HD13 - Food Stamp Work Programs: A Report to the General Assembly in Response to HJR 250

  • Published: 1986
  • Author: Board of Social Services
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 250 (Regular Session, 1985)

Executive Summary:
The State Board of Social Services has developed the following report in response to House Joint Resolution 250. In the Resolution, the 1985 session of the Virginia General Assembly requested that the Board, with the assistance of the Department of Social Services, review all matters related to the establishment of a food stamp workfare program in Virginia and make recommendations as to appropriate legislative action needed.

The State Board appointed a five-member committee to work with the Department of Social Services in preparing this report. Based on the recommendation of the committee, the Board endorses a work program for food stamp recipients with the following goals:

1. To assist employable food stamp recipients in obtaining unsubsidized employment, especially in the private sector, and thus eliminate or reduce the need for food stamp benefits.

2. To inculcate a belief in the value of work and enhance participant self-esteem and motivation.

3. To recognize the diversity of the client group and the diversity of Virginia's labor markets, and therefore make available a range of interventions designed to meet the varying client needs and local circumstances.

In designing a program to meet these goals, the committee reviewed findings from work programs in Virginia and in other states, and consulted with state and local staff involved in the operation of employment programs for food stamp recipients. Additionally, at the committee's request, the Department of Social Services conducted a study of the food stamp population participating in the Food Stamp Work Registration/Job Search Program operated by 21 local agencies.

Data from these studies established that the majority of persons who would be required to register for a food stamp work program receive benefits only briefly and, as a result, are available for work program participation for only that short time. Based on this important finding, the program design recommended by the Board committee places strong emphasis on job search assistance in order to facilitate a return to the labor market. For participants who fail to find employment during the job search, the program design makes possible referral to work experience, education, training, or other vocationally-oriented activities. Participants having serious barriers to employment will be referred for needed services. The design specifically provides for:

1. registration of all non-exempt food stamp program recipients for the work program.

2. assessment of program registrants and assignment to a job search activity of four weeks duration to be completed within three months of program participation.

3. assignment of all participants who fail to obtain a job during the first job search to a second job search of four weeks duration. This activity will take place during the second three months of assistance and will bring participants together in a group setting to teach those behaviors that correlate with success in the job search.

4. re-assessment of those program participants who do not find jobs within this second job search period to determine their future course of activity within the program.

5. assignment of those reassessed to work experience, education, training, or other vocationally-oriented activities.

The State Board of Social Services believes that the proposed program will accomplish the goals outlined in HJR 250 and recommends its adoption and funding by the General Assembly.

The Board continues to support additional funding for the Employment Services Program serving ADC & GR recipients. Additionally, the Board believes that a substantial increase in funding for education, training, and other services is needed to enhance self-sufficiency and to achieve a dramatic reduction in welfare caseloads and public assistance costs.