Welfare Reform for Addiction Professionals

Overview

This course will provide basic information that addiction treatment professionals need to know about working with clients who participate in the welfare and welfare-to-work programs, especially clients who receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The course will teach professionals about the history and effectiveness of welfare reform, the roles of addiction treatment professionals in welfare reform, the Federal requirements of the TANF program, and how to learn how your State has implemented the Federal requirements.

This course will provide an overview of several important issues that are likely to be faced by treatment professionals who work with clients in the welfare system. This course will help you learn how to track your clients' progress through the welfare reform system and thereby reduce the likelihood of clients spiraling into greater poverty and homelessness.

The course will provide didactic information, tools that you can use to gather information, and links to numerous resources that will help you better provide services to these vulnerable clients.