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WORKING TOWARD JOBS

The Washington State

Opportunities and Family Independence (FIP) Programs

iJWICES. 
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OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 
OFFICE OF EV ALVA TION AND INSPECTIONS 
MAY 1990  OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

The mission of the Offce of Inspector General (DIG) is to promote the efficiency, 
of programs in the United States Deparment of 
effectiveness, and integrty 
Health and Human Services (HS). It does this by developing methods to detect 
and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. Crated by statute in 1976, the Inspector 
General keeps both the Secretar and the Congress fully and currently informed 
about programs or management problems and recommends corrective action. 
The DIG performs its mission by conducting audits, investigations, and 
inspections with approximately 1,400  around the 
staf sttategically located 
countr. 
OFFICE OF EVALUATION AND INSPECTIONS 
This report is produced by the Offce of Evaluation and Inspections (DEI), one of 
thee major offices within the DIG. The other two ar the Office of Audit 
Services and the Offce of Investigations. Inspections are conducted in 
accordance with professional standards developed by DEI. These inspections are 
typicaly short-term studies designed to determne program effectiveness, 
efficiency, and vulnerabilty to fraud or abuse. 
This technical report was prepared to describe the operation of the Washington 
(P) 
State Opportunities and Family Independence  Programs. This technical 
report is par of a larger study which was conducted to describe the operation of a 
AFC 
sample of mature, well-regarded and comprehensive work programs for 
recipients and the insights of the administtators of those programs. 
This report was prepared under the direction of Emilie Baebel, Chief, Public 
Health and Human Services Branch. This project was led by Suzanne Murn of 
that branch.  ....:.......:.".-..:.....".:.......:"......:.".....:....."..:......:.".....:...".....:.....".:......:."......:.."....:....."..:......:"......:...'.....:......":......:...".....:.....":......".:.......:".....:....."...:......:".....:....".....:....".:.....:..".......:......:."..."..:..'...":"....:..".....:..'....:".....:.........:..."..:......":.......:'.......:..'......:.......:.".....:...."..:........:-.'...:........:......:.....".:........:.'......:-....:..."....:.-."..:....":.......:'......-:..."...:........:......:...."...:...."..:.....".:......:'.......;..."....:.....".:......".:......:.":......:.":......:...:.'.....:.:.....".:..;....:..:......:...":.:......:...:....;.:........:...:.......:-:......::.........:...:.......::.......:.:.........;..::........:::........;..;...:........::.......:.;.........:..:.......::.......:..:........;..:.......::.......:...:.........:......:.........:........:......:.........:.......:........:........:.......:.........:.......:.......:..........:......:.......:..........:......:.......:..........:......:........:.........:....."::......'..:..:.......::"......::...."......::..."...::.......:.:....."....::......"::......:.:'..........::"......::......"..;......".:.....:"........:.'......:....".:.:......'..::.-......:......:.....:..:...."..:......:'.........:."....:.....".:......"..:.....:.......:.......":"....:."..:"...:..":.......:"'..:......:"'......:...'....":,.....:......:...:....:.........:.......:.......:..........:......:........:.........:......:........:.........:......:........:.........:......:........:.........:......:........:..:.:.:.:.:.:.::
The Washington

Opportunities and Family Independence (FIP) Programs

Richard P. Kusserow

INSPECTOR GENERAL

OEI-12-89-01328  MAY 1990
 ... . .  .. .  . ..  . ... .   ... .   .... .    . .....     . ..... .     ..... .     .. ....  .   ... .....  .    ....... .       .... ....       . .........    .      .........  .        .........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........        ........       . ...".. ..'.     .  .... ...    .   .. .....  "     .......       .......       .......       .......       ......      .....    ... .   . ....     .....     .....     ...   ...   .. 
INTRODUCTION 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

PROGRAM PROFILE. 
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 
 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THE WASHINGTON AFDC PROGRAM  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

THE OPPORTUNITIES WORK  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

PROGRAM. 
General Background. . 

Administrative Issues 
. 3

Participation Issues. .  . 4

Program Activities  . . . 4

THE FAMILY INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Background  . . . . . . . . 8

Innovations  . . . . . . . . . 9

Appendix A 
PROGRAM OVERVIEW STATEMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A -
Appendix B

SAMPLE DOCUMENTS  . B ::::::::::::
This technical repon is par of a series of 
profiles on the Aid to Famlies with Dependent 
Childrn (AFC) 
work programs parcipating 
project. 
in the  Working Toward JOBS 

caiegorized 
Each profie begins with a 
IIIII1IIIII1 
description of the subject AFC work program 
which is based on mail guides submitted by the 
progr. 
Appendix A includes an overview 
statement wrtten by the program manager. It 
describes the program, its goals, philosophy and 
lessons leared. Appendix B is a sample of 
documents used to conduct the program. Each 
program admnisttator was asked to submit 
sample documents which they felt would be 
useful to States and counties developing JOBS 
programs. 
Data collection for this study was done from 
Apri to September of 1989. The information in 
the overview and technical repons is based on 
pre-JOBS work programs for AFC recipients. 
As these programs have converted to JOBS, 
they may have made some changes to meet 
JOBS legal and regulatory requirments. 
Where possible, we have noted the changes the 
program admnisttators anticipated at the time 
of our data collection. 
Washington  INTRODUCTION  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rrr  ?rr?r????rr???rr??rrt tr?  ?rI?  ?t?  trrr?r??r?rr?rr)rr?rr?r??r /?rr?rr?? 
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 
Population: 4,684 000

