Performance-Based Contracting – Building Better Programs https://www.buildingbetterprograms.org Resources for Improving TANF and Related Work Programs Thu, 19 Mar 2015 18:11:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Performance-Based Contracts in New York City: Lessons Learned from Welfare-to-Work https://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/2014/04/16/performance-based-contracts-in-new-york-city-lessons-learned-from-welfare-to-work/ Wed, 16 Apr 2014 17:08:28 +0000 http://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/?p=300 Read more]]> Since the TANF program changed the focus of the welfare system from mostly cash delivery to the more complex and demanding participation in work and work-related activities, New York City’s Human Resources Administration (HRA) has used contracting out to expand employment service capacity and to restructure the service delivery system to be more flexible. This paper describes the use of payment milestones within these contracts, the effectiveness of these milestones, and significance of the changes in the structure of these contracts over several iterations from 1999 trough 2011. The paper presents four key lessons learned by HRA that will be helpful to the state and local governments in successfully designing, implementing, and managing their welfare-to-work contracts to achieve desired results.

Rockefeller Institute Brief – Performance-Based Contracts in New York City

]]> DC’s Redesigned TANF Program: A Tiered Model of Service Options https://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/2014/04/02/dcs-redesigned-tanf-program-a-tiered-model/ Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:02:03 +0000 http://www.buildingbetterprograms.org/?p=156 Read more]]>

The District of Columbia redesigned its TANF program in 2011. The centerpiece of the TANF program, the TANF Universal Service Delivery Model, represents the District’s new person-centric program vision. Based upon a customer profile developed during an initial screening, the staff person conducting the initial screen determines the nature and scope of activities corresponding to the customer’s level of need and refers the customer to services within one of the three suites of services that best matches the customer’s current circumstance.  Individuals in Tier 1 are job ready and receive assistance finding employment.  Individuals in Tier 2 do not have significant employment barriers but may need additional work experience, remedial education or training to find employment.  Individuals in Tier 3 have significant employment barriers and are working on resolving those barriers.  If they are disabled, they receive assistance in applying for SSI.  The Tier 1 and 2 services are provided by contractors.

CBPP Webinar on DC’s TANF Redesign
Webinar Video
Webinar Slides

Program Materials (The RFPs include details on contractors’ expected operations, outcomes, and compensation structure)
DC’s Request for Proposals for Job Placement Services
DC’s Request for Proposals for Work Readiness and Placement Services

The Redesign of DC’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program

DC’s New Approach to the TANF Employment Program: The Promises & Challenges (From DC Fiscal Policy Institute)

]]>