In 1996 Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act which replaced the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program and the JOBS Program with the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant Program.  In Louisiana, the name chosen for the TANF cash assistance program is Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP).  To underscore the emphasis TANF places on employment related training for welfare recipients, Project Independence was renamed the Family Independence Work Program (FIND Work).

The Administration for Children and Families, a division within the Department of Health and Human Services, is the federal agency responsible for overseeing both the FITAP and FIND Work programs.  In Louisiana, the Department of Social Services is entrusted with the administration of these programs through the Office of Family Support.

FIND Work's employment related training, or work activities, include:

1.  Any paid employment, subsidized or unsubsidized
2.  Unpaid work experience
3.  On-the-job training
4.  Job Search/Readiness
5.  Vocational Education
6.  GED/Secondary Education
7.  Employment Education

Each participant will undergo an individual assessment process to determine the most effective way for that participant to secure an unsubsidized job placement at the earliest opportunity possible.

To facilitate attendance and successful completion of these activities, the program provides supportive services when needed such as child care, transportation, eyeglasses and other items necessary for training or employment.  Throughout their involvement in the program, each participant will receive one-on-one counseling, guidance, moral support, and monitoring by his designated Case Manager.  Participants will find the rapport they build with their Case Manager to be the most valuable supportive service offered by this program.

All FITAP recipients are mandatory referents to FIND Work, unless the recipient is exempt from participation because of age or being a single parent caring for a child less than one year of age.  However, to protect federal funding, only a percentage of the recipient population is required to participate in program activities.  At initial implementation in October 1990, Project Independence was required to serve 7% of mandatory AFDC recipients.  This mandated participation rate has gradually increased to 40%, the current requirement.  The projected participation rate for the year 2002 will be 50% of all non-exempt FITAP families.

FIND Work expenditures are financed through block grants created by the TANF legislation.  Prior to implementation of the Block Grant funding, the program was financed through federal/state matched funds, ranging from 50%-50% to 75%-25%.  Match rates varied depending on the type of expenditure or service and were adjusted each federal fiscal year.

FIND Work has been successful in meeting program goals:  the development and honing of participants' employment skills and the ultimate goal of assisting them in securing employment.  Since program inception, and as of August 31, 1999, FIND Work/Project Independence has facilitated the attainment of the following participant achievements:

-   High School Diploma or GED           5,544
-   Other Education Graduates             11,783
-   Job Placements:                              65,028
     a.   AFDC/FITAP grants reduced:                       12,288
     b.   AFDC/FITAP grants closed:                         31,277
     c.   Grant - no change                                          21,463