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Memorandum in Support
A.3036 - Diaz
S.2478 – Parker

The New York State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers strongly supports passage of A.3036 / S.2478, an act to amend the social services law with regard to providing access to a college education by public assistance recipients who are subject to work participation rates.

The profession of social work has a deep rooted history steeped in representing the most vulnerable citizens our of society and as such, NASW – NYS is committed to ensuring that every New Yorker has access to the resources and services necessary to maintain at least the minimum standard of living.  Therefore, we have consistently called for the enactment of legislation that will allow education, including a college education, to fulfill the work requirements for individuals receiving public assistance.

Research in the area has continually shown that higher education is the path to self-sufficiency, and yet our welfare policies both state and federal continue to focus on caseload reductions with little thought to long-term solutions.  As delineated in a recent report published by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, caseloads have continued to fall since 2000, but deep poverty rates have been on the rise once again.  Between 2000 – 2004, the number of households living with cash incomes below half the poverty line increased by 774,000.

Providing access to higher education and training creates an avenue to higher wage employment and increases the likelihood that families will not only move out of welfare but also out of poverty.  Unfortunately, current statute and regulations restrict TANF participants from counting higher education at a four-year institution towards their work participation.  Such a policy is short sighted and only serves to continue the cycle of poverty. 

NASW-NYS calls upon the New York State Legislature to invest in the future of all New Yorkers by providing opportunities to our most vulnerable citizens. Provide the road map to economic independence – pass A.3036 / S.2478.