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1994.06.24 : Hawaii Welfare Waiver

Contact:  ACF                           David Siegel
Friday, June 24, 1994                   (Office)--(202) 401-9215

     HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today approved a welfare
demonstration project for Hawaii that requires eligible recipients
to work in part-time jobs while awaiting education or training
opportunities.

     "The Hawaii demonstration seeks to promote self-sufficiency by
providing opportunities for recipients to work -- when they would
otherwise be on a waiting list for services," said Secretary
Shalala.  "This is an innovative approach and I look forward to
reviewing the results."

     Under the "Creating Work Opportunities for JOBS Families"
(CWOJF) program, job-ready JOBS recipients who would otherwise
expect to wait at least three months to be placed in a regular
education or training activity are required to pursue job leads
developed by JOBS program specialists.  The positions are part-time
(up to 18 hours per week), private sector jobs at minimum wage, and
will allow participants to gain work experience, develop their
skills and better identify training needs.

     "The Hawaii demonstration is a good example of state initiative
and flexibility in promoting self-sufficiency," said Mary Jo Bane,
HHS' assistant secretary for children and families.  

     The Hawaii demonstration will operate for five years, and will
include a rigorous evaluation using random assignment to control and
experimental groups.