California Budget Project Reauthorization Of The Temporary Assistance For Needy Families Block Grant

California is home to more low income families than any other state in the nation and the states poverty rate remains significantly above that of the nation (13.8 percent as compared to 11.8 percent in 1999).3 There is also great diversity and variation within the states borders. [...] Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies; and 4. [...] The California Department of Social Services, for example, reports that Californias welfare workers and leavers are most concen- trated in services and retail trade jobs.17 The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that just 49 percent of full-time workers in retail trade jobs and 63 percent of those in services participate in employer-pro- vided health plans, as compared to 70 percent of all full-ti. [...] Questions • How should TANF and MOE levels be increased to account for inflation? • Is there a compelling argument for increasing or maintaining funding to states? • If funding is reduced, what will be cut? • What happens to funding levels in the event of an economic downturn? • Should the amount of the block grant be tied to the health of the economy (i.e., unemployment rates)? Flexibility with A. [...] Questions • Should the work first approach be revisited? • Should states be given more flexibility to provide education and training for those who need it? LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REAUTHORIZATION DEBATE The 1996 PRWORA dramatically altered the entire system and structure of programs and policies for Americas low income families.