CSAT Publications -- TAP 25, The Impact of Substance Abuse Treatment on Employment Outcomes Among AFDC Clients in Washington State

Foreword

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193) replaced the Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) program with the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. Under TANF, welfare recipients are required to work, and States are responsible for designing and operating their own welfare-to-work plans. However, if welfare reform is to succeed, States must develop policies and programs to address the effects of substance abuse on the employability of TANF recipients.

Many States allow the use of TANF funds to support substance abuse treatment for recipients as part of work-readiness efforts. To ensure implementation of sound welfare-to-work policies and programs and to justify allocation of TANF resources to substance abuse services, State officials need reliable and timely information on the effects of substance abuse treatment on employment outcomes for welfare recipients.

This document responds to this information need by analyzing the effects of substance abuse treatment on employment outcomes among AFDC recipients in Washington State. It presents findings regarding the general patterns of employment and earnings for Washington State AFDC recipients before and after substance abuse treatment; the extent of welfare dependence before and after treatment; the impact of different substance abuse treatment modalities on employment outcomes; and whether the amount of time on welfare before being treated for substance abuse affects employment outcomes.

The document presents an analysis of the pattern of employment and earnings before and after the implementation of TANF. The document also discusses the value of developing the capacity to use State computer databases for evaluating clients and tracking client outcomes.
The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), are pleased to disseminate this document to State substance abuse agencies, State welfare agencies, State health planning authorities, State advisory committees, providers, consumers, and other stakeholders. The document should serve as a tool as stakeholders confront the ramifications of welfare reform for substance abuse treatment.
 

Joseph H. Autry, III, M.D.
Acting Administrator
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H.
Director
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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For further information, contact the CSAT staff at 240-276-2750.