THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 6, 1995 TAG: 9504060375
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARGARET EDDS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Welfare recipients who try to find work but fail may not lose benefits under the state's revolutionary new welfare-to-work plan, a key player in drafting the rules said Wednesday.
Offering the first detailed look at behind-the-scenes efforts to put the law into practice, David E. Olds predicted that the State Board of Social Services will be less Draconian in setting those rules than some critics fear. What happens to individuals who genuinely can't find work has been a major point of controversy.
``Personally, I think the intent we're trying to keep with is, if someone is doing everything they're supposed to do, we're probably not going to kick them off,'' said Olds, welfare reform project director for the state Department of Social Services.
A provision in the new law cutting off Aid to Families with Dependent Children benefits after two years will likely kick in for those who're ``not participating, not doing their part,'' he said.
The actual decision will be up to the Social Services Board, which will probably vote on proposed regulations at their June meeting, he said. Olds' group will recommend actions that the board might take.
Olds' comments - including a warning that the plan may not be ready to take effect by the target date of July 1 - clarified some timetables, strategies and problems in turning into reality a law passed in February. The Allen administration has been largely mum about such details, even though Gov. George F. Allen appeared on the Phil Donahue show last week to discuss the concept.
In comments Wednesday to the Virginia Alliance of Social Work Practitioners, Olds said the job of enacting welfare reform is a Herculean task that involves numerous people in education, the public and private employment sectors, day care, transportation and other fields. ``Everybody has to help change,'' he said.
Olds acknowledged several concerns, including a fear that funding for training programs and support services could eventually dry up. ``I'm worried about that too,'' he noted in response to a social worker's query. Asked to evaluate long-term financial prospects, he replied: ``It depends on whether you want to use a crystal ball, Ouja board or tea leaves.''
The social workers raised several practical problems. Under the reform, for instance, women who have additional children while on welfare will not receive additional benefits. Nor will they be exempt from work requirements. But one social worker pointed out that it is almost impossible to find day-care services for an infant.
``That is a challenge,'' agreed Olds. ``If we can't provide the services, we'll have to do some backpedaling.''
Although the law calls for an effective date of July 1 and the administration is pushing to meet it, Olds said all the details may not be resolved by then. ``Hopefully, we can get it done by Oct. 1,'' he said. An October starting point would mean that about 10,000 welfare recipients in the first phase of a four-year plan would be required to start working for benefits by Jan. 1.
Olds declined to say which localities will be recommended to enter the plan first. by CNB