The following overview summarizes the overall content of this very large response.
Comments on Specific Cuts
Cut Eligibility for Child Care to 150% of 2000 Federal Poverty Level.
Most of the public comment centered on this proposal, which would have eliminated almost 800 families who currently receive child care. At present, families are eligible for care if their income is less than 150% of FY 2000 Federal Poverty Level but remain eligible until their income exceeds 185% of FPL. Many of the comments came from single parents who were working and needed child care. Most indicated that they could not afford to pay child care by themselves and would have to quit their job. As one mother indicated, her child care costs more than her house payment. One said if she had to pay fully for day care, she would only be working to pay day care. Some indicated that they have had to turn down merit raises to avoid losing child care. Some were state employees, who feared the loss of hard earned insurance and retirement benefits. Another mother talked about being a role model for her children and that she wants to pay for her children’s needs, but cannot afford to work if she loses child care. Some parents worried that they would be unable to complete a college degree that would enable them to be totally self-sufficient. Many indicated that they didn’t want to live on the system - that they wanted to work for a living- and that this was the only help they currently received.
A number of comments also came from grandparents concerned about what would happen to their grandchildren if care were lost. Other families expressed concern about loss of day care centers and child care providers who would be forced to close their doors if they lost enrollment. One family paid privately but was concerned about losing their child care provider. They lived in a rural community and indicated they too would have to quit work if the provider quit, because there were no other child care providers in their community Others talked of impoverished counties who would be hard hit by the cuts where over 50% of the children in child care settings receive help with child care. If the centers lost enrollment, they could wind up laying off staff or closing the center, compounding job losses. One mentioned this the “domino effect”. Another mentioned that businesses would lose valuable employees and that absenteeism would increase if parents didn’t have reliable care. Others were concerned that West Virginia’s population is growing older and that young people may be forced to leave the state because of the lack of child care.
One woman indicated that she wanted to see more people off welfare, and cutting child care would just put people back on welfare. Another called the proposals “self defeating” and indicated that the cuts were eroding the “American Dream”, where hard work was rewarded in America and anyone willing to work could make it. He indicated that there is already a group of people who have lost the motivation to work because they are better off on welfare than earning minimum wages. Many families can obtain medical care and child care only by not working, only increasing the percentage of families with “learned helplessness”. One center director was concerned about parents who would be forced to quit jobs and their loss of dignity as hard working parents.
One comment stated that the back lash on the state of the proposed cuts will be in the form of more unemployment, more children in poverty and more families eligible for other subsidized programs and that the state will continue to pay the bills-just from different pots of money. Another talked about the fact that families cannot afford the cost of child care because the majority of employment opportunities offer little more than minimum wage. She talked about families who may choose to leave children home alone unsupervised, increasing delinquency, child neglect and child pregnancy. Several indicated we should consider our children, that children must come first, and that our children deserve better because they are our future.
Cut Traveling Resource and Information Library System (TRAILS)
Approximately 72 comments were directed at cuts to the TRAILS vans, which lend infant equipment, educational toys and books, as well as professional development materials and assistive technology for special needs children to providers. Some individuals also talked about the loss of jobs at the child care resource and referral agencies- currently 16 employees staff the TRAILS vans. Providers indicated that many of the resources on the van would be items that providers just cannot afford with the funding they receive. A few mothers were aware of the program and realized the importance of the different books, puzzles and educational toys in making their child care programs a place where children grow and learn. One individual indicated that she realized the goal of the state is to provide quality care but that it is impossible to do so without the proper resources, such as TRAILS provides. One family child care provider mentioned the research that indicates how vital education is for children birth to three and without TRAILS, she would be pressed for materials to use with the children. One of the TRAILS staff indicated that the program puts literacy, pre-math, gross and fine motor skills materials into the hands of children throughout the state. An advocate indicated that helping children develop now will prevent the state from funding programs to provide assistance when they are older. One provider called them “the kid’s van of fun and learning”. Others talked about how the children looked forward to seeing the TRAILS vans and how their eyes light up when the van comes. As a result of an additional $5 million appropriation by the Legislature, the TRAILS vans program is being continued.
Cut Non-traditional Work Hour Rates by 50% (From $4 daily to $2 daily)
Only a handful of comments came in regarding these cuts. One comment indicated that providers work long hours for their pay of $13-15 per day per child. She indicated many parents have to work evenings and weekends and providers willing to take children during those time frames should be paid more, not less. She asked about “No Child Left Behind”,indicating that learning starts with the day care provider, not just in school. As a result of an additional $5 million appropriation by the Legislature, no cuts will be made in rates paid to providers.Cut Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agencies by 5%
No comments specifically addressed the 5% cut to child care resource and referral agencies, although many said not to cut CCR&R services. As a result of an additional $5 million appropriation by the Legislature, Child Care Resource and Referral agencies will not be asked to cut programs.
Cut Child Care for Children Age 13 and Over
No comment specifically addressed cuts to this age group, although several discussed the problem with finding and affording care during the summer months for school-age children. Another did talk about the number of latch key children and the potential for increased neglect, and increasing delinquency and child pregnancy rates. As a result of an additional $5 million appropriation by the Legislature, children with special needs over the age of 13 will continue to receive child care.
RESPONSE TO COMMENTS: As a result of an additional $5 million appropriation by the Legislature, Secretary Paul Nusbaum rescinded the child care cuts.
