FIP and TANF Reports
"Families Work" - A proposal to make welfare work for families
Governor Carcierie has proposed replacing the current Family Independence Program (FIP) with the "Work First" Program (H-7390, Article 16). The Poverty Institute and a number of community partners have proposed amendments to FIP contained in the "Families Work" bill (H-8113 Representative Dennigan and S- 3006 Senator Gibbs and Majority Leader Paiva-Weed). FIP provides cash assistance for children and their parents or caretaker relatives. Unless disabled or otherwise exempt, parents are required to participate in work readiness activities as a condition of receiving benefits. This is the first in a series of issue briefs comparing the Governor’s "Work First" program with the "Families Work" changes to FIP.
Fact Sheet: How the "Families Work" approach to welfare compares to current law and the Governor's proposed "Work First" approach
This side-by-side analysis documents the differences between the proposals being put forth by the Poverty Institute and Governor Carcieri's administration that would amend the state's welfare program - the Family Independence Program - as they relate to work requirements, exemptions from program requirements, time limits, sanction policies, and other programmatic topics.
Analysis of Governor Carcieri's Proposed Changes to the Family Independence Program (3.2008)
Governor Carcieri has proposed repealing the Family Independence Act, Rhode Island's TANF Program that provides cash assistance and work readiness to families, and replacing it with a "Work First" program. The proposal would end the entitlement to cash assistance for children and require all applicants to first seek employment at a time when RI's unemployment rate is the highest it has been since 1995. Among the other harmful policy changes are reduced time limits, a family cap, restricted work readiness activities if a family fails to find employment, and eliminating supplemental cash assistance to low-wage working families.
Family Independence Program Overview (3.06)
Learn about the new rules governing families involved with DCYF who are also enrolled in the Family Independence Program and read Frequently Asked Questions about Rhode Island's cash assistance and work preparation program.
Family Independence Program Annual Report
Visit the RI Dept of Human Services website to access the 2006 FIP Annual Report.
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