ActionPapers

ECONOMIC SUFFICIENCY: IMPROVING W-2

WHY INCREASE MATERNAL TIME WITH NEW INFANT:

• New mothers living in poverty face greater difficulties than most, having to adjust to the needs of an infant and arrange for childcare when they return to the W-2 work program.
• The State of Wisconsin struggles to maintain appropriate funding for childcare for low-income families.
• Children born into poverty are more likely to need extra medical attention and cannot afford to miss any well baby appointments.
• Because of transportation and financial barriers, families living in poverty often need more time than W-2 allows to find appropriate infant care.
• Only 9 states limit mothers on assistance to 3 months; 26 allow more than 12 months.
• The State of Wisconsin will save at least $3 million dollars if mothers were allowed to stay at home with their newborns an additional three months before accessing high-cost infant care funds. Mothers will benefit from the additional three months to bond with their babies and find stable childcare.

WHAT: Extend eligibility for Wisconsin Shares from 12 to 26 weeks for W-2 participants.

WHY SERVE HIGH-RISK PREGNANT WOMEN IN THEIR THIRD TRIMESTER:

• Many pregnant women living in poverty are forced to work, even when work poses a health risk, because they have no other financial support.
• A woman in this situation is more likely to have a baby with serious and costly medical complications, and to suffer damage herself that could jeopardize her long-term ability to support and care for her family.
• Allowing high-risk pregnant women leave in the third trimester would increase a mother and her baby’s likelihood of leading healthy, productive lives, saving millions in future health care costs.

WHAT: Extend W-2 benefits to high-risk women in the third trimester of pregnancy.

WHY INCREASE OPTIONS FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

• Studies show that a high percentage of women leaving W-2 continue to live in poverty.
• A private foundation is exploring development of a pilot program to allow a group of W-2 participants to pursue degrees at UW-Milwaukee. The pilot would include evaluation of both immediate and longer-term economic impact of the program on the individual and state.

WHAT: Establish a pilot program with private funding to allow a specified number of women on W-2 to attend UWM; then evaluate the long-term economic impact. Support the program expanding timeline for child care vouchers for individuals accessing educational options.

WHY IDENTIFY EMPLOYERS FOR THE TRIAL JOBS PLUS PROGRAM:

• W-2 participants who reach the end of their allowable benefits without new skills or training still need assistance improving their outlook for getting a stable, family-supporting job.

WHAT: Implement a Trial Jobs Plus program: partnering employers agree to teach job skills while providing immediate work experience for eligible participants. Where possible, they would then hire these women as regular employees over a minimum specified term following their successfully completed TJP program.

HOW (for all of the above):

• A team from the Economic Sufficiency Task Force will continue to work with DWD to bring our findings to bear on their W-2 design decisions. RSNs should gather evidence of local stories of direct experience in these areas to clarify area challenges.
• Identify and establish working partnerships with area and state groups like the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF), family planning agencies and teen mother support groups, congregations and WISDOM members, neighborhood associations and others that share our agenda to support the well-being of women and children.
• Build a powerful communication with your elected officials that conveys the influence and power of the individuals and organizations working with the RSN. Help them understand these barriers and ask for their support for changes in policy.
• Seek support from progressive business leaders who employ and support W-2 recipients. Recommend them to WW=P’s Corporate Advisory Board for recognition.
• Arrange a meeting with employers who provide on-the-job training and opportunities. Invite someone from the Department of Workforce Development to speak to them about Trial Jobs Plus.
• Write a letter to the editors of local newspapers and magazines supporting these changes.

The Economic Sufficiency Task Force is also working with the Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Health and Family Services to improve a number of other areas. These include:
W-2 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OPTION:

• Between 50 and 60% of welfare recipients have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime.
• More than 3 in 5 domestic abuse survivors in Wisconsin reported being fired or having to quit a job because of threats from the abuser. Half indicated absences at work due to severe beatings.
• The federally-authorized Family Violence Option (FVO) allows states to adopt provisions that will provide services, support and flexibility for victims of domestic violence in order to reduce barriers to self-sufficiency and increase victim safety.
• In 2004, Wisconsin certified the plan and changes are underway; a public/private Task Force will oversee building on existing efforts.
• We will work with that Task Force to ensure proper screening of W-2 applicants; training by those with expertise in the area for all caseworkers in W-2 and child support; providing emergency cash assistance; ensuring that W-2 payments are not delayed, and assisting victims with housing and transportation as needed.
• We also want to promote the safe pursuit of child support whenever possible, and allow exemptions from paternity and child support requirements in cases when the risks to custodial parent or child cannot be overcome.

REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESSING INCOME SUPPORTS:

• DWD and DHFS are in the process of putting childcare sign-up on a twelve month timetable instead of every six months.
• We will continue to work with DWD and DHFS to devise program solutions to persistent barriers to accessing income supports such as food stamps, child care, Badger Care.

RESOURCES:

• W-2 work-family issues, income supports: Amy Stear, 9to5, 414–274–0923,
• Family Violence: Patti Seger, WI Coaltion Against Domestic Violence, 608–255–0539,