1976 Program

The primary objective of the WIN program in 1976 will continue to be the placement of AFDC recipients into unsubsidized employment, thereby, resulting in self sufficiency and welfare savings. WIN plans to place 200,000 registrants into unsubsidized employment, with improvements in wage and retention rates which affect reductions in welfare grants. An administrative objective necessary to better accomplish the program goals will require the implementation of the modified WIN program, which aims to enhance the return of job ready registrants into the labor market.

The revised WIN regulations, issued September 18, 1975, modify the WIN program by requiring improved manpower services to AFDC applicants and recipients at the time of WIN registration. Legislation will be sought which authorizes job search for uncertified registrants as a condition of eligibility for AFDC benefits. The new regulations shift WIN registration responsibilities from the Income Maintenance Unit to the WIN manpower sponsor. Registration now includes the gathering of work history, exposing registrants to work and training opportunities, and whenever possible, joint appraisal. This process will demonstrate to all AFDC applicants the importance of job seeking as a condition of continued eligibility for AFDC benefits. Other major program changes include: (1) States may at their option, add an intensive manpower services component for the near job ready; (2) the WIN sponsor will also deregister individuals from the program thereby improving the timeliness of response and insuring immediate grant reductions and corresponding welfare saving; (3) necessary supportive services will be available for 30 days for employed registrants after the start of unsubsidized employment and services may be extended up to 90 days at the discretion of the staff if necessary for job retention: (4) a registrant who fails to appear for an appraisal of his/her employability, may be deregistered from the program; and (5) appropriate work criteria are expanded to include part time, temporary, and seasonal employment as well as full time employment, thus expanding the availability of work for the recipients.

To assure coordinated programs at the local level, WIN project managers will be encouraged to establish linkages with appropriate Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) prime sponsors for training and employment activities. The pilot studies for selected local offices will be conducted to determine the effect on program management. A long range assessment of the WIN and welfare tax credit study will begin to collect and analyze data to ultimately determine the relative impact of the AFDC and WIN tax and the extent to which an expanded public information program can improve the public usage of tax credits. WIN will complete the job option training at local levels to assure increased opportunity for the nontraditional jobs for women. The longitudinal evaluation study of WIN has completed data collection. Analysis into the relationship between the kinds of training and services provided and particicpants' post WIN experience will be studied.

A total of $215 million is required to support the training and employment activities, in addition to the $48 million in program costs obligated in 1975. The $35 million supplemental appropriated in the Continuing Resolution will also be available for program use to fund the work and training subcontracts. The program expenditure level of $235 million compares favorably with the expenditure level in 1975. The 1976 program level will provide for the modified program's emphasis on intake and services. The new authority will provide $235 million for distribution to State WIN sponsors and $15 million for program direction and evaluation.

1975 Program

The primary mission of the WIN program is to place WIN registrants into unsubsidized employment resulting in self sufficiency and welfare savings. The results of the employment oriented program are favorable when viewed in the context of a depressed economy. WIN registered nearly 840,000 persons in 1975, an increase of 20,000, which reflects an increase in the AFDC population. WIN participants obtained 170,641 jobs, of which 66 percent were entered directly, without the need for prior training. The man-years of work and training totaled 34,630. In addition, WIN suspended 47,425 participants, a 62 percent increase, into other manpower programs such as the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) programs. The criteria for quality job entries showed some improvement over the preceeding year. The average starting wages for men increased over 5 percent to $2.94 and hour and the average starting wages for women increased nearly 14 percent to $2.48 an hour. Retention rates, those employed 90 days

after entering the job, kept pace with the previous year at 66 percent. Slightly more participants were deregistered and removed from the AFDC grant because of employment than in 1974. These WIN activities resulted in greater welfare grant reductions. WIN data reflect over $152 million in grant reductions for fiscal year 1975 compared to $129 million reductions in calendar 1974. The increased savings are partially attributable to the DOL performance allocation formula which increased allocations and entitlements to those States which are more successful in generating high initial grant reductions and maintaining high retention rates.

