Welfare to Work Report

Section V: Population Characteristics and Needs

Identifying population characteristics and needs is an important step in determining appropriate strategies and action steps. By profiling participant needs, the Coalition can better assess the range of services required to assist an individual. Once required services are identified, a coordinated approach can be developed involving community organizations and resources.

The three action committees examined population characteristics and needs for their respective areas: workforce development, supportive services and subsistence requirements. They divided these areas into specific need categories. For each category, a need level was assigned based on the profile of the individual. The need levels are defined as significant, moderate and minimal. The committees formed matrices for their issue areas that categorize need levels for each category (see below).

An individual does not have to meet each characteristic of a need level in order to be classified as significant, moderate, or minimal. Depending on the issue area and category, it is likely that participants fall under different need levels. For example, an individual may have significant job-training needs, moderate transportation needs and minimal housing needs. Therefore, the individual falls into all three need levels.

The three need levels do not represent priority. Instead, they serve as helpful tools for Coalition member organizations working with welfare recipients. For example, an organization providing case management may use the needs matrix to form an individualized plan for each participant. The matrix helps identify the strengths and the weaknesses of each participant in order to focus resources and energy more efficiently.

Welfare-to-Work Needs Matrix-Workforce Development

Workforce Development	Significant Needs
Job training	No work history (< 3 months)
Literacy	Illiterate (e.g. CASAS < 210 and/or below 8th grade) Non-English speaking (e.g. ESL CASAS < 224)
Education	Significant educational needs (e.g. ESL, literacy, ESCC, learning disabled, MR/DD)
Special Needs	Custodial teen parent (exempt from Work First) Persons with physical or neurological disabilities, only if non-exempt (ADA) TP 29 (transitional Medicaid) Exempt due to age of child (1-4 years) Recently released from incarceration
Post- Job Placement	Significant job coaching needed
TANF Time Limit	Short time limit (< 1 year)
	Moderate Needs
Job training	Limited work history (3-9 months) Work Keys 2 or less
Literacy	Somewhat literate (e.g. CASAS 211-235/9th grade or above) Limited English proficiency
Education	Need moderate educational assistance (e.g. ESCC, GED training, some ESL)
Special Needs	Persons with mild physical or neurological disabilities, only if non-exempt
Post- Job Placement	Moderate job coaching required
TANF Time Limit	> 1 year but < 3 years
	Minimal Needs
Job training	Work history > 9 months Need responsibility and motivational training Need skills training to move to Work II (e.g. Work Keys 3 or above)
Literacy	Minimal assistance
Education	Demonstrated proficiency- High School diploma or above Need education to move to Work II (e.g. Work Keys 3 or above)
Special Needs	No specific characteristics
Post- Job Placement	Need post-placement Services- Has limited workplace/advancement skills Minimum job coaching needed
TANF Time Limit	3 years

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Welfare-to-Work Needs Matrix-Supportive Services

Supportive Services	Significant Needs
Child Care	Has child(ren) age 0-4 Has no family support Working non-traditional hours Has children with disabilities
Transportation	Ready to work, no adequate public or private transportation Logistical barriers (e.g. multiple stops for child care, education, etc.)
Mental Health/ Substance Abuse	Active drug use In treatment (outpatient) Non-SSI qualifying mental health problems
Case Management/ Mentoring	Poor self-advocacy skills Lacks support system Not participating in post-placement support system or mentoring
	Moderate Needs
Child Care	Has school age children, working non-traditional hours, has no family support Has pre-school children, Head-Start eligible Has children age 1-4 with family support
Transportation	Available public or private transportation Logistical barriers (e.g. multiple stops for child care, education, etc.)
Mental Health/ Substance Abuse	Situational mental health problems with minimal education and work experience Undergoing after-care support In recovery < 1 year
Case Management/ Mentoring	Work-ready with support
	Minimal Needs
Child Care	Has school age children Working traditional hours Has family support
Transportation	Adequate public or private transportation with back-up
Mental Health/ Substance Abuse	Situational mental health problems with education and/or work experience In recovery with support In recovery for more than 1 year
Case Management/ Mentoring	Active comprehensive case manager involvement Stable employment for 12-18 months

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Welfare-to-Work Needs Matrix-Subsistence Requirements

Subsistence Requirements	Significant Needs
Housing and Shelter	Chronically Homeless (most vulnerable) Situationally Homeless (in need of comprehensive assistance) Frail elderly Persons with physical or neurological disabilities
Food	Able bodied adults without dependents (ineligible for food stamps) People without cooking skills and facilities
Basic Needs/ Emergency Cash Assistance	Those in chronic need of emergency assistance People facing immediate eviction People whose utilities have been turned off People with backlogs of overdue rental and/or utility payments Persons on fixed incomes
Health care	Employed but uninsured Non-pregnant women without children; men without children (uninsured) Soon to lose TANF and/or transitional Medicaid benefits Those in need of specialized medical care who are uninsured
	Moderate Needs
Housing and Shelter	Public/subsidized housing residents without supportive services Persons with physical or neurological disabilities with supportive services Individuals or families with six or more dependents
Food	Food Stamp recipients with pre-school children and/or transportation barriers Persons in need of budgeting and/or nutritional counseling
Basic Needs/ Emergency Cash Assistance	Cyclical need of emergency assistance
Health care	Insured individuals and families with medical expenses outside of their coverage Insured individuals with multiple dependents
	Minimal Needs
Housing and Shelter	Public/Subsidized housing residents with supportive services Households paying > 30% of Gross Monthly Income on housing
Food	Food Stamp recipients with school age children and adequate transportation Persons in need of budgeting and/or nutritional counseling
Basic Needs/ Emergency Cash Assistance	Occasional need of emergency assistance
Health care	Employer pays only a percentage of health insurance Individual has insurance and only one dependent

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