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W-2 Policy Reform |
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Sanctioned by Design: W-2 Punishment Policies that Hurt Families and Best Practice Models that Would Help Author: Kathleen Mulligan-Hansel, Ph.D. (IWF) Date: January 2005 This report shows how Wisconsin’s welfare sanctions policies undermine participants’ progress toward self-sufficiency and offers best-practice ideas from other states that would improve Wisconsin performance. (24 pp.) Online Versions:
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Unfair Sanctions: Does W-2 Punish People of Color? Authors: Kathleen Mulligan-Hansel, Ph.D. (IWF) & Pamela S. Fendt (Center for Economic Development/University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) Date: October 2002 This report shows racial and ethnic disparities in the use of sanctions. The report calls for policy changes that would ensure more protection for all participants, and especially people of color, against unfair sanctioning. (10 pp.) Online Versions:
(available online only) Related: Press Release |
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TANF Reauthorization: The Bush Administration Proposal and Wisconsin's W-2 Program: Problems and Pitfalls for Families in Poverty Authors: Kathleen Mulligan-Hansel, Ph.D. (IWF) & Pamela S. Fendt (Center for Economic Development/University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) Date: March 2002 This paper summarizes research on the effects of the W-2 program on families in poverty and looks at the key dimensions of the Bush Administration proposal and its potential effects on Wisconsin. It includes a recommendation of priorities for TANF reauthorization. (9 pp.) Online Versions:
(available online only) |
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Passing the Buck: W-2 and Emergency Services in Milwaukee County Authors: Kathleen Mulligan-Hansel, Ph.D. (IWF), Pamela S. Fendt (Center for Economic Development/University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), and Marcus White (Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee) Date: December 2001 The demand for emergency assistance increased dramatically between 1995 and 2000, according to this report. The report tracks utilization of community services that help families maintain food security and access to medical care and assist families with housing crises. This research sheds new light on Wisconsin's welfare reform experiment, which dismantled the government programs that support families in crisis. The result: more pressure on community organizations and congregations to provide a private voluntary safety net for Milwaukee's low-income families. (37 pp.) Online Version:
Related: Press Release |
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Education and Training Crucial to Make W-2 Work Author: Institute for Wisconsin's Future Date: Summer 2001 This brief report, in a tri-fold format for use as a handout, provides an overview of education and training approaches that can improve employment options for W-2 recipients. It includes research-based recommendations and best practice models. (6 pp.) Order Print Copies (unavailable online) |
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The Impact of Welfare Reform on Wisconsin's Hmong Aid Recipients Authors: Thomas Moore, Ph.D. & Vicky Selkowe (IWF) Date: December 1999 The data collected from 137 Hmong families statewide indicates that the W-2 program does not adequately address the needs of these vulnerable families. Most Hmong W-2 participants surveyed lack the job skills, educational attainment or language ability needed for employment and yet are receiving little or no skill training through the W-2 program. The majority of Hmong respondents experience serious difficulty communicating with their W-2 caseworkers and a substantial number are unable to meet their basic food and clothing needs. (38 pp.) Online Version:
Related: Press Release |
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Domestic Violence Victims in Transition from Welfare to Work: Barriers to Self-Sufficiency and the W-2 Response Authors: Thomas Moore, Ph.D. & Vicky Selkowe (IWF) Date: September 1999 Surveys completed by 274 statewide victims of domestic violence provide evidence of the destructive role domestic violence plays in preventing low-income women from succeeding in employment or education efforts. The study indicates that Wisconsin's welfare system, W-2, is not able to adequately identify or support victims of domestic violence. The report contains recommendations for W-2 improvements developed by IWF and statewide advocacy groups. (26 pp.) Online Version:
Order Print Copies (Full Report also available) Related: Press Release |
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Overview of Current Research on Wisconsin Works (W-2), Vols. 1 & 2 Authors: Michael Grover (IWF) (Vol. 1) Dates: March 1998 & July 1999 These booklets provide an introduction to and overview of current W-2 research and monitoring efforts, as well as contact information for statewide organizations leading these efforts. Key findings are also included for completed projects. The booklets are designed to continue and expand a dialogue on the need for research and advocacy coordination. (50 & 56 pp.) Online Versions:
Order Print Copies (Vol. 2 only) |
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The Growing Crisis Among Wisconsin's Poorest Families: A Comparison of Welfare Caseload Declines and Trends in the State's Poverty Population, 1986-1997 Authors: Thomas Moore, Ph.D. & Vicky Selkowe (IWF) Date: June 1999 This study tracks income trends among food stamp households with children and reveals that, despite the dramatic decline in Wisconsin’s cash assistance caseloads, Wisconsin has not seen a commensurate decline in poverty. The study also shows a substantial increase in the number of households with incomes less than 50 percent of the poverty level. (23 pp.) Online Version:
Order Print Copies (Full Report also available) |
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The W-2 Job Path: An Assessment of the Employment Trajectory of W-2 Participants in Milwaukee Author: Institute for Wisconsin's Future Date: July 1998 Interviews with 700 Milwaukee W-2 participants and nearly 300 local employers reiterate the gap between the education and skill levels required by employers and the skills and training of the W-2 population. The interviews reveal that the W-2 program does not adequately address this gap and indicates as well that clients are not being informed of critical support services. (26 pp.) Online Versions:
