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TANF Case Management and CoachingWorking Poor Families ProjectJune 20, 2013

Elizabeth Lower-BaschSenior Policy Analyst

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TANF is a Flexible Funding Source

• Can support wide range of case management and coaching services aimed at work, marriage, and self-sufficiency.

• Not limited to families receiving cash assistance.• Can be in house or contracted out to other

entities

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What Do TANF Case Managers Do?

• Initial and ongoing assessment• Employment and service planning• Linking clients to in-house and community

services• Motivating, encouraging, and supporting

engagement• Individualized soft-skills training/coaching• Monitoring and verifying program participation • Reengaging nonparticipants/initiating sanctions

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M. Derr, Integrating Comprehensive Case Management Strategies into TANF Programs, May 2013

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Challenges of TANF Case Management

• High caseloads/workloads • e.g. Oregon

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Challenges of TANF Case Mangement

• High caseloads/workloads • Accessing activities and supports in an era of

limited resources • Strong focus on monitoring work participation

Time consuming Different skill set than “social work” Threat of sanction may lead to hostile relationships

between participants and staff• High turnover of caseloads

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Mobility Mentors

• A different approach….

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Promising Practices

• Technology• Specialized staff• Focus on particular populations or

programs• Broader redesign

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Use of Technology

• Automated systems to reduce time spent in documenting and verifying participation

• Computerized assessment and case management systems (OWRA)

• Data sharing across programs – do the same clients show up in homelessness, child welfare, mental health, job training program?

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Online Work Readiness Assessment

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Specialized Staff

• Need to match role expectations and caseworker skills Can’t afford and don’t want to ask social workers to

monitor work participation. But not reasonable to ask low-paid caseworkers with

little skills, experience to take on social work

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“Basic skills sets required of a FEP include….”

• Verbal and written communication;• Active listening;• Conflict resolution;• Ability to be non-judgmental;• Time management;• Adaptability;• Sensitivity;• Problem solving;• Crises response;• Interviewing skills;• Discussion facilitation;• Customer service;• Job matching;• Safe confrontation;• Assertive communication;

• Networking;• Problem identification;• Solution recognition;• Service coordination;• Appropriate feedback;• Coaching and mentoring;• Budget preparation;• Cultural competency;• Interpreting formal assessment results;• Ability to put into place needed

modifications and accommodations;• Goal setting;• Career development; and• Job retention strategies.

Source: W-2 Manual

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Examples of Specialized Staff

• Utah – MSW’s available as resources Conduct clinical and functional ability assessments; Offer crisis intervention and clinical case

management; and Make referrals to mental health treatment providers.

• Kentucky Targeted Assessment Program Serves TANF and child welfare referrals Provides assessment, referral, pre-treatment, service

coordination and follow-up services Uses Motivational Interviewing and Strengths-Based

Case Management 12

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Focus on Particular Populations

• Montgomery County, MD, triage workers Identify high needs clients at initial intake

• Minnesota Integrated Service Projects Served primarily long-term, multiple barrier clients Mixture of team staffing and individual case

management with small caseloads Mostly focused on brokering services

• SSI advocacy Provides functional assessments, help with SSI

application and appeals

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Focus on Particular Programs

• Short-term intensive coaching built into job readiness/job search programs

• Kentucky Ready to Work Coordinators Located on campus Dual role of documenting work participation and providing

case management

• Minnesota Navigators under Career Pathways Based in community organizations or one-stop centers Focused on recruiting and assisting TANF recipients and

working with basic skills and college instructors

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Case Management as Part of Broader Redesign

• Meaningless to do enhanced assessment, or have clients pick own goals if everyone is assigned to same activity

• Allow flexibility in activities Tiered service approaches being developed in DC,

Washington state• Document gaps in service capacity to advocate

for expansions

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DC Tiered Service Delivery

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Thank YouFor more information:

Elizabeth Lower-Baschelowerbasch@clasp.org202 906-8013

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www.clasp.org1200 18th St, NWSuite 200Washington, DC 20036