Main industres: manufacturing, wholesale/retai trade, services

First quarer 1989 unemployment rate: 6.7 percent

Median income for a family of four: $38,667

Number living below poverty line: 481 000

THE WASHINGTON AFDC PROGRAM 
(F) 
For Fiscal Year  1989:

Total: $370,374 000

Federal share: $203,683,000; State share: $166,691 000

Average monthly caseload: 74 935

Client descriptors:

Slightly over 10 percent are under 21 
45 percent are 21
Approximately 34 percent are 30
Slightly over 11 percent are 40 and over 
42 percent do not have a high school diploma or equivalent 
average number of children in grant: 1.7 
AFC: 
average length of spell on  approx 24 months 
THE WASHINGTON AFDC WORK PROGRAM 
Washington is currently operating two work programs for welfare recipients. The 
State has replaced the AFC program, in some counties, with the Famly 
Independence Program (PIP). The PIP includes the cash out of food stamp 
benefits and monetar incentives for paricipation in work and ttaining activities. 
AFC 
Those recipients who are still in the  program are served by the Washington 
Employment Opportnities Program. Because, at the time of data collection 
there was more information available about the outcomes of Opponunities, this 
conclude with a section on PI' 
profie wil begin with Opportnities, but 
innovations. 
The comments on the Washington work program in the overview report and the 
conference summar are based on the Washington program in ttansition, and 
reflect the innovations used at the PIP sites. 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  General Background 
The Washington Employment Opponunities Program, commonly called 
Name: 
Opportnities. 
Operating Since:  April 1, 1986 
Based upon an integrated service delivery philosophy, the 
Program Philosophy: 

program s goal is to offer employment/self-suffciency assistance to as many 
AFC 
applicants and recipients as can be served given the limited program 
resources. 
Program Administrator: 
Cheri Gonyaw 
Chief, Policy and Program Development 
Deparent of Health and Human Services 
DB 31
Olympia, Washington 98504 
(206) 586-2506 
Administrative Issues 
Opportunities is a joint effon between the Deparment of Social and Health 
Structure: 
Services (DSHS) and the Employment Security Deparment (ESD). The program 
is centrally administered in collaboration with six geographic service regions. 
For FY 1988, program activities funding was $6,920,536 and supponive 
Funding: 
services totaled $145,207. The total cost of the Opportunities program in FY 
1988 was: $7,068, 149, which was equally divided between Federa and State 
sources. 
The DSHS has assigned the following full-time equivalent positions to 
Staff: 
Opportnities: 27.3 social workers, 2.5 supervisors, and 2. 8 clerical, for a tota of 
32.6. The ESD has assigned 7 administtative assistants, 4 managers and 
supervisors, 103 job service specialists, and 6 clerical, for a total of 120. 
The DSHS measures the success of Opportunities by ttacking the 
Measurements: 
number served, placements, grant savings, retention rate, and average wage. 
Reports are submitted by the ESD on all aspects of their services, as 
Recordkeeping: 
well as detailed expenditure data. The DSHS maintains the Social Service 
ayment System (SSPS) which provides data concerning services, authorizations 
and payments. Fiscal reports are also generated by DSHS showing staf and 
administrative costs for Opportnities. 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  The DSHS conttacts direct employment services to ESD. There 
Provision of Services: 

are no sub-conttactors. The decision to conttact employment services to the ESD 
was based on ESD' s trditional role and employment resources. 
The DSHS houses a broad range of human services. Opponunities 
Outside Resources: 

program staf commonly refer clients to these services as needed. 
None to date. 
Evaluations: 
Participation Issues

Participant Descriptors: 
 48,265 are registered, 19,306 parcipated beyond registtation 
in FY 1988. 
AFC 
Target Groups:  Prorities are established as follows: (1)  Unemployed Parent 
recipients, (2) volunteers, (3) long-term recipients, and (4) all others. However 
all clients are eligible for equal services. 
Clients must parcipate in sequential or joint 
Mandatory Activities/Sanctions: 

assessment by DSHS and ESD. In FY 1988, 646 sanctions were taken agairst 
clients who did not comply with the mandatory activities. 
Washington encourages volunteers by requiring AFC 
Volunteers:  eligibilty staf to 
present information about Opportnities to exempt AFC recipients. 
There were 5,704 placements in calendar year 1988. The 
Employment Placements: 

average starng wage was $5.35 per hour. The 30 day retention rate was 85. 
percent. 
Program Activities 
The Washington program admnisttator considers group job search and 
Models: 
community work experience the most effective activities in helping recipients 
enter un subsidized employment. The program admnisttator names group job 
search and individual job search as the most cost-effective components. 
Information on the usual sequence of services is included in the listing of 
Sequencing: 
program activities. 
What follows is a listing of the program components of 
Program Activities Listing: 