Order Print Copies (Full Report available) |
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Transitions to W-2: The First Six Months of Welfare Replacement Author: Institute for Wisconsin's Future Date: June 1998 This report examines W-2’s early implementation problems, including inappropriate turning away of W-2 applicants, mistaken labeling of clients as "job ready," and failure of W-2 agencies to inform applicants about support services. (16 pp.) Online Version:
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W-2 (Wisconsin Works): An Analysis of Impact on Families and Children Authors: Anne Statham (University of Wisconsin-Parkside) & Pamela Fendt (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) Date: November 1995 This report offers early analysis of the W-2 system and projections about its potential impacts on Wisconsin’s low-income families and children based on labor market information and discussion of W-2 policy components. It is the second part of a two-part study and serves as a companion to W-2 (Wisconsin Works): An Analysis of Feasibility and Impact (below). (23 pp.) Online Version:
Order Print Copies (Full Report available) |
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W-2 (Wisconsin Works): An Analysis of Feasibility and Impact Author: Anne Statham (University of Wisconsin-Parkside) & Pamela Fendt (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) Date: October 1995 This report offers early analysis of the W-2 system and projections about its potential impacts on participants, Wisconsin’s low-income workers, and the state's economic system based on labor market information and discussion of W-2 policy components. It is the first part of a two-part study and serves as a companion to W-2 (Wisconsin Works): An Analysis of Impact on Families and Children (above ). (14 pp.) Online Version:
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Low Wage Workers & Self Sufficiency |
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Danger Zones: When Earning More Can Mean Getting Less Authors: Kathleen Mulligan-Hansel, Ph.D. (IWF) & Steve Holt (Holt & Associates Solutions/New Hope Project) Date: November 2003 This paper documents the relationships among three support programs (Food Stamps, childcare subsidies, SCHIP health insurance) and two tax credits (EITC and Homestead Credit) and traces the impact these relationships—creating effective hidden penalties or high marginal tax rates—have on the total household resources available to working families in Wisconsin. (21 pp.) Online Version:
(available online only) |
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Treading Water in the New Economy: An Overview of Wisconsin's Low-wage Working Families Authors: Kathleen Mulligan-Hansel, Ph.D. & Jack Norman, Ph.D. (IWF) Date: September 2001 Wisconsin's growing population of working poor families are earning too little to meet many basic needs and receiving few benefits from either their employers or the state. This study shows that these working families are experiencing more severe economic problems than policymakers ever anticipated and the programs designed to alleviate such problems are not adequately serving their needs. As a result, fundamental changes in public and private support programs are needed if the working poor are to achieve self-sufficiency. (36 pp.) Online Versions:
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Making Work Work: Addressing Wisconsin's Labor Shortage Through State Policies Toward Low-Wage Workers Author: Institute for Wisconsin's Future Date: March 2001 This conference produced a series of papers discussing the policies toward low-wage workers that may be contributing to Wisconsin's labor shortage. The papers call attention to the problem of high marginal tax rates experienced by low-wage workers. Conference Papers:
(available online only) |
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Barely Getting By: Wisconsin's Working Poor Families Authors: Institute for Wisconsin's Future, Center on Wisconsin Strategy, & Wisconsin Council on Children and Families Date: July 2000 Despite Wisconsin's 1990s booming economy, a large segment of the state's working families is locked out of jobs that pay family supporting wages and cannot access critical support services. This report documents key factors affecting working families, combining labor market and wage data with profiles of real families from communities throughout the state. (24 pp.) Online Versions:
Order Print Copies (Summary only) |
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FIRST Model (Family Income Resource Simulation Tool) Producer: Institute for Wisconsin's Future Date: May 2000 FIRST is the "first of its kind" tool which enables users to see exactly how working families are faring in our new economy. This interactive computer model can look at a variety of family compositions in Wisconsin's 72 counties and track their progress as they move up the wage ladder. (Requires Windows 95 or higher operating system and Microsoft Excel 97 or higher) Online Version:
Related: Press Release 1, Press Release 2 |
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Training and Wage Levels in the Wisconsin Job Market: An Analysis of the Relationship Between Wage Levels and Educational Requirements in Occupational Growth Areas Author: Institute for Wisconsin's Future Date: 1998 This report examines Wisconsin's labor market and fast growing occupations, revealing a large discrepancy between skill levels of AFDC/W-2 recipients and the skills required for most available positions. (7 pp.) Online Version:
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Economic Development |
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Community Benefits in the Park East Corridor: Building a Better Milwaukee Author: Good Jobs and Livable Neighborhoods Date: 2003 IWF co-chairs Good Jobs and Livable Neighborhoods, a Milwaukee coalition of over 30 organizations that has been organizing to ensure that the Park East Freeway development meets demands for job quality, affordable housing, local hiring, environmental protection, and community monitoring of the project. This brochure provides a summary of the project. (4 pp.) Online Version:
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