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1992.07.16 :  Oregon JOBS Waiver

Contact:  Larry Dye (202) 401-9215
July 16, 1992

       HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced 
approval for the state of Oregon's JOBS Waiver Project.  The
approved waiver will permit Oregon to broaden the scope and
coverage of its JOBS program. 
       The Job Opportunities and Basic Skills program is a major
component of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program,
which is run by the states and administered federally by the
Department of Health and Human Services.  The JOBS portion of
AFDC requires a growing number of welfare recipients to
participate in educational or job search activities.
       "My department has pledged to work closely with states in
improving our welfare programs," Secretary Sullivan said.  "The
JOBS program is meant to help Americans who need assistance to
get the education and training they need to become self-
supporting.  I am happy to grant approval to the state of Oregon
to try new ways to make its JOBS program work more effectively."
       Specifically, Oregon's proposal would:
       - require teen parents under the age of 16 to participate
in educational activities that are currently required of older
teen parents;
       - require medically able pregnant teens on public
assistance to participate in educational activities;
       - allow the state to require JOBS participants to continue
job search activities without time limit;
       - require AFDC applicants and recipients with a child (or
children) aged 1 to 6 to participate full-time (more than 20
hours per week) in the JOBS program;
       - impose sanctions for failure to comply with JOBS program
requirements;
       - give the state flexibility to require AFDC recipients,
who are required to participate in JOBS, to participate in mental
health and substance abuse diagnostic, counseling and treatment
programs; and,
       - allow pregnant, Medicaid-eligible women who are at risk
of going on welfare to volunteer for JOBS participation.
       "The Oregon initiative is designed to improve the life
prospects of children by encouraging greater responsibility among
parents, especially teen parents," said Jo Anne Barnhart,
assistant secretary for children and families.

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