The aim for quality placements led to a State training program designed to increase the job options for women, who have historically had less opportunity in the labor market. A long term longitudinal study of 800 WIN registrants in 78 projects is continuing with results expected in 1976. A feasibility study for the introduction of vouchers in the WIN program assumed that WIN clients who participated in the decision making regarding his own employment, will have greater commitment and achievement. Preliminary results in institutional training appear promising and final results and continued experimentation in on-the-job training are slated for 1976. Nearly 500 twenty-minute films entitled "What You Should Know About WIN," were distributed to the regions and State agencies. Twenty percent of these were in Spanish. To improve the program management, WIN completed a study of management indicators which will be piloted in 1976.

A total of $139 million was obligated in addition to unspent prior year funds of $124 million to operate the training and incentives portion of th WIN program. Of this amount $130 million was obligated to State manpower agencies for training and employment and $9 million was obligated for federal program direction and evaluation. Program expenditures were $223 million.

The Work Incentive Program, authorized under Title IV of the Social Security Act, as amended, is a State-administered program designed to encourage and assist recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) to achieve selfsupport through a program of training, work experience, employment, child care, and other supportive services. Funds are appropriated directly to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, which is responsible for determining WIN eligibility and providing WIN participants with supportive services including child care, family planning, counseling services, vocational rehabilitation services, and medical, remedial and health-related care services.

The 1971 Amendments to the Social Security Act authorize child care and other supportive services to be provided to all WIN registrants who need such care and services to enable them to accept work or training. State expenditures are matched by federal payments at the rate of 90 percent.

1977 Program

The WIN social service activities support the WIN placement and training goals which will enable 175,000 registrants to enter unsubsidized employment. The welfare managers will continue to search for economical options to provide child care which meets federal day care standards in the face of rising costs. The higher minimum wage will affect nearly 50 percent of the day care provided. This economic fact is encouraging States to provide more family day centers as a less expensive child care option. Because welfare budgets will be receiving increased scrutiny, the supportive service managers will be working closely with the WIN sponsors to improve relationships and use of other welfare sources - such ás title XX and vocational rehabilitational agencies. This will help to assure comprehensive community service programs will be provided as economically as possible.

The limit of entitlements for child care and supportive services will continue to support the performance factors of the DOL allocation as well as consider the previous level of expenditures.

1976 Program

The objective of the WIN social services activity is to provide child care and supportive services enabling 200,000 WIN registrants to enter employment resulting in self sufficiency and welfare savings.

The

The availability of resources requires concentration of services with the relatively more employable people. As the new regulations expand the program, larger numbers of persons will need child care and supportive services. new WIN regulations define the specific social services for WIN registrants. The regulations emphasize providing child care services which meet the federal day care standards and are responsive to the registrants use of employment and manpower services. Providing adequate child care service to registrants with rising costs, with a decreasing numbers of day care

slots which meet federal standards, and with a new higher minimum wage, is encouraging States to provide more family day center as a less expensive child care option. In addition, cost effective models which meet federal day care standards will be promoted as alternatives to existing methods of providing day care services. To assure the best utilization of scarce resources, the necessary services will continue for 30 days after the start of unsubsidized employment. However, at the SAU's discretion, the services may extend to a maximum of 90 days.

The limits of entitlement for child care and supportive services will continue to follow the performance factors of the DOL allocation as well as the level of previous expenditures. Collocation between two agencies at national, regional, State and local levels is continuing to better serve the needs of registrants entering work and training opportunities.

1975 Program

The WIN program resulted in 170,641 job entries in 1975. These placements were supported by 96,800 man-years of child care and 141.100 man-years of suppor-. tive services. The major supportives services needed to enable registrants to enter work or training were: home management services (106,000 families), family planning (56,000 families), and remedial medical services (37,000 families). of the child care provided, over 60 percent were care for on a full time basis and over 35 percent on part time basis. Child care provided in own home accounted for 50 percent of total care, while 33 percent received care with families, and 17 percent were cared for in group care centers.

The minimum wage increase, not less than $2.10 an hour after January 1, 1975, is affecting the in home care, whose standards are state controlled. This expensive child care option is decreasing in some states, resulting in an emphasis on family and group care which meet federal standards.

Collocated DOL/HEW staffs at the national, regional and various state and local levels jointly developed operating plans. These staffs are working more closely together to assure better services to WIN registrants entering employment and training opportunities.