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Many changes have been made to America's welfare system since 1990, when legislators moved their focus to helping Americans join the workforce instead of maintaining a static benefits systems.  This change of philosophy, often referred to as "welfare to work," led to the introduction of the Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP) in 1996.  The goal of ATAP is to "move Alaskans from welfare into jobs so they can support their families and maintain a safety net for those truly in need."  Simply put, ATAP is supposed to help needy families become self-sufficient. 

Any Alaskan with children under the age of 18 is eligible to apply for ATAP benefits.  In order to apply for benefits, an application must be submitted which has the applicant's name, mailing address, and signature on it.  Every question on the application must be answered before eligibility can be determined.  Since it is often hard for people in many village communities to go to a Division of Public Assistance office, there is usually a fee agent in the individual villages who takes in ATAP applications.  The fee agent is responsible for taking ATAP applications, as well as applications for Medicaid, Denali Kidcare, and Food Stamps, and sending them in for processing.  Fee agents do not perform the actual eligibility screening. 

Once a family is found to be eligible for ATAP, there are certain steps which must be taken in order to receive the benefits.  Since the goal of ATAP is self-sufficiency, the caseworker will work with the recipient toward that goal by creating an individualized Self-Sufficiency Plan with the recipient.  It is important to remember that receipt of ATAP benefits depends on creation of and compliance with a Self-Sufficiency Plan.  This Plan is supposed to reflect and address the needs and issues of the individual ATAP recipient, and should be created by the caseworker and recipient working together. 

The caseworker will often ask questions to determine whether the recipient has any problems which should be dealt with before finding work.  These barriers to employment can include issues such as needing a G.E.D., alcohol and drug use, being a victim of domestic violence, or mental or physical health problems.  Through ATAP, the recipient can receive education, treatment, or therapy for these problems.  Only after these problems have been addressed will the focus of the Self-Sufficiency Plan turn to finding employment. 

ATAP is designed to help recipients gain the skills and experience needed to find and maintain employment.  Therefore, recipients are required to perform some sort of work-related activity as part of their Plan.  A recipient is able to do a variety of things, ranging from subsistence activities to vocational training to job shadowing.  The objective is to help the recipient improve work skills and experience so that they can find employment.  The work requirement of the Self-Sufficiency Plan does not apply to all areas of Alaska.  Those communities with a 50% or higher rate of unemployment are exempt from the work requirement.

For more information about the Alaska Temporary Assistance Program, contact your local Division of Public Assistance Office or your nearest Alaska Legal Services Corporation office.