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CalWORKs Family Benefit Program

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Abstract

CalWORKs family benefits program refers to a public welfare scheme that offers financial help and services to families that meet the eligibility criteria and which have children in their homes. It is based in California state in the United States of America. The program caters to the entire population of the families within the state that meets the eligibility criteria for welfare. The primary population that is targeted by the program includes families that live under the federal poverty level while they have children in the homes. The main purpose of the program is to extend the assistance of different kinds to such families ranging from financial help, employment programs, housing needs, food, and medical services among others (Mojica, 2017).

The program is affected by different policies, some of which facilitate its activities while others hamper effective operations of the program. The bottom-line of the policies is program funding. The program is jointly funded by all government levels from the federal government to the state government of California as well as the county governments within California. The paper is mainly oriented towards studying the policies that guide CalWORKs. This includes its deficiencies and some policy suggestions that would further improve the efficiency of the program.

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CalWORKs Family Benefit Program

Introduction

CalWORKs refers to a welfare program whose main purpose is providing financial help and facilities to needy families within California. The program runs in all counties within California whereby it is headed by county welfare departments at local levels. The help provided may be short-term or continual. Short term help occurs whereby the family in need requires no or fewer amounts of money, housing, food, utilities, clothes or healthcare services. A family that applies and qualifies for continuous help receives some amount of money every month such as house rent, food and other basic expenses (Pizzolato, Olson & Monje-Paulson, 2017).

There are requirements that the family applying for the assistance needs to attain for the to be eligible to receive the help. The most important of them is that the involved persons must be citizens of the United States of America, permanent resident, or legal noncitizen and precisely from the state of California. Additionally, they must fall under the low or very low-income earning category. They should be either unemployed, about to get unemployed or under-employed. The program also extends help to expectant persons, those with children below eighteen years of age and even those that are eighteen years old but are the heads of their families (Gutiérrez, 2016). This paper aims at describing the issues that affect policy formulation and implementation as far as the operations of the program are concerned.

Statement of the studied topic

What should be the right procedures for the U.S government to follow while formulating policies that would guide the program operations? This is the main statement of the topic that the paper is most oriented towards. Over the past decades, there has been a couple of hitches in the policy implementation procedures that tend to hamper organizational operations. For instance, California as a state has shifted much of its focus on cost minimization and increased revenues especially due to the constant recessions that occurred in the past years. This implies that the operations carried out within the state and other programs check on their saving levels more than the developmental and expansion programs for needy families such as the CalWORKs family benefits program. Hence, the benefits extended to the families have been significantly reduced partially for the reason that the other programs that were statutorily or politically secured could not be affected easily. This has prevented the smooth extension of the help of different forms to needy families.

Also, California, which is the home for the CalWORKs Family Benefits Program, experiences division of authority between the republican party and the democrats. However, the activities of the legislature are also restricted by the third quarter rule especially because the democrats do not fulfill this requirement of passing a budget bill. The Republican governor is also allowed to veto any budget bills passed at the parliament. While these opposing parties support the formulation of policies regarding needy families, they barely agree on the procedures to follow. This leads to many conflicts as far as legislations linked to welfare reforms are concerned (Velasco, 2017).

More controversies in the operations within the CalWORKs Family Benefits Program arise because the organization is supervised at the state level while it is administered at the counties. The state government formulates rules and policies, determines the criteria for assistance eligibility as well as the benefit levels. The state also monitors the practices done at the local level and also offers technical help to the counties to ensure that they all follow the policies formulated at the state level. It is important to note that different counties have varying degrees of governmental flexibility. The decision-making authorities at county levels, as well as the financial obligations, have therefore become an argumentative issue as far as the benefits program is concerned. Also, the welfare reform legislation in the state leads to further discretion in counties while implementing the welfare program policies.

Key terms

CalWORKs. This is an acronym for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids. It is a public welfare scheme that offers financial help and services to families that meet the eligibility criteria and which have children in their homes.

TANF. It stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Children. It is a grant program funded by the federal government and whose purpose is to create and administer help schemes to disadvantaged families.

Counter-cyclical program. The term means that the program would spend ramp sums of money especially for the reason that more people qualify for welfare benefits and slows during economic growth since the labor markets tend to increase at such periods.

