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The collaborative's goal is to make sure welfare reform plans reflect the best information available about effective strategies. The collaborative may derive this information from its own experience or from lessons learned in other communities in the state or the nation.
Collaboratives are familiar with the kinds of obstacles poor people in their communities face and are in a good position to gather systemic information about "what works" to overcome these hurdles. For example, a collaborative knows that families with older children need before and after school care. The collaborative is particularly concerned about children and youth left alone between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., when most youth crime occurs. What kinds of effective programs in the community provide this support? How can they be linked with welfare reform efforts?
Community collaboratives can also search out knowledge about "what works" nationally. Figure 4 summarizes some pointers highlighted in a recent publication about research on welfare-to-work strategies. See the reference list for more sources.
A possible product/strategy
As the collaborative develops its own consensus about effective strategies, it will want to inform the state or county agency implementing welfare reform. But don't just show policymakers reports and studies--include the families themselves in these discussions. Examples include the following:
- Convene a dialogue among TANF families and the people and agencies in your community who have been doing the most to
help TANF families become employed, and work with this group
to develop a list of strategies that have been effective. Invite state
or county welfare representatives to participate in the dialogue. Spread the word about effective strategies to your welfare agency, and exhort officials to incorporate these strategies in their welfare reform plans. This approach can help bridge the wide gulf between TANF families and policy makers.
- Hold focus groups with TANF participants. Ask them about their hopes and aspirations, their strengths and resources, and what they need to become employed. What do their children need? Who could provide what they need? What advice do they have for welfare officials implementing the new approach? Share this information with the agency administering welfare reform.
- Summarize the most pressing barriers to employment in your community, and describe the resources available to overcome them.