Opportnities. Cost, paricipation and placement figures are for FY 1988. 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  Orientation 
In orientation, the program components are explained and clients are 
Activity: 
encouraged to paricipate and set up meetings with social workers to plan further 
services. In some cases, an employabilty and/or social services assessment 
immediately follows the orientation. 
Provided by DSHS social workers and (in some instances) ESD 
How Provided: 

personnel. Done in group meetings. 
Paricipants ar new AFC applicants, and AFC recipients who have lost 
Participants: 
their exemption from work program requirements. The next step is personalized 
assistace in explaining and assistance in accessing services. After that, clients 
parcipate in assessment of employment related skills and needs, including 
testing (where appropriate) and evaluation of employabilty. 
Assessment 
Activity:  The parcipant s job history is taen. Basic literacy and math skills 
explored, but no formal testing process is in place at this time. 
Provided by DSHS or ESD 
How Provided:  staf in individual interviews. 
Appropriate for all applicants/recipients. Parcipants are likely to have 
Participants: 
completed orientation; their next step is employabilty planning. 
Employabilty Planning

Each employability plan includes an employment goal and assignment to 
Activity: 
program components that wil help the parcipant achieve their goal. 
Provided by DSHS workers in individual meetings with paricipants. 
How Provided: 

This service is appropriate for new AFC applicants and recipients. 
Participants: 
Paricipants are likely to have completed orientation and assessment. 
Supportive Services 
Child care, counseling, supplemental medical, social and suppon services. 
Activity: 
Arrangements are made during one-on-one meetings between 
How Provided: 

parcipants and DSHS staff. Child car is provided through licensed providers or 
in-home care. 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  In FY 1988, 1 020 paricipants received child care. 
Participants: 
$145 207; $142.36 per parcipant. 
Costs: 
Extended child care and medical for recipients exiting AFC due 
Anticipated Changes: 

to increased earings. 
Job Placement 
Referral to employers. 
Activity: 
How Provided:  Provided though individual meetings with parcipants. Services are 
performed by the ESD staf. 
This component is most appropriate for job ready clients. 
Participants:  Paricipants are 
likely to have completed individual and or group job search. 
Increased utiization of employment resources. 
Anticipated Changes: 

Group Job Search

Group job search (job club) in some sites. Group job seeking activities var 
Activity: 
according to local resources. A minimal program usualy includes an orientation 
to the world of work, job search techniques and resume development. Other sites 
add self-image enhancement exercises, interview techniques using video tape 
feed-back, phone banks, and peer group support sttctures. 
Provided by ESD staff in a classroom settng, emphasizing the group 
How Provided: 

process. 
Participants:  233. Appropriate for job ready applicants/recipients. Parcipants are 
likely to have completed orientation and assessment. Some may have been in 
individual job search.

Included with individual job search costs.
Costs: 
Individual Job Search 
Activity  : Paricipant-directed job search. Local policy provides that individuals in job 
search make regular repons of their employment seekig activities, with a 
minimum of two in-person contacts per month. 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  Provided by ESD under a conttact with DSHS. Provided through 
How Provided: 

one-on-one meetings between ESD 
staf and paricipants. 
16,892. Recommended for job ready applicants and recipients. 
Participants: 
Parcipants are likely to have completed orientation and assessment. 
Costs for both individual and group job search were $6,814 719; which is $405 
Costs: 
per parcipant. 
Community Work Experience 
Non paid work in public and non-profit agencies for a period of up to 6 months. 
Activity: 
The community work experience program (CWEP) is designed to provide 
parcipants with a recent reference and work experience. 
How Provided: 
 Arangements for CWEP ar made though individual meetings between 
ESD staf and parcipants. 
Participants:  186. Recommended for reipients with marginal or outdated work skills. 
Some CWEP parcipants may do limited job search while in the CWEP 
component. Further group or individual job search is recommended for those 
who ar stil unemployed at the end of their CWEP placement. 
$123,445, $796 per parcipant. 
Costs: 
Placements: 70. 
Work Supplementation

