HHS News Release

HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today approved the "Family Transition Program Expansion," a welfare reform demonstration for Florida. The approval is the first to be reviewed within the "fast track" 30-day period announced by President Clinton just over a month ago.

"As Congress continues to talk about welfare reform, the Clinton administration is taking action to give states more opportunity to reform their welfare programs quicker than ever," said Secretary Shalala. "This waiver will enable Florida, under the leadership of Governor Lawton Chiles, to expand its innovative demonstration to move more people from welfare to work."

The "Family Transition Program Expansion" makes six additional counties eligible for participation in the state's current demonstration program in Escambia and Alachua counties. The additional counties are Lee, Duval, Pinellas, St. Lucie, Orange and Volusia counties.

Florida's demonstration provides several features to improve its welfare system in helping recipients become self-sufficient. These include time-limited benefits for two years followed by transitional employment; increased earned-income disregards and transitional child care benefits; education, training and work for parents owing child support; requirements for minor mothers to stay in school; and provision of incentive payments to private employers and others to develop jobs and training programs.

"Simplifying the process and approving waivers within 30 days enables HHS to help more states move welfare families more quickly toward economic self sufficiency," said Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Mary Jo Bane. "The expansion of this model demonstration will give more Florida families the chance to turn a welfare check into a pay check."

Florida's demonstration will operate for eight years and include a rigorous evaluation.

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Contact: Michael Kharfen (202) 401-9215