In addition, states are required to provide AFDC recipients with necessary support services, such as child care and transportation. In addition, although JOBS has made progress in serving those at risk of long-term dependence, some AFDC recipients who have barriers to employment have not been widely served. FSA expanded the base of AFDC recipients required to participate. JOBS Programs Report Unmet Service Needs Among Current Participants

While JOBS programs serve only a portion of the AFDC caseload, many program administrators reported that they could not always provide those participating with the services they need. These counties generally placed less than 1 percent of their JOBS participants in these activities. State JOBS Programs Are Held Accountable for Participation, Not Employment

The performance measurement system for JOBS provides little incentive for states to focus on moving clients into jobs. These may include the lack of available jobs in some locations, the volatility of the low-wage labor market, the lack of strong financial incentives to seek and keep employment, and a lack of health care coverage, child care, or transportation. The issues include the small portion of the AFDC caseload currently served under JOBS and the current limits on programs’ ability to provide needed services; the unknown number of AFDC recipients who have multiple barriers to employment, are at risk of long welfare stays, and may not be widely served under the current program; JOBS’ underutilization of the tools available to link participants to employers and the lack of a basic foundation for building subsidized work programs; and JOBS’ lack of a performance measurement system that encourages states to focus on employment as the ultimate program goal. Objectives, Scope, and Methodology of Ongoing Work

Our objectives for this report were to assess the progress that states and HHS have made in (1) serving more AFDC recipients in JOBS and (2) using JOBS to help AFDC recipients get jobs and end dependence. (2) What are the constraints and barriers to expanding the JOBS program?
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the progress the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Program has made in: (1) serving a larger portion of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) recipients; and (2) ensuring that JOBS participants obtain employment and leave AFDC.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) about 11 percent of AFDC recipients participate in JOBS, and this percentage has not increased despite attempts to expand the base of AFDC recipients required to participate in JOBS; (2) many JOBS program administrators have reported that they could not always provide participants with the services they needed, such as basic education and job skills training, transportation, and child care; (3) although states have generally met federal requirements to target AFDC recipients at risk of long-term welfare dependence, many JOBS programs have not adequately served the difficult and complex needs of teen parents, alcohol or drug abusers, and others who are at risk for long-term welfare dependence; (4) JOBS program administrators have expressed concern about their capacity to increase program size and serve participants' varying needs; (5) JOBS program administrators have not fully used available resources to help AFDC participants obtain employment; (6) the JOBS performance measurement system, which focuses on participation rather than employment, provides little incentive for states to move clients into jobs; and (7) some factors affecting welfare dependence are outside the control of JOBS, including the low-wage labor market and a lack of financial incentives, health care coverage, child care, and transportation.