On-the-job ttaining for AFDC recipients most in need or hardest-to-find 
Activity: 
employment. While working in ttaining positions, parcipants ear a wage of at 
least $5.00 per hour and receive regular paychecks diectly from employers. 
Some or all of the paricipant s AFC check is diverted to the employer in order 
to subsidize the wage. Parcipation is voluntar. 
Provided by ESD. In Pierce County (4 of 5 sites) work supplementation 
How Provided: 
parcipants attend a 4 day employment workshop that focuses on job search. 
Staff match job placement opponunities with workshop parcipants whenever 
possible. In the fifth site ESD works with clients individually to develop 
on-the-job ttaining plans as appropriate. The DSHS must approve the decision 
and assign the client. 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  .~:"~::..-~:~..::.~-~.,:;~-,-
110. Work supplementation is recommended for hard to place recipients 
Participants: 
who have received AFC for at least a year, and who have children age 12 or 
older. Paricipants wil have aleady completed an appraisal interview with the 
DSHS social worker and an employabilty plan approved by DSHS and ESD. 
This is an on-the-job assignment which requirs the employer to retain the 
Placements: 
client for 6 months in un subsidized employment, after the end of the ttaining 
period. Specific numbers are not available. 
Costs:  Administtative costs were $290,352; that is $2 639.56 per paricipant. 
THE FAMILY INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM 
Background 
The Famy Independence Progr (P), which began in July of 1988, combines 
the AFC, Medicaid and Foo Stamps programs into one coordiated welfare 
system. The program seeks to help parcipants reach self-sufficiency through 
education and ttaining, and provide incentives which help motivate parcipants. 
The FIP is a 5 year demonsttation project being conducted in 20 welfare offce 
sites. The Urban Institute is performing a 3 year evaluation of FIP. 
The State of Washington reports that in PI' s fIrst 11 months: 
22,057 famlies, or about 30 percent of the public assistance caseload, 
enrolled in FIP; 
525 enrollees completed self sufficiency plans; 
240 parcipants received some type of education and ttaining in 
basic vocational skills; 
564 clients parcipated in 
organized job search effons; 
264 enrollees were placed in on-the-job ttaining or work experience 
programs; and 
024 pregnant and parenting teens received customized services. 
In FIP's fIrst year, 2 635 paricipants entered employment at an average wage of 
$5.45 per hour. 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  Innovations 
The FIP administtative plan is designed to allow for maximum input 
Administration: 
and coordination among those involved with the program. The program is 
administered by committees of DSHS and ESD offcials and members of the 
community, including former and curent welfare recipients. The committees 
PI 
responsible for administering  are: 
This committee sets FIP policy, oversees 
The FIP Executive Committee: 

operation of the program, and directs DSHS and ESD management of the 
program. The commttee is chaired by the DSHS Secretar, co-chaired by the 
ESD Commissioner, and includes the Director of the Office of Financial 
Management and two executives from DSHS and ESD. In addition, there are two 
non-voting members who received public assistance in the past and later achieved 
economic independence. 
PI 
The Executive Committee appoints a  Executive Director to coordinate 
program management and policy development with the two lead agencies. The 
DSHS and ESD are responsible for field operations and ongoing administtation 
of the program. 
Meets monthly to provide the Executive 
FIP State Advisory Committee: 

Committee with advice and recommendations on major policy issues. The 
committee has broad representation, with members from business, labor 
education and community agencies, as well as four legislators and six Famly 
Opportnity Council representatives. 
These councils, one in each of the six 
Family Opportunity Councils: 

geographic regions, reach out to enrollees and actively engage them in building 
community self-help systems. The councils also provide suggestions to local 
management on FIP operations. Council members are FIP enrollees, former
AFC 
recipients and representatives of non-profit organizations. 
The management committees are 
Regional Management Committees: 

responsible for developing annual business plans for each region and day-to-day 
management of the program. The committees consist of the DSHS Regional 
Administtator for Economic and Medical Field Services and the ESD Regional 
Director. 
The policy committees are designed to strngthen 
Regional Policy Committees: 

interagency coordination, particularly in the areas of child support, child care and 
job ttaining. In addition to the two regional management committee members, 
each policy committee is composed of the DSHS Children and Family Services 
Regional Administtator, the DSHS Suppon Enforcement Regional Administtator 
and at least one representative from the local Prvate Industr Council. 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  .' 
Each region has at least one Technical Advisory 
Technical Advisory Groups: 

Group (TAG) to advise management on how to connect families with the local 
resources necessar to achieve self suffciency. Membership -vares in each 
region, but typically consists of representatives from community agencies, 
educational and ttaiing institutions, employers, labor organizations, local 
government, child care leaders in the community, and Family Opportunity 
Council members. 
PI 
The  case management system employs a team approach in 
Case Coordination: 

which the enrollee can work with a DSHS case coordinator, an ESD job service 
specialist, and a DSHS social worker to plan and achieve self-suffciency goals. 
The ITPA service providers and Famly Opponunity Councils may also be a par 
of this team. 
The DSHS case coordinator meets with applicants to determne financial 
eligibilty and to complete a self-suffciency assessment. This assessment is done 
to: (1) identify barers to self-suffciency; (2) develop an action plan to address 
those barers; and (3) connect the famly with employment and ttaining services, 
other key specialists and community suppon systems. 
Enrollees choosing employment and ttaining services meet with an ESD job 
service specialist to develop an employabilty plan. The job service specialist wil 
help paricipants choose appropriate employment and ttaining activities. Job 
PI 
service specialists may approve the use of  funds for tuition and supportive 
services essential to the success of the employabilty plan. 
All enrollees may receive social services designed to meet critical 
famly needs 
and to address barers to self-suffciency, such as money management problems 
or substace abuse.

