Helping Working Families After Welfare: Access to New Jersey's Support Services

Discusses working TANF leavers' access to and participation in programs supporting (1) families' basic needs for items such as food and health insurance; (2) parents' efforts to work, by providing child care, transportation, and income supplements; and (3) workers' efforts to keep their jobs and advance in them. Although many programs are available, participation is uneven, and families have a variety of reasons for not participating. Specific recommendations related to state policy, local operations, and the flow of information may help increase families' awareness of and access to these services. Participation also might increase if the state and counties adopt a comprehensive approach to providing these services.