Works program - purposes

(1) (a) Effective July 1, 1997, the Colorado works program is implemented pursuant to the personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act and is intended to comply with the express requirements for participation in the TANF block grant program. (b) Effective January 1, 2009, the Colorado works program is amended to ensure implementation in compliance with the deficit reduction omnibus reconciliation act. (2) The purposes of the works program are to: (a) Assist participants toward self-sufficiency, economic mobility, and family safety and stability by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; (b) Provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their homes or in the homes of family members; (c) Prevent and reduce the incidence of pregnancies of unmarried individuals and to establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidences of these pregnancies; (d) Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families; (e) Develop strategies and policies that focus on supporting participants in the participants' employment and career goals, removing barriers to employment for participants, and ensuring that the state is able to meet work participation rates specified in the federal law; and (f) Allow the counties increased responsibility for the administration of the works program. (3) Nothing in this part 7 is intended to prevent a county or municipality from implementing a public assistance or general assistance program with local funds.