Throughout the time that a parcipant is in PI, staf continue to work as a team 
to provide ongoing case coordiation services. 
PI 
is a mandatory program in the sites in which it has been 
Volunteers: 
implemented. However, FIP' s work program activities are voluntar. 
PI 
paricipants receive their food stamp benefits in the 
Food Stamp Cash Out: 

form of cash rather than coupons. 
FIP uses a shonened financial application 
Shortened Application Procedure: 

procedure and offers pre-application services to meet emergency needs and help 
clients prepare for the application process. 
FIP pays 5 percent over the standard benefit 
Incentives for Work and Training: 

level to clients paricipating in education or ttaining. For clients working 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  \) ,

half-time, the incentive goes up to 15 percent. Paricipants working full-time 
receive suppon that guarantees that their total income wil be at least 35 percent 
above the standard benefit level. 
FIP strsses the imponance of
Greater Emphasis on Education and Training: 
education and ttaining for successful employment. The program offers a wider 
varety of education and ttaining activities than does Opponunities. As noted 
earlier, over 3,200 clients received education or ttaining services in the fIrst 
months of FIP. 
Once an enrollee ears enough money to be able to leave 
Transition Services: 

assistance, FIP continues to provide the family with ttansitional child care and 
medical benefits for a period of 12 months. 
Specialized Pregnant and Parenting  Pregnant and parenting 
Teens Activities: 
They are given special assistace to 
teens are assisted by specially ttained staf. 
complete their high school education, paricipate in special parenting programs 
and obtan social services. 
Figure 1 is the FIP service model, which shows the sequence of 
Service Model: 

services available to FIP parcipants. 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  "" 
Figure 1

Family Independence Program s Service Model 
Family Applies 
for assistance 
at FIP office 
Application Services 
helps meet any emergent needs 
and explains application process 
FIP Orientation

encourages participation in 
Employment and Training Services 
Financial Interview

with DSHS Case Coordinator

determines program eligibilty

Self-sufficiency Assessment

with DHS Case Coordinator Identifies barriers

to self-sufficency and connects family with key

specialists 
Social Services Assessment  Employment and Training 
Assessment 
with DSHS Social Worker 
addresses critical family needs  with ESD Job Service Specialist 
and barriers to self-sufficiency  develops an action plan for 
Services Necessary to Achieve Self-Sufficiency

Job Search Assistance

Incentives 
Child Care

Support for Approved Training and Education

Connections with JTPA and Trainng Institutions

Family Opportunity Council (FOC) Mentoring Services

Special Services for Pregnant and Parenting Teens 
Washington  PROGRAM PROFILE  Appendix A

STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES 
PROGRAM OVERVIEW STATEMENT 
Aid To Familes With Dependent Children 
Like many other States, the State of Washington s employment programs for 
recipients of Aid to Familes with Dependent Children (AFC) are both in a state 
of ttansition and going through an evolutionar process. 
The State initiated individual job search and related social and supponive services 
for AFDC recipients in 1981. The purpose of implementing these title IV-
funded activities was to expand services to those not being served by the Work 
Incentive (W) program. The goal was twofold: 1) to move recipients off the 
public assistance roles; and 2) to provide the necessar suppons to prevent 
recidivism. Over time statewide applicant job search and limted community 
work experience and grant diversion components were added to the program, as 
was group job search in the larger local offces. Initially, all title IV-
of Social 
employment program activities were administered by the Deparment 
and Health Services. Since the mid-1980' s, tpe employment services portion of 
Deparment. 
the program has been conttacted out to the Employment Security 
Although the States s program performed well in terms of placing people in 
for getting 
employment, there were a number of areas of concern. Procedures 
recipients from the public assistance offce to the employment service were 
cumbersome to the extent that some recipients never made it. Communication 
between the staf of the two agencies, in terms of changes in client status, were 
inadequate. Social work staff were often relegated to the role of authorizing child 
care. Recipients needing social work services were not uniformly referred for 
these services. Finally, the emphasis on job search and immediate employment 
combined with the lack of WIN and other funds for training militated against 
sound planning for many recipients in terms of their achieving long-term 
self-sufficiency. 
A thorough review of employment programs led to the conclusion that the 
problems being experienced could not be attrbuted to the staf of the two 
agencies but rather were the logical outgrowth of a maladaptive system. It was 
this review combined with a growing concern about the complexities of the 
AFC program which led Governor Gardner to request Jule Sugaran, Secretar, 
Washington  OVERVIEW STATEMENT  A - 1  Deparent of Social and Health Services, and Isiah Turer, Commissioner, 
Employment Securty Deparment to develop a proposal which would both 
modfy and appropriately link public assistance and employment and trining 
activities for the AFC client population. The end result was the Family 
(P). 
Independence Program 
Philosophy 
FIP embodes the philosophy that, in par, the well-being of children is enhanced 
by famly self-suffciency and that the achieving of tte self-suffciency for 
low-income familes is often contingent upon more than motivation. It is 
dependent upon both incentives and supports being built into the system. 
Goals 
FIP has multiple sets of goals. The goal of the legislature in passing the enabling 
legislation was to reduce the number of children living in povert; thereby, 
enhancing their opponunities for physical and intellectual development. The 
goals of the administtation have been previously stated in this document. 
Within the context of legislative and admnistrative intent, the goals of the staff 
who developed and implemented the program are as follow: 
To make eligibilty ancilar to the provision of services; 
To maintain and strngthen the integrty of the family by removing 
disincentives to self-suffciency; 
To provide enrollees with the opponunity to take responsibilty for makg 
and following through on decisions regardig their futures; 
To eliminate systems and activities which ar not cost-effective; and 
To maintain accountability for the expenditure of public funds. 
Program Operation 
FIP began operation in the State on July 1 , 1988 on a phased-in basis. 
PI 
Parcipation in the employment and ttaining ponion of  is voluntar. 
However, orientation and an initial assessment are required. All new applicants 
PI 
automatically go into  for eligibilty purposes. This includes food stamp cash 
out and a somewhat simplified eligibilty determnation process. Recipients have 
the option of convening to FIP at the time of the annual eligibilty 
redetermination. 
Washington  OVERVIEW STATEMENT  A -2  ' I

