JOBS AND CASE-MANAGEMENT - DEVELOPMENTS IN 10 STATES

The Family Support Act of 1988 introduced a new welfare employment pro gram, the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program, that seeks to increase the economic self-sufficiency of recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children. In implementing this legislat ion, states retain considerable discretion over the design and structu re of the program, including the use of case management services. To t rack the implementation of JOBS, a 10-state, three-year study is being undertaken that focuses on states' choices for implementing JOBS. Dur ing the initial stages of JOBS implementation, states have focused pri marily on the ''broker, '' or linkage, function of case management, pa ying less attention to advocacy and client support functions. This app roach is consistent with the view that case management will facilitate clients' abilities to receive services in a fragmented service delive ry system. However, the ability to broker services depends on the avai lability of those services in the clients' communities. Additionally, the ability of case managers to leverage services may become much more difficult in states that seek to draw JOBS services from other progra ms at no cost to JOBS.