<<<ABOUT WFNJ
	<<<SAI
	THE INITIATIVE
	BACKGROUND PROBLEMS
	PROJECT STATUS
	FLOW CHARTS
	<<<SARD
	<<<HOME

RELATED LINKS

Work First New Jersey Welfare Services
The state’s welfare reform program is called Work First NJ because it emphasizes work as the first step toward building a new life and a brighter future.
<<wfnj welfare services>>

_________________________________________

Subscribe to NCADD-NJ's E-News and get up-to-date information on alcohol and drug addiction.
	GO

TANF SURVEY
The 1998 New Jersey Survey of Recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
<<tanf survey>>

County Welfare Agencies
List of welfare agencies by county in New Jersey.
<<county welfare agencies>>

_______________________________________

The Work First New Jersey Substance Abuse Initiative (SAI)
Close cooperation among DHS, DFD, the New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS), the DHS’ Commissioner’s Office on Policy and Planning, and DHSS/DAS resulted in the design, planning and implementation of the WFNJ-SAI. The program implementation was reviewed by an Advisory Committee comprising interested representatives of county and municipal welfare offices, state agencies, county alcohol and drug directors, child advocacy and treatment provider groups.

The central concept of the SAI is to place alcohol and drug treatment professionals (care coordinators) in or near NJ’s 21 county welfare offices to assess recipients who themselves identify alcohol or drug use as a barrier to getting or keeping a job, and referring these recipients to treatment. One opportunity for such self-identification is when each welfare recipient creates an Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP) with their caseworker. The caseworker asks the questions contained in what clinicians call the CAGE, a set of four questions regarding drug or alcohol use that caused: 1) loss of Control, 2) unreasonable Anger, 3) feelings of Guilt, or 4) having an Eye-opener (a drink in the morning after drinking the night before). Assessment is also available to WFNJ-TANF or WFNJ-GA recipients whose job search or employment record indicates to the welfare caseworker or employer that substance abuse is impeding their ability to work.

Treatment is initially voluntary for WFNJ-SAI participants. A recipient suspected of drug use or alcohol dependence may choose a professional assessment and possible treatment or to go to work. If the recipient chooses treatment but drops out before completing treatment, they are not sanctioned but required to immediately meet WFNJ work requirements.

The mandatory component of the SAI has been designed only for those WFNJ recipients who have failed in a work activity, are in sanction status and present evidence to indicate that substance abuse contributed to failure to comply with a work activity. In such cases, recipients must agree to an assessment and to treatment if indicated by the care coordinator. Noncompliance with an assessment or the care coordinator’s treatment recommendation is cause for the Welfare Agency’s caseworker to impose the next level sanction. Sanctions may be removed when the client enters and remains in treatment.

<<more>>