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1 GENERAL PROVISIONS i. Outline how the state intends to conduct a program designed to serve all political subdivisions in the state (not necessarily in a uniform manner), that provides assistance to needy families with (or expecting) children and provides parents with job preparation, work and support services to enable them to leave the program and become self-sufficient. Effective January 1, 1998, California enacted its welfare reform program; California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs). The CalWORKs program is California’s version of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. CalWORKs serves all political subdivisions (counties) in the state. This program is supervised by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and administered by county welfare departments (counties) in accordance with a statewide system of regulations that ensure universal access as well as consistent and uniform eligibility criteria. The program provides temporary cash assistance to meet basic family needs, as well as education, employment, training programs, and supportive services designed to assist the family’s move toward self-sufficiency. Key Features of CalWORKs CalWORKs seeks to address poverty through an array of services. CalWORKs provides families with basic means of living through services such as cash assistance, immediate needs intervention, and housing support. A “work focused” approach is fostered through the Welfare-to-Work (WTW) aspect of the program, which requires adults, unless exempt, to participate in appropriate WTW activities as a condition of receiving assistance. A work incentive is provided through an initial $450 earned income disregard and an additional 50 percent (50%) earned income disregard. CalWORKs endeavors to protect children from deep poverty through continued assistance to children when adults are not eligible for the program, fail to meet program requirements or reach the maximum 60-month time limit for cash assistance, as well as by offering a disability-based unearned income disregard of $600. CalWORKs is built upon the core concept of local control. As a state-supervised and county-administered program, the 58 counties can tailor their programs to serve their unique and diverse populations. The state allocates block grant funding to counties to help achieve local control through what is known as “The Single Allocation” (the SA). Eligibility Upon application for CalWORKs, the parent(s) or caretaker relative of the needy applicant family must complete and sign a statement of facts (SOF) supporting eligibility and attend an eligibility interview either in-person, electronically or telephonically.