Department of Workforce Development

Monday, December 15, 1997 Governor Tommy G. Thompson Secretary Linda Stewart

Contact David Blaska 608/267-4400 e-mail: blaskd@mail.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

W-2 conversion pace increases

The number of cases converted from AFDC to Wisconsin Works more than quadrupled in October, the second month of America's leading welfare to work program.

A total of 8,357 adults were in one of the four W-2 rungs as of the last day of October, four and one-half times more than the 1,813 recorded on September 30. Milwaukee County increased to 5,170 from 90 in September, the first month W-2 was in operation statewide.

"These are people who are well on their way to a more productive and rewarding future," said Linda Stewart, Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development. "Our 80 local W-2 agencies are well on our way to meeting our goal of serving everyone who is eligible by March 31."

In summary:

• A total of 8,357adults were in one of the four W-2 rungs as of the last day of October, 5,170 of those were in Milwaukee. (Shown in the W-2 Placements chart on Page 2.)
  

• That's 4.6 times more than the 1,813 recorded statewide on September 30. Milwaukee County's W-2 enrollment is a 56-fold increase.

• 27,377 families were receiving some form of cash assistance in October, either because they are awaiting conversion from AFDC or because they are on the first two, paid levels of W-2 (W2-T and Community Service). That is down from 31,476 in September. (Shown in the Interim Caseload Report on Pages 3 and 4.)
  

• That one-month decline of 13 percent in the state's welfare rolls is by far the largest one-month decline ever; the largest previous decline was decline of 8.7 percent in September and 6.0 percent in July 1997.
  

While the 13 percent reduction is a record, the Department does not expect that rate to be sustained in the long term, Stewart said. Because W-2 is for parents who are able to work, some cases are being moved off AFDC and into SSI; in addition, payments to Non-Legally Responsible Relatives will be transitioned off AFDC and into Kinship Care. In addition, "some who are assessed as being work-ready may fall back temporarily into W-2 training grant positions. This is normal and is to be expected," Stewart added.

• Wisconsin families dependent on cash assistance is now down 43 percent from 12 months ago and 72 percent from January 1987 when Tommy G. Thompson was first inaugurated governor.

• Included in October's cash assistance cases were 1,133 receiving W-2 checks, either at the $628/month W-2 Transition level or the $673/month Community Service Job level.
  

• Those 1,133 payments compare to 144 in September.

What works in Wisconsin Works

Because of Wisconsin Works' unique flexibility, local W-2 agencies have the freedom to devise solutions that make the most sense for their areas. Best practices in one W-2 agency often are eagerly snapped up by other agencies. Fond du Lac County, one of the pioneer W-2 agencies, has developed something called the "Quantum Work Crew."

It is modeled after the Wisconsin Conservation Corps, with which it cooperates on some work sites. Consisting of no more than eight participants to assure individual attention, the crew is supervised by a county employee, Tamara Nelson, who is responsible for getting trainees to and from each site. Fortunately, the crew has use of a county-owned van, a mobile telephone, and work tools.

Through the Quantum Work Crew, Fond du Lac County is able to make Community Service placements within 24 hours. That gets participants their first W-2 check - and on their way to their first real job - that much sooner. The Crew also helps W-2 Financial and Employment Planners (FEPs) keep closer involvement with needier participants. The crews wash windows, paint stairwells, trim and riprap river banks, restore historical plaques.

Is it working? Since its inception nine months ago, two of every three participants have already landed regular (unsubsidized) jobs. Pretty good, considering a typical CSJ enrollments can last three to six months.

W-2 placements on October 31, 1997
	Total State	%	Milwaukee	%
Unsubsidized	3,364	40%	1,830	35%
Trial Job	167	2%	85	2%
Community Service	3,917	47%	2,920	56%
W2-Transitions	909	11%	335	6%
Total W-2	8,357	100%	5,170	100%
* includes 393 receiving benefits while caring for infants under 12 weeks old