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file:- welfare tow ric, inventory Welfare to Work Q&A As of October 1, 2000 (reflects March 99 CPS poverty/income statistics) Welfare Reform Success - Overview p.1 Participation Rates and Employment p. 4 Caseloads p. 6 Welfare to Work Hiring Initiatives p. 7 Reauthorization p. 7 State Spending p. 8 Access to Critical Supports for Working Families p. 9 Poverty Rates p. 11 Welfare Reform Success - Overview Q: Four years after the President signed the welfare reform law, how do you think its going? A: As many studies, statistics, and individual stories have shown, we've succeeded in dramatically changing the culture of welfare from one that fosters dependency to one that honors and rewards work and responsibility. Welfare rolls are down by more than half since the President took office, with most of this decline occurring since he signed the welfare reform law. We've seen an explosion of work among low-income parents - both those who have left the rolls and those remaining on welfare. The latest TANF Report to Congress, submitted August 22,2000, shows that all states met the 1999 overall work participation rate required by that law and the percentage of parents on welfare who are working reached an all-time high - nearly five times higher than in 1992. At the same time, child support collections have doubled since 1992 and teen birth rates are at the lowest level on record. However, the Clinton-Gore Administration has been clear that the job is not done; we have more work to do to help those remaining on welfare become self- sufficient and help other low-income workers succeed. That's why this Administration has challenged all Americans - businesses, community-and faith- based groups, states, and Congress - to take the critical next steps and invest in supports to help families stay employed and increase their earnings. We must also invest in those who face particular challenges such as substance abuse, mental health issues, domestic violence, or transportation. Our budget initiatives will help even more hard-pressed working families succeed and the President urges Congress to enact these measures (see below). The welfare reform regulations the Administration released in April 1999 give states tremendous flexibility to make such investments, and we have consistently 1