CONNECT
FORWARD
Ian Barry
Joey Carr
Cheryl Flowers
UNDEREMPLOYMENT
AND UNEMPLOYMENT
LIE AT THE HEART OF
POVERTY
(UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL AFFAIRS, 2015)
State
Civilian Labor Force
(in thousands)
Unemployment %
ALABAMA
2,102.2
5.7
ARKANSAS
1,324.1
7.4
FLORIDA
9,644.0
5.6
GEORGIA
4742.4
6.9
KENTUCKY
1986.8
5.7
LOUISIANA
2192.9
6.7
MISSISSIPPI
1244.4
5.5
NORTH CAROLINA
4619.5
5.5
SOUTH CAROLINA
2202.0
6.5
TENNESSEE
2995.2
6.6
TENNESSEE'S WELFARE REFORM
PROGRAM
FEDERAL
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY
FAMILIES (TANF) PROGRAM
COMPLIES WITH THE
ELIGIBLE ADULT CLIENTS ARE
REQUIRED TO CONTACT EMPLOYMENT
CONTRACTORS TO HELP THEM
ACQUIRE A JOB
THE PROBLEM:
NEED FOR:
1. “NO AVAILABLE JOBS”
2. STATE-WIDE UNIFORM SYSTEM
3. EFFICIENT PROGRESS TRACKING
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
•
•
$71.2 million in state funds spent in
work participation programs
Over 33,000 adult Families First
clients
“I believe that when you find problems, you
should find solutions.” –Ngozi OkonjoIweala
CREATING A SOLUTION
EVERYONE CAN BE HAPPY WITH
A portal used by employment contractors across
the state that connects, tracks and supports
Families First Clients.
• Enables career managers and clients to follow the
clients’ progress.
• Connects Families First Clients to access a
comprehensive list of jobs.
• Utilizes a system clients and career managers are
familiar with.
WWW.JOBS4TN.GOV
SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS:
1.
The claim that there are no
available jobs.
2.
The lack of a uniform system
across the state.
3.
The difficulty tracking Families
First clients’ job seeking progress.
CASE CONNECT
Case Connect allows the client to track their
benefits and application process.
• We want the clients to see their employment progress
on Case Connect
• This will also allow the DHS to see the employment
contractors’ progress with the client
• This will be another evaluative aspect of
ConnectForward.
IMPLEMENTATION
CONTRACTORS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Use current DHS tracking portal
Connect DHS to DOL website:
JOBS4TN.GOV
Require providers to use CONTRACTUALLY
Provider contracts negotiated in next 3 years.
Include CONNECT FORWARD in next
contract.
Test and train staff between 2015-2018.
Incentivize early BETA usage
DHS-----DOL PORTAL
Work-eligible clients – JOB SEARCH
FF case managers/contractors MONITOR JOB ACTIVITIES
FF CASE MGR &
CONTRACTORS
FF CLIENT
CONNECT
FORWARD
JOBS4TN.GOV
IMPLEMENTATION
GEOGRAPHIC SOLUTIONS, INC.
SOFTWARE IS NOW AVAILABLE TO OVER 75% OF THE JOB
SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS IN THE COUNTRY.
COST TO STATE OF TN:
 Annual licensing fee – @ $2 million
 Includes necessary updates to meet state
and federal requirements
 Jobs4TN/VOS went live December 2014.
 Estimate for ConnectForward link: $20-40K
IMPLEMENTATION
Implementation Needs Assessment



Intended beneficiaries: FF Clients, FF and WFD
case managers, DHS and DOL
Needs met? Yes, policy includes FF worker policy
changes
Feedback: Positive –
Interviewed 3 Work Activity Contractors
FF Clients ETSU
Job seekers – TN Career Center
Structure of Implementation


Responsibility: DHS, new departmental policy
DHS is uniquely qualified to implement our idea
IMPLEMENTATION
Innovation
Suggestions policy additions – DHS and Contractor staff




Extend 12- month federal requirement for vocational
education
Extend time frame to help FF succeed and become
self-sufficient
Extend 12-week job search requirement to 24 weeks
within any 52-week period
Prevents clients from taking dead-end jobs because of
pressure
Feasibility
Previous Testing – Dec 2014 Rollout – Jobs4TN - Pending
IMPLEMENTATION
JULY 1, 2015- JUNE 30, 2017
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
Easy and Efficient connection - CaseConnect and Jobs4TN






Internal needs CLIENT SERVICE and DATA COLLECTION
State of TN Department of Human Services
Contractors - Maximus, Work Force Essentials and ETSU
State of TN Department of Labor Workforce Development
External needs ACCESSIBILITY and SIMPLICITY-OF-USE
Families First clients participating in work activity
Families First Work Verification Plan
Mobile device accessibility (cellphone apps)
IMPLEMENTATION
JULY 1, 2017 – DECEMBER 1, 2017
ASSESSMENT, WORKFLOW, TRAINING, AND TRANSITION





Soft Incentives – priority contracts – participate BETA testing
PHASE 1- Jul 1 – Aug 12 Practice Assessment
PHASE 2 – Aug 14 – Sep 2 Workflow Design (WA Contractors)
PHASE 3 – Sep 5 – Sep 16 Webinar Training and GO LIVE
PHASE 4 – Sep 17 – Oct 7 Follow-up and Transition FF *
*Pre-2018 Contract Implementation Incentive
IMPLEMENTATION
TIMELINE
IMPLEMENTATION
Outcomes
Impact –
 Improved usage and registration
 Find current job openings
 Employer access
 Self-sufficiency for FF clients
IMPLEMENTATION
Outcomes (cont’d)

Performance measures for:
o State of Tennessee
o Department of Human Services,
Contractors/Clients
o Department of Labor, WFD

Performance Measurement
o State of TN - Data collection
o Jobs4TN Online Surveys – TN residents
o Federal DOL employment statistics
IMPLEMENTATION
Outcomes (cont’d)

Performance measures for:
o State of Tennessee
o Department of Human Services,
Contractors/Clients
o Department of Labor, WFD

Performance Measurement
o State of TN - Data collection
o Jobs4TN Online Surveys – TN residents
o Federal DOL employment statistics
IMPLEMENTATION
ALLIES

INTERNAL





Governor – TN State
DHS – TN State
DOL/WFD-TN State
Republicans/Democrats
EXTERNAL



Lawmakers
TN employers
FF Clients
OPPONENTS

INTERNAL



Delayed software
implementation
Contractor job loss
EXTERNAL
FF client fear of
success
 FF opposition to
change

OUTREACH PLAN
Coalition Building
Step 1:
Set appointment with Commissioner Raquel Hatter TN Dept. of Human Services
Step 2:
Set appointment with Commissioner Burns Phillips TN Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development
Step 3:
Make whirlwind visit to three Families First Work Activity Contractor offices
IMPLEMENTATION
Funding:
Initial Campaign Presentation:
In-person, verbal communication
$3,000.00 USD – 1st
prize
TRAVEL TO NASHVILLE, TN
Travel cost for three (3) presenters
THANKS TO:


Amy Banks, Director of Families First Programs
ETSU Community Outreach
Jennifer Eppley, Director of Contract Services
ETSU Center for Community Outreach and Family
Services

John Gilbert, Director - Families First ETSU, Blount
County, TN

Wanda Jordan, DHS Contracts Manager
QUESTIONS?