In Attendance
Joyce Dolcourt, Utah Governor's Council for People with Disabilities
Lois Kelson, Provo Community Action
Bonnie Macri, JEDI for Women
Sara McCormick, U of U Center for Public Policy and Administration
Garth Mangum, Utah Issues, Inner-City Project
Helen Thatcher, Department of Workforce Services
Laura Keller, Salt Lake County Housing Project
Tim Schultz, Utah Issues
Pat Nielson, League of Women Voters
Steve Blackman, Utahns Against Hunger
Kayleen Simmons, People Helping People
Shirley Weathers and Bill Walsh, UREAP staff.

UREAP Updates
Bill Walsh noted that draft Child Support and Child Welfare and Well-being Position Papers are at the UREAP website for comment. May 15 will be the deadline for comment. He pointed out that the Administration has added "child well-being" language in its welfare reform proposal. This is welcome. More coordination is needed among child welfare and other assistance programs. Shirley Weathers described the "lookback" eligibility provision in number 3. Helen Thatcher stressed that this provision allows DWS to spend TANF funds on child welfare activities. Shirley noted the disjuncture in number 2 concerning time limits between TANF and child welfare systems. Helen said that Utah may have a Utah-specific solution to this problem but the point is valid.

Shirley produced a side-by-side of the Bush Welfare Reform Proposal and the present law which is on the UREAP web site. Comparison pieces are also on web sites of CLASP, APHSA, NGA, and the Congressional Research Service. She noted that CLASP has a document, "At What Cost?," that estimates that costs will nearly double with the Push Proposal. Helen recommended the survey of states produced by NGA and APHSA in reaction to the Bush Proposal.

Shirley reported on the March 15 Welfare Reform Reauthorization Round Table, funded by the Mott Foundation and CLASP. Utah, Pennsylvania, Maine and Tennessee are involved in this project to educate a diverse group about welfare reform reauthorization issues and discover where there is consensus. A diverse mix of 60 people attended Utah's Round Table, including four of five Congressional Offices local staff representatives. Forty-one of fifty possible welfare reform recommendations were adopted by a consensus process. The results have been shared with elected officials and participants. Speakers were Jillyn Stevens, Rich McKeown, Robin Arnold-Williams, Mark Greenberg, and Shirley. A Final Report on the event is at the UREAP website. It which includes a summary of the events of the day, the Briefing Paper, Reauthorization Issues Paper, participant list, results of brain-storming on Utah welfare reform successes and goals, results of consensus activities on recommendations, and a Final Report on the event.

Shirley reported on the Farm Bill House-Senate Conference Committee deliberations. Tim Schultz explained the legal immigrant issues. Changes happen quickly while bill are in Conference Committee.

Special Populations
Shirley led a discussion on welfare reform and Native Americans, using the document on the UREAP web site entitled: "2002 Welfare Reform Reauthorization and Native Americans: Issues and Possible Recommendations for the Next Phase of Welfare Reform." She said the Navajo Tribe is running their own TANF program, but that most Indian families access TANF programs in their own states. Helen further described some of the funding issues. The Center for Public Policy and Administration did a study in 2001, "Welfare Reform: The Impact on Native Americans in Utah's Uintah Basin," which surfaced numerous recommendations that relate to Welfare Reform Reauthorization. The Utah State Division of Indian Affairs and the Ute Tribe Social Services Department have also been involved in reviewing these issues. UREAP will continue to support Native American welfare reform issues and recommendations, especially those which are Utah-unique.

Bill reported on the April 19 training, "Welfare Reform Reauthorization and People With Disabilities and Their Advocates, sponsored by the Utah Governor's Council for People with Disabilities." Speakers included Shirley--Reauthorization background, Mary Jane Taylor--Social Research Institute data relating to disabilities in welfare families, Helen--present DWS services to families with disabilities, Robin Arnold-Williams--welfare reform proposals from states' perspectives, and Heidi Goldberg from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities--the latest information from Washington, D.C. Over 40 people attended and much related information was shared. The training included three workshops. A Congressional contact list, materials on related issues that have been produced by the various involved entities, and the draft UREAP position paper on Families with Disabilities were provided to participants. Disability groups made plans to convey their views on welfare reform. Joyce Dolcourt commented that many disability advocates had not been aware of the importance Reauthorization to families with disabilities. The training session  raised that awareness. Helen said AFDC hid the population of families with disabilities for years, but TANF is exposing it and dealing with it. Joyce asked if there is Utah data on mental health services supporting TANF parents to return to work. Helen said DWS has numerous contracts with small mental health providers to speed up access to mental health services. She assured the group that DWS is working to increase resources. She said loss of Medicaid can be serious for persons needing medications and services. Helen said DWS would continue to fund the Social Research Institute study on long-term TANF recipients. She also said that 80% of FEP extensions were given for health and mental health reasons. Shirley asked for fast-track input on the UREAP draft Reauthorization Issues for Families with Disabilities by May 15.

Next Steps for UREAP
The Reauthorization process is moving fast. The Bush Proposal, "Working Toward Independence," is out and has become the framework of welfare reform legislation in 2002. Representative Wally Herger has marked up H.R. 4090, legislation that mirrors the Administration proposal and has serious shortcomings. In the Senate, a bi-partisan committee of the Finance Committee is working on welfare reform legislation and Senator Hatch is a key player in this effort.

Shirley led a discussion on a 16 page draft UREAP letter to Senator Hatch that is based on UREAP's comment to HHS. She asked for input so that the letter could be sent the next day. She and Bill will want to utilize the letter when they visit the offices of Utah's elected officials in early May. When possible, the UREAP letter builds on Bush and Herger positions, but takes issue with work hours and participation rates. Shirley summarized the key issues. Helen predicted that DWS would  be forced to make significant changes to the FEP program to meet proposed requirements. One result would be fewer options for families. She said that if DWS had to set up work sites--possibly 3,000--it would take considerable time and effort away from self-sufficiency activities. Garth Mangum stated that "work experience," on-the-job training, and public employment were valuable activities for many people. He noted that Senator Hatch was key in the Jobs Training Partnership Act. Helen said costs, especially for child care, will likely grow under Administration proposals. Helen said present caseload reduction credits will change with Reauthorization, but employment counselor flexibility will disappear. Institutions necessarily pay attention to incentives and penalties. The UREAP letter to Senator Hatch will be cc'd to other members of the Senate Finance Committee.

Announcements
An Anti-hunger Conference will be held on May 16. Contact Utahns Against Hunger, 1-800-435-3663.

The Utah Issues Conference will be held on May 17. Contact Utah Issues, 1-800-331-5627.

Shirley and Bill will be traveling to Washington, D.C., and have meetings with staffs of Senators Hatch, Bennett, and Representative Matheson. They will report at the next meeting.

The next UREAP meeting will be on May 28 at Horizonte.