All enrollees are followed throughout the process by a case coordinator (manager) 
who is responsible not only for eligibilty but also for assisting enrollees in 
accessing any needed services. Case coordinators work closely with job service 
counselors and in most FIP sites ar or shortly wil be co-located. 
There is no specific ttack which all FIP enrollees follow with the exception that 
pregnant and parenting teens are assigned to case coordinators specializing in that 
area with the initial emphasis being upon high school or GED completion. Some 
enrollees go immediately into employment placement. Others go through a 
sequence of activities subsequent to an intensive self-sufficiency appraisal. The 
significant element is not that enrollees flow through the system but that there are 
and that enrollees are involved in selecting those 
a varety of options available 
activities in which they paricipate. The availabilty of other suppons in the 
system is also importnt. For example, child care is paid at 90 percent of the 
market rate. There are certain incentives available for paricipation. 105 percent

of the payment standard for those in ttaining; 110 percent for those employed 
tie 
half- (over 75 hours per month). Transitional child care and medical care are 
grt 
available for 1 year subsequent to  termination. 
Essential Elements 
In addition to administtative and legislative commitment to and support for the 
program and the previously mentioned incentives and suppons for enrollees, 
there have been a number of essential elements to both the development and 
implementation of FIP. Following are two of the major elements: 
Involvement 
The process for developing FIP subsequent to passage of the legislation was 
based on maximum involvement of the private sector, servce providers, 
advocacy groups, including legal services, federal staff and staff from the two 
State agencies. This was done by establishing fourteen work groups, each of 
which was responsible for making recommendations for one major element 
of FIP, e.  , eligibility, child car, ttaining. Pror to the making of decisions 
on the work group recommendations, they were presented at public hearngs 
around the State with opponunity to comment. A second round of hearngs 
was held after the recommendations had been finalized and the system 
designed. 
Not only did this process serve to sttengthen relationships between staff of 
the Deparment of Social and Health Services and the Employment Security 
Deparent, it gave the interested "public" a sense of ownership and a clear 
understanding of the decision-making process involved in designing the 
program. 
Washington  OVERVIEW STATEMENT  A -3  Phased- In Implementation 
FIP represents a radical change in the way in which the local offices of both 
agencies deal with clients. Phasing-in offces has given sufficient time for 
needed, in depth ttaining and follow-up. Staf have been able to identify and 
correct problems in the system, and offces in the process of implementation 
are able to benefit from the experiences of offces which have implemented. 
Challenges 
The major chalenge which FIP faces is one which is often encountered when 
an attempt is made to effect social policy within a political framework. 
tre 
Because the program is designed to lead to  self-sufficiency, which often 
involves ttning, the pay-offs ar not imediately visible. Approval rates 
applicants, especially two parent famlies, have increased. In the 
for  new 
short term, costs have exceeded projections. Therefore, the task wil be to 
PI 
get continued legislative suppon unti  has been in operation long enough 
to allow for a tre assessment of results. 
Washington  OVERVIEW STATEMENT  A-4  oj 

Appendix B

Washington  SAMPLE DOCUMENTS  B. 1
 == 
Authorization Number 
354702 
f!MlkY 
IN OO"'DENCE  SELF.SUFFICIENCY  PLAN  Case Coordinator's Name
Enroliee s Name (Last-First-Middle tnitlal) 
Part 1; Self-sufficiency Assessment 
Check one: 0 New Plan C Revised Plan 
Check as appropriate:
PPT 0 
Yes 0 No 
LEP  Primary language spoken if not English 
The following section should be completed by the Case Coordinator and Enrollee together 
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING I 
::urrent Situation:
 Goal: Short-term 
Long-term 
Barriers: 
'FAMIL Y SUPPORT I 
Current Situation:  Goal: Short-term 
Long-term 
Barriers: 
L TH CARE I 
Current Situation:  Goal: Short-term 
Long-term 
Barriers: 
jATERNATIVE RESOURCESI