Policy. This is a course of activities that are adopted by an organization so that it can guide the process by which it carries out its operations. A set of policies refer to the principles and directions that are established and implemented by an establishment to pursue their long-term objectives.

Policy Formulation. This refers to the process of establishing guidelines that would be followed towards a particular goal of the program.

Policy Implementation. This is the actual execution of the proposed guidelines during the program plan.

Federal Government. This is the administration in charge of the entire country.

State Government. It refers to administration below the federal government whereby they are in charge of different states within the country.

County Government. It refers to the government in charge of each of the counties within a state.

Welfare. The term refers to the statutory process of promoting the primary bodily and material well-being of a needy population.

Eligibility criteria. These are the guidelines that describe the characteristics that a population must fulfill so that they can qualify to receive grants from the welfare program.

Importance of the topic within the context of child development

CalWORKs Family Benefits Program has the responsibility of taking care of kids. For instance, the program extends help to families that have children under the age of eighteen years. The help may be in the form of money, housing, food, healthcare services, and employment. Therefore, the children in such families are directly benefited by the help from these programs. Additionally, CalWORKs Family Benefits Program cares for children under the age of 19 especially when the parents are absent, disabled, dead or unemployed. Any child who falls under any of the qualification criteria is eligible to acquire help from the welfare program (David.et.al, 2017).

From the above description, it is important to realize that CalWORKs plays a key role in helping children. The policy formulation procedures that affect the welfare programs will, therefore, impact the welfare of the needy children in one way or another. It is important to ensure better procedures as far as policy formulation and implementation are concerned to guarantee the best operations for the welfare programs (Anderson, 2016).

Current State of Affairs in CalWORKs Family Benefit Program

The program offers a wide range of human services to needy families within California. For instance, it provides some income for minority groups such as the disabled and the old people. It also gives financial help and employment facilities to low-income earning families with children and provides child protection services against different forms of abuse and neglect. Besides, the program provides home care employees who help the old people and the disabled who are still in their homes (Livingston, 2016).

Currently, the governor for California state proposed an increase in the grants extended to CalWORKs as a step towards improving the operations of the program. For instance, it would increase the grants in the 2018-2019 financial year in such a manner that all the families that benefit from the particular program are above 50 % of the federal poverty level by the end of the next two financial years. To implement the plan, a 10% increment on the grant was effected in April 2019 as the initial step (Ramirez & Rodriguez, 2019). However, the governor proposes a 13.1 % further increase on the CalWORKs grants. According to his proposal, such a raise would enhance the operations of the program whereby it would be able to increase their help with families with three eligible family members and consequently increase their well being too over 50% for a family of three. If the proposal is passed and implemented, it is estimated to cost $455 Million for the entire financial year. It is important to note that this proposal varies with that of the legislature as far as the distribution of grant increment amongst CalWORKs cases is concerned, the total amount of grant increments as well as the appropriate time when they are supposed to be increased.

There is also a target for the CalWORKs portion of the security Net Reserve. This is the amount set aside to finance the program operations during the recession. The operations of the program have proven to be counter-cyclical which implies that the program would spend ramp sums of money especially for the reason that more people qualify for welfare benefits and slows during economic growth since the labor markets tend to increase at such periods. Hence, it is important to note that the program would require additional finances during the recession to cater for the unemployed and low-income earning families. Such costs could range from $2 Billion to $6 Billion. While considering such an amount of finances. It is recommendable that the Legislature sets a reserve target on a basis of the share of these additional costs that it purposes for the program to use during the recession (D’Andrade.et.al, 2017).

Several policies guide the operations of CalWORKs operations as far as welfare is concerned. For instance, all children are eligible to acquire assistance from the program irrespective of the status of their parents. This implies that the largest population of beneficiaries from the program are children. The program acquires funds jointly from federal, state and county level administration. The program also relies on Temporary Assistance for needy Families (TANF) as the basis for funds allocation through block grants. The program grants result in preferences and constraints. However, it is important to note that the block grants do not rise when more families meet the requirements for help while the funding remains constant or drops. The program is also a common source of help for a large population of low-income earners from California. According to statistics provided after research, more than 439,200 people would remain in poverty status if it were not for the help they acquire from CalWORKs. Also, 186,400 people would be in deeper poverty statuses. Both cases also include children. Hence, this proves that the program plays a key role in helping persons who live in poverty within California.

