Under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), states face steadily increasing work participation requirements. The TANF structure presents one new option: the ability to use TANF funds for community service employment in wage-paying, publicly funded jobs designed to provide work for individuals and to address unmet community needs. A…

Congress will likely soon enact work force development legislation that consolidates education and training programs, reduces federal funding, and gives states greater discretion in program and services design. It may also adopt welfare reform legislation that creates a block grant commingling cash assistance and Job Opportunities and Basic Skills…