Current Situation:  Goal: Short-term 
Long-term 
Barriers: 
Referral  Follow-up  Referral  FOllow-

ISELF-SUFFICIENCY STEPS I  Date  Date  Date  Date

Outside Agency Services (specify) 
L-
FIP EmplOymen: &. Tralnln; Services 
Social Services

Family Oppcrtunity Council

No Services Requested At This Time 
Child Care Services 
Refugee Services  Parenting Teen Services 
COMMENTS 
Enrollee s Signature  Case-Coordinator's Signature  Prnne Number  Review Date 
DSHS 2-499 IX) (6-881  COPY TO: 0 Job Service Specialist  Social Worker
ENROLLEE  ---
.......................................'.............'......''...'.....".."."......"..".."..".".."..".."..."..'..."..".."....
.""""".". ", ..,. ..,.."..,."..,q..,:"::,.:":,:..  . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . ...  ..  ..  .. ..  ..  . ..  .. .. .  ..  ..  ...  .. ..  . ..  .. .. .  ..  ..  ...  ..  ..  ..  .. . .
SO 
SECUITY NUMIE 
1'8001.11  SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLAN 
Part 2: Employabilty Plan  CASE NUMBE 
I'E 
OlLfE' S NAME 1It. flt' MI)  CASE NAE (I dlHertl 
_Pi

SHORT TERM  DOT CDOE  WAGE RANGE 
LONG TERM  DOT CDOE  WAGE RANGE

PRVIOUS TRAINING OR WOI EXPERIENCE IN THE AIOVE OCCUPATIONS 
need 
Hourly wage  after 1 year at 135  to maintain self sufficiency 
Demand for Occupation(s) in the locl labor markeat 0t : Goo  Fair  Poor

Wage expetion sufficientto support family size  Entry level  Yes  1 Year  Yes 0 No  2 Years  Yes 

ACTIVITY  DATES  PROVIDER  INITALS 
Explain the answers to the following questions in the COMMENT Sectic;n below 
Is the plan appropriate base on enrollee scurrentaptitude and occupational goals?  DYes  o No 
Dos the Enrollee concur?  DYes  o No 
The enrollee reques the following support services: 
Child care  Transportation  Tuition, boks, and supplies  Clothing, tools 0 None

Funding is approved for the folloing requesed services:

Child care  Transprtation  Tuition, boks, and supplies  Clothing. tools 0 None

funding is availablefor the following requesed services:

Child care  Transprtation 0 Tuition, boks. and supplies  Clothing. tools 0 None 
tf funding is not approved, doe the enrolle concur? .  DYes  o No 
Describe the reasons why funding is not approved. 
Dos the enrollee request Administrative ReviewlFair Hearing?  DYes  o No 
If funding is approved. desribe any limittions on funding. 
, n"

SSlGNATUIt 
ag,.e to ".rtci".te in the above  described plan. If I fail  to  ".rtici".te by  not  attending  dasss or  conucting  work search  as  have agreed  to, I 
suppo  care and  further 
uunndrdsanrds  and tltltY t alnosy  supopf  incentsiervveicse s and are prvids etrov imcee sb assuec ho n thaes   child availabilit  otfr anfsurtnadti on  and thea leloxwiasnecnesc  of thea nd traFianimngi ly Indcpoesnt dnce may  resuPlrto. gIr am. 
ENROlLfE' DATE
FOna mbielhyal f Inpoef nth dnEcmpelo ymPernot gram eSxis eriT h De".rptleannt ,  is subject  cotmo manniatl  supp  review. serviIcfe sf ulnids ebde comien u tnhava ialabbl o plan ttoo  stuhp perxtt ent this  tphalat nf,u ntdh e abaoree   avaeilnabrleo llee awnidl  tnhoet


be  ,.oui  to  follow tlvouqh with  th  descri  plan.

J08 SERVICE SPCiISTS SlNATUR  LOCL OffICE NUMIER  DATE  JSS ID"

EMS 1881 flP  "'I  DISTRIBUTION:  WHITE. JOB SER..ICE SPCIALIST  CANARY. CASE COOINATOR  PlN  . ENROlLEE  ~~~
., 

, '::: """ '' .' .. ," ' !!. ...,..,. ", ,
INCOME COMPUTATION ONGOING CASES

:NROLlEl'S N.cME 
STEP ONE  AFDC HOLD HARMLESS COMPUTATION 
Gross Earned Income  p.c Y'oENT MONTH  N"J ,IB  R It' HO:'' )l 
2, $75 Deduction

(,,')( rJ, 't/18ER 
3. Dependent Care 
(Compute at converSion only) 
14.	 $30 + 1/3 Deduction (d eligible)  COMPLETED BY 
$30 Deduction (If eligible) 
6. Net Nonexempt Earned Income 
7. AFDC Payment Standard 
STEP THREE 
8. Unearned Income