Deficiencies in current policy

Various problems affect the CalWORKs policy with the current situation. For instance, California as a state has shifted much of its focus on cost minimization and increased revenues especially due to the constant recessions that occurred in the past years. This implies that the operations carried out within the state and other programs check on their saving levels more than the developmental and expansion programs for needy families such as the CalWORKs family benefits program. Hence, the benefits extended to the families have been significantly reduced partially for the reason that the other programs that were statutorily or politically secured could not be affected easily. This has prevented the smooth extension of the help of different forms to needy families.

Also, California, which is the home for the CalWORKs Family Benefits Program, experiences division of authority between the republican party and the democrats. However, the activities of the legislature are also restricted by the third quarter rule especially because the democrats do not fulfill this requirement of passing a budget bill. The Republican governor is also allowed to veto any budget bills passed at the parliament. While these opposing parties support the formulation of policies regarding needy families, they barely agree on the procedures to follow. This leads to many conflicts as far as legislations linked to welfare reforms are concerned (Davis.et.al, 2016).

More arguments in the operations within the CalWORKs Family Benefits Program arise because the organization is supervised at the state level while it is administered at the counties. The state government formulates rules and policies, determines the criteria for assistance eligibility as well as the benefit levels. The state also monitors the practices done at the local level and also offers technical help to the counties to ensure that they all follow the policies formulated at the state level. It is important to note that different counties have varying degrees of governmental flexibility. The decision-making authorities at county levels, as well as the financial obligations, have therefore become an argumentative issue as far as the benefits program is concerned. Also, the welfare reform legislation in the state leads to further discretion in counties while implementing the welfare program policies (Chandler, 2017).

Different previously carried out researches support the arguments above as far as the program deficiencies are concerned. For instance, there is an inability of welfare to support modern and emerging households. According to the report which was published in 2017, the individual poverty level within the United States was 12,060$. Modern households have been neglected in several ways because house size, which is a key determinant factor of how people qualify has not been taken into account and is not accommodated. This makes bigger families with only one person working to be easily disqualified because they are not taken into consideration (Monje-Paulson.et.al, 2019).

Most existing programs fail to address the root cause of poverty. The current era we are living in is dynamic.  This is evident based on previously carried out research especially because several industries are fading away while some are being innovated.  The transition requires the people here to have a skill that will help them provide for themselves. This is the reason as to why most of the current welfares have decided to include the job training and provision skills within the framework of the benefits being offered by the organization.  since most of the organizations are not for this option, most of the skilled personnel in the past are now unskilled and hence, finding a job opportunity for them has remained a difficult task.

Research also shows that the welfare program has formed a basis for societal Cliques. The question of who deserved to receive welfare benefits within the society and who does not has turned out to be a dilemma. When there is a program in place, it triggers a debate of who should get the benefits. These debates result in societal separations and have great potentials in polarizing the affected country (Anderson, 2016).

There has also been the existence of highly variable programs in some states as previously carried out research indicates. Every state within the United States has been granted the opportunity and the ability to formulate its rules about their welfare.  By this, therefore, some states might be offering welfare access programs while some might not.  This will, in turn, lead to inequalities for some households obtaining services required particularly for those which they might be needed in a different geographic location.

Statement of Policy suggestions

Here are different policies which if implemented would play a key role in improving the activities of the CalWORKs family benefits program.

1. More effective employment strategies

The policymakers could implement more effective employment programs that would better the lives of needy families. For instance, the program is criticized to force single parents to take part in employment-related activities so that they can receive their welfare assistance. As far as employment is important, such conditions may harm single parents especially in cases where they are required to work away from their children such as very young kids (Llanas, 2019). Additionally, the parents would be given low compensation rates which left them only with a slightly better financial condition compared to before. Instead, I would recommend a more self-sufficient employment policy for needy persons. For instance, the CalWORKs could increase the benefits of the persons who moved from being beneficiaries to being employees. They may also increase the incentives to motivate them to go to work. Such an employment program may play a key role in improving the lives of the involved persons.

