Late last Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a memo giving states more flexibility in how they help families find employment under the landmark 1996 welfare reform law passed by a GOP-dominated Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
It turns out Utah is one of five states requesting waivers from burdensome federal reporting requirements that divert caseworkers from helping welfare recipients find gainful employment under the law’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
Utah wants to spend (TANF) dollars "in the most efficient and effective manner supporting the kind of services and activities that promote initial employment, wage progression and employment retention," said Kristen Cox, head of Utah’s Department of Workforce, in an August 2011 letter to the federal agency.
Gina Cornia, executive director of Utahns Against Hunger, applauded the waivers for giving Utah more autonomy in dealing with the struggling economy.
"The Utah Department of Workforce Services has always really wanted to be out ahead of the curve and has really been interested in innovation," Cornia said. "This would be a great opportunity to help people get back into meaningful work." Salt Lake Tribune