9. Net Nonexempt Earned Income
 PART 
(lIne 6)  21. AFDC Eligible Grant Amount 
10. AFDC Grant Payment 
(line 10) 
22. FIP Eligible Grant Amount 
(Ime 20) 
STEP TWO  FIP HOLD HARMLESS COMPUTATION 
23. Holdharmless Payment 
(AlC Code JJ DSH$ 7-01 (X)) 
11. Gross Earned Income 
12. 10% Deduction 
PART 8 
13. Net Nonexempt Earned Income 
24. FIP Eligible Grant Amount * 
14. Unearned Income  (Ime 22)  :0:i 
15. Total Nonexempt Income  25. Holdharmless Payment * 
AlC Code JJ (line 23) 
16. AFDC Payment Standard 
26. Overpayment Deduction 
17. Incentive Payment 
(If applicable) 
18. Total FIP Payment Standard 
27. Total IV-A Cash Grant 
19. Total Nonexempt Income  Amount Authorized 
(I me 15) 
20. FIP Grant 
STEP FOUR 
If the Total FIP IV- Step Three is zero or a negative number, compare the following: 
A cash grant (line 27) authorized in 
FIP BENCHMARK STANDARD PLUS 
INCENTIVES 
FIP TOTAL - I ON-EXEMPT INCOME (line 19) 
If the FIP Total Non-exempt Income (line 19) is less than the Benchmark Standard pi us Incentives, authorize 
Medical and Child Care. 
If the FIP Total Non-exempt income (line 19) is more than the Benchmark Standard plus Incentives, determine 
eligibility for Transitional Benefits. 
DSHS 7-62 (X)  (11/88)  28 Com. Code #7540-083-029  ---
....  .... .......-...  . ._  -.. ..-  ....   . ......   ....-.  .,'.  -... ". ---.. ---..  - .  .,.-.  ,-.   -. -....-.. .  ..- ,.. ...  ..-.. ..-.  -.".-. .-. ..-  . - --.. . ...... ., 

OPPORTUNITIES MAUAL:  FORMS 
Issued 04/87 
EMS 10003 (Rev. 11/86). EMPLOY AB I L ITY PLAN 
eTA" 01 
!INT UCU DlPAlNT 
ElOYAB PL eo 
c-
RSNo 
AN 
I.  10 E r ,88' m- 18  .. 10 .. .. 
.. ea. 
.. 8I Tra "'II\  IW 8I  L"" 81 
iI 
.. II 
.. Wk I 81,  or  No: 
Ac: 
81 
il OPUNS 
I' 
Qo 
_I 
t) 14 1I.. 00  1118' 
N. 
IW FI 
"'t 
Y.  A.",. If  Ya --to"''' 
'I 18C11""8b.. 8I .. 0l- ._. I"'.. - .dw 111  8d. 
I" ." '.81  D u b "  10 II ., OPTOUPST --l.S.  -- oi-.  88II   8I or  . bce o 81 11 
.... or",- .....8 11 1.1"  I  ..11  8I10  or II  81-."" TI""  ....11...1 
81. -ac  pr _.  or  81 .. aO  81 .. 
or 
- t8 ",.,'' 01."  ...... ,..

. . . ..
CHILD CARE CO-PAYMENT CALCULATION 
FAMILY  FIP 
1:!:DENCE 
fJ 
i c . 
You are eligible for 12 months of Family Independence Program child care benefits with a co-payment A co
payment is your share of your child care cost. You are responsible for paying the monthly co-payment directly to 
your child care provider. 
Your 12 month period of eligibility is 
INCOME COMPUTATION  CHILD CARE CALCULATION 
Gross income (average)  Child care cost (average) 
Less 135% of benchmark 
(8) 
(A) 
Compare item A and item B. The lesser amount is the co-payment. 
Your monthly co-payment for the period 
will be $ 
Your co-payment is calculated based on a six-month projection of your gross income and child care costs Any 
changes in your family s income, child care cost, or provider must be reported immediately to your Case 
Coordinator. 
If there is a change in your monthly co-payment amount, you will receive a written advance notice. 
WORKER' S SIGNA TURE 
FAIR HEARING RIGHTS: If you think we made a mistake, you may ask for a fair hearing, You mu  do so withm  90  days by telling your worker 
or writing  to  the Office of Hearings. P.O. Box  2465,  Olympia WA 98504.  , ,. 
"I i  7" 
You are eligible 
2 months 
for 1 
continued child care benefits 
payment 
co- if: 
with a 

enrollee; and 
. You are 
a FIP 
employed; and 
. You are 
. Your FIP cash assistance has ended 
due to increased earnings. 
Your monthly co-payment (your share of child care costs) is calculated by comparing
25% of your child care cost with 25% of the amount your family s income exceeds the 
FIP grant standard. The lesser of the two amounts is your monthly co-payment. 
Example: 
Child  care  cost for one month  = $400.  Excess income for one month  = $100. 
25%  25% 
100.  25. 
The co-payment in this example would be $25.00. 
each month. 
You are responsible for paying your share of child care costs to your 
child care provider
DSHS , 0. 194 back (6 881