Lanterna Rally

Author: United States. General Accounting Office

Publisher:

Published: 1987

Total Pages: 100

ISBN-13:

This fact sheet summarizes responses by 49 states (Massachusetts did not respond) to the General Accounting Office questionnaire on state efforts to integrate human services programs. The questionnaire focused on low income families. Responses to the questionnaire indicate the following: (1) 23 states have integrated all their service delivery units for the three major benefit programs: Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Medicaid for the Categorically Needy; and Food Stamps; (2) 48 states would like to achieve more service integration; (3) 30 states have started at least one service integration demonstration project since October 1, 1983; (4) 14 states have considered legislation related to service integration since January 1, 1985; (5) among the most frequent obstacles to integration of services are the number of regulations applying to the programs, and the fact that different programs use different financial eligibility requirements; (6) coordination among state officials is greater at the program level than at higher levels; and (7) the three reasons most often given by states for eligible families not receiving benefits are transportation difficulties, lack of local outreach services, and insufficient funds for limited-funding programs. The fact sheet presents state responses to the questionnaire in statistical form. Appendices include program descriptions, state questionnaire results for obstacle factors, and state questionnaire results for state and local actions. (Ps).