The Good News - More Input. As responsibilities move from Capitol Hill to state capitols, there may be an opportunity for human service organizations to work with officials to ensure that the needs of those they serve are effectively addressed. States will have great flexibility to decide if and how benefit levels will be established, what and to whom social services will be available, and how child care and job training programs will be provided. In many states, government will turn to nonprofits for information and advice. But without such input, there is every possibility that key decisions will be made in a vacuum - behind closed doors.
States now have one year to develop their new strategies.
The Bad News - Less Cash. There are limited dollars available to states to provide needed services to current welfare recipients and those dollars will be frozen until 2002. There will be even fewer dollars to serve working poor families. In addition, states may be inclined to spend their limited dollars on the very young, leaving school-age youth to fend for themselves. How to Get Involved - Get to the table.