LexLinc’s first initiative was with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The partnership created a local structure to organize a broad community response to welfare reform. The partnership developed strong community assistance to families to help them provide for themselves to and reduce their need for public support.
What is Welfare Reform?
In 1996, President Clinton signed the "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act," which transformed America's welfare system.
How is welfare reform enacted in our community?
Since September 1998, a community-wide system has worked to remove the most recognized barriers to self-sufficiency and employment for families receiving KTAP and the non-custodial parents that support them. Initially, in 1998, approximately 2,400 families received KTAP in Fayette County. In 2007, around 350 families receive KTAP. This is done through a network of participating agencies, which:
What makes Lexington's welfare plan innovative?
A unified effort. Under this umbrella, private service providers, public sector agencies, businesses, employers and private citizens plan and work together.
A more extensive network combines multiple community and public resources to give families better access to the tools and opportunities to work. A web of partners work to remove obstacles to employment for the parents and strives to empower them with the life skills and parenting skills they need to take better care of their children.
Unique tools are available to service providers and program participants, such as mentoring, computer and technology resources, screenings for personal barriers and classes to teach participants how to accommodate for these barriers at home and in the workplace.
How are programs coordinated, funded, and monitored?
Through an online database, LexLinc tracks agency and participant outcomes and ensures that resources and services are not duplicated. Based on agency records reported to LexLinc through the on-line, web-based data system, LexLinc makes annual recommendations to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services on how to allocate resources.
What are the key components for KTAP participants?
Assessment. As new persons apply for KTAP, or as current participants apply for renewal, they are assessed to determine eligibility and then complete their Transitional Assistance Agreement.
Screening. Participants are screened for physical and learning disabilities, substance abuse, depression, and other mental health problems. If needed, participants are referred to Department for Vocational Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Care or another organization for extended services. If ready to begin thinking about employment, they are referred to a job readiness program or a training placement agency.
Training and Placement. An individual may select a training program or immediate job placement. They may also directly contact an employer. The individual is ultimately responsible for deciding which course of action to take. Contracted training and placement agencies are responsible for linking their clients to services involving transportation, child care, healthcare, working attire, food stamp allotments, savings accounts, life/parenting skills and mentoring relationships that are all part of the network. The selected agency is also responsible for helping their clients retain their jobs and work toward long-term self-sufficiency.