| I am sending this because mail to Washington has been delayed. Please
pay attention to my message. I am writing to you as a concerned citizen
and as a professor of social work policy at Winona State University,
regarding the reauthorization of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act (TANF).
Currently, I am involved with the implementation of TANF/MFIP in Minnesota
and serve on our county Human Service Advisory Board. When TANF was first
created, there was the charge to reduce caseloads. Changes in TANF need to
look at the problems that keep people trapped in poverty. I believe that
it is imperative that TANF appropriations remain at least at the current
level. INFLUENCING STATE POLICY, a national social work organization has
developed a set or recommendations that I fully support. Key areas- 1-
Stop time limits for people who are working but still not earning enough
to be above the poverty line! 2-Allow post-secondary study to qualify for
work. 3- Remove barriers for immigration, allow them to be equal 4-Don't
discriminate against single parent families. 5-Don't allow faith based
initiatives to be service providers. There are too many problems with
discrimination, especially in rural areas. 6- Encourage up-ward mobility
and allow people to save to start their own business. Sincerely, Ruth A.
Charles, MSW, PhD, Winona State University |