2. Increase the self-sufficiency of the welfare eligible people.

Various strategies are recommendable for the welfare program to increase the self-sufficiency of the needy families and hence reduce the population of the dependent population on the welfare program. For instance, the program may use mandatory employment services for the involved persons. Examples of compulsory employment services include education, training or even immediate searches for employment. Such activities would play a key role in enlightening the people on better strategies for improving their living standards (Madanat, Molina & Ayala, 2018). Any person who would participate in such activities would be eligible for cash benefits from the program. The welfare program may also supplement the earnings of the employees to enhance their financial statuses. For instance, it could reward the workers by giving their families regular financial supplements or even increasing the amounts that those who were eligible for help would receive if they participated in different employment activities.

3. Time limits

The welfare program could also place time limits for families that were eligible for assistance from the program. For instance, the program should implement a one-year maximum period for which a family could receive welfare from CalWORKs. Once the stated time limit is attained, the persons would no longer be eligible for the support they receive from the program. This would improve the operations of the program especially because it would increase self-sufficiency levels of persons receiving welfare. Additionally, it would provide an opportunity where other families would be in a position to benefit from the programs at a significant level (Karoly.et.al, 2015 – Research Paper Writing Help Service).

 

 

References

Anderson, A. (2016). CalWORKs Grants Fall Short as Rents Continue to Rise. California Budget and Policy Center.

Chandler, D. C. (2017). Evidence for Using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Model in CalWORKs Mental Health Programs: Outcomes From the County of Los Angeles. Sacramento, CA, California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions.

D’Andrade, A., Simon, J. D., Fabella, D., Castillo, L., Mejia, C., & Shuster, D. (2017). The California Linkages Program: Doorway to Housing Support for Child Welfare‐Involved Parents. American journal of community psychology, 60(1-2), 125-133.

David, A. C. A. J., Simon, D. F., Castillo, L., Mejia, C., & Shuster, D. (2017). The California Linkages Program: Doorway to housing support for child-welfare.

Davis, L. M., Karoly, L. A., Bozick, R., Lavery, D. C., Barnes-Proby, D., Weidmer, B. A., … & Turk-Bicakci, L. (2016). Evaluation of the SB 1041 reforms to California’s CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work program. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation.

Gutiérrez, E. R. (2016). Bringing Families out of ‘Cap’Tivity: The Need to Repeal the CalWORKs Maximum Family Grant Rule. University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Berkeley: Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice. Retrieved May, 15, 2018.

Karoly, L. A., Bozick, R., Davis, L. M., Kitmitto, S., Turk-Bicakci, L., Bos, J. M., … & Blankenship, C. (2015 – Research Paper Writing Help Service). Evaluation of the SB 1041 Reforms to California’s CalWORKs Program. RAND Corporation.

Livingston, R. (2016). The Solano County Cal-Works Responsible Fathers Program Vallejo, California.

Llanas, S. V. (2019). Single women’s perspectives in the CalWORKs program (Doctoral dissertation).

Madanat, H., Molina, M., & Ayala, G. X. (2018). Does Incorporating Healthy Lifestyle Education into Welfare-to-Work Programs Make a Difference?. Health, 10, 1714-1718.

Mojica, L. (2017). First-Generation CalWORKs Students and Their Perspectives on College Success (Doctoral dissertation, California Lutheran University).

Monje-Paulson, L. N., Olson, A. B., Pizzolato, J. E., & Sullivan, K. A. (2019). Adult Learner Career Trajectories: Vocational Self-Concept Development in CalWORKs Community College Students. College Student Affairs Journal, 37(1), 68-82.

Pizzolato, J. E., Olson, A. B., & Monje-Paulson, L. N. (2017). Finding Motivation to Learn: Exploring Achievement Goals in California Community College CalWORKs Students. Journal of Adult Development, 24(4), 295-307.

Ramirez, E., & Rodriguez, M. M. (2019). Barriers to Higher Education Among CalWORKs Recipients.

Velasco, C. (2017). CalWORKs Students and Their Best Practices, How They Succeed in Community College (Doctoral dissertation, Pepperdine University).

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