CalWORKs/TANF

How are California's SSI-CalWORKs Children and Families Faring?

In a study of 60 parents raising children with SSI and CalWORKs aid in San Francisco finds widespread financial difficulties and hunger among households and serious behavioral challenges among many children. The update notes that in the current era of declining California revenues - including threats to child care slots, CalWORKs grants, and the IHSS budget - it remains to important to sustain benefits for children supported by the CalWORKs program. (July 2010)

CalWORKs At a Crossroads: The Next Stage of Welfare Reform in California

In February 2006, the federal government reauthorized the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, originally enacted in 1996 as the cornerstone of federal welfare reform efforts. This paper discusses the success of welfare reform in California and the implications of federal reauthorization for CalWORKs. (Feb 2006)

CalWORKs Welfare to Work Participation Study

The 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) and the enactment of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) made dramatic changes to welfare programs in the United States. This document assesses the reasons for California’s successful implementation of welfare reform and makes recommendations for next steps to further increase work participation. (July 2005)

Addressing Barriers on the Path to Self-Sufficiency

(March 2008)

Barriers to Work: CalWORKs Parents Timed-out or Sanctioned in Five Counties

(March 2008)

TANF Reauthorization 

Impacts of TANF Reauthorization on Children and Families
Testimony of Bruce Wagstaff on behalf of the National Association of Counties and the County Welfare Directors Association of California before the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support Ways and Means Committee U.S. House of Representatives Hearing on Recent Changes to Programs Assisting Low-Income Families. (March 2007)

Testimony before the United States Senate Finance Committee Activity on TANF Reauthorization
On September 10, 2003, the Senate Finance Committee heard and approved its version of welfare reform reauthorization. CWDA produced two advocacy documents related to the Senate Finance Committee action. (Sept 2003)

Addressing the Unfinished Business of Welfare Reform
As Congress considers the reauthorization of the 1996 federal welfare reform legislation, California's counties urge lawmakers to preserve the funding and flexibility in the law.   (Oct 2001)

MDRC Turning Welfare into a Work Support:  Six-Year Impacts on Parents and Children from the Minnesota Family Investment Program

(July 2005)

MDRC Community Service Jobs in Wisconsin Works – The Milwaukee County Experience

A review of the trends challenging county run safety net programs. (June 2003)

MDRC New Hope For Families And children – Five Year Results of A Program to Reduce Poverty and Reform Welfare

(June 2003)

Understanding CalWORKs: A Primer for Service Providers and Policymakers

Prepared by California Center for Research on Women and Families (CRWF). (Nov 2002)

MDRC Reforming Welfare and Rewarding Work:  A Summary of the Final Report on the Minnesota Family Investment Program

(Sept 2000) 

California Counties Welfare Reform Redesign Proposal

In response to the passage of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act" in August of 1996, CWDA and CSAC developed a position paper for the creation of state implementing welfare reform legislation. Much of the CWDA/CSAC platform was ultimately enacted. (Feb 1997)