A new opportunity for states to further their efforts in
streamlining and coordinating public benefit programs has been announced by the
Ford Foundation and its partners, the Urban Institute and the Center on Budget
and Policy Priorities. “Work Support Strategies: Streamlining Access,
Strengthening Families” aims to provide a select group of states with the
opportunity to design, test, and implement more effective, streamlined, and
integrated approaches to delivering key supports for low-income working
families, including health coverage, nutrition benefits, and child care
subsidies.
These activities will not only provide critical resources for states to continue streamlining and improving coordination and efficiency in public benefit programs but
will build on the base of knowledge acquired through other multi-state
initiatives such as the Covering Kids & Families Initiative and Maximizing
Enrollment for Kids. It also sounds like a great opportunity for states to test
out Express Lane Eligibility projects.
The initiative will invest $15 million over a five-year
period to build on recent state and federal innovations by providing states
with expert technical assistance, peer support, and financial backing to take
their efforts to the next level.
The call for proposals will be available on Friday,
September 17, 2010, at www.urban.org/worksupport. A summary of key dates and
additional information about the initiative are available now. For questions regarding the request for
proposal, please email [email protected].