Bill Overview
Title: Supportive Services Enhancement Act
Description: This bill expands the definition of supportive services under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to include mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, and affordable internet connection. It also requires local one-stop centers to provide such services to adults and dislocated workers.
Sponsors: Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
Target Audience
Population: People in need of mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, or affordable internet connection under workforce programs
Estimated Size: 40000000
- The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) targets adults and dislocated workers.
- The new provisions will expand supportive services to include mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, and affordable internet, broadening eligibility to those in need of such services.
- Globally, millions of people face mental health or substance use disorder issues and need support to integrate into the workforce.
- Affordable internet is crucial for job seeking and skill development, and its inclusion in supportive services could impact many workers struggling financially.
- The definition expansion means that more individuals previously not qualifying for certain supportive services might now become eligible globally.
Reasoning
- To simulate interviews, I considered the American target estimate of 40 million individuals who might benefit from the policy. This is a significant segment of the U.S. population, suggesting the potential for widespread but varied impacts.
- The policy aims to enhance services that are crucial for integrating individuals into the workforce, which includes expanding mental health care and treatment for substance use disorders, as well as facilitating access to affordable internet. These aspects are particularly relevant to individuals facing economic hardships and can have long-lasting impacts on their overall wellbeing.
- Service delivery is limited by a substantial budget, yet still constrained enough that it necessitates targeted implementation to maximize impact. The policy's impact will differ across various demographics, considering factors like age, current employment status, mental health status, and internet access.
- I included diverse perspectives from various backgrounds to capture a broad range of potential policy impacts. For instance, different impacts were represented based on current access to services, as well as the degree to which lack of access has been a barrier.
- Considering mental health conditions and substance use disorders affect a significant portion of the population, I ensured representation of individuals who experience these challenges as they stand to gain substantially from these services.
- Access to affordable internet remains a hurdle for some Americans, particularly in rural areas, so I included perspectives from individuals in these contexts to understand the internet component of the policy.
Simulated Interviews
Retail Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I struggle to afford mental health services while juggling work and parenting. Affordable internet would be a game changer for accessing online resources and helping my kids with schoolwork.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Factory Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Losing my job has made it harder to control my addiction. Getting treatment and support through this policy can really help me get back on track and find new work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
Freelancer (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having affordable internet could hugely reduce my monthly bills and help me expand my freelance business. Free mental health support sounds really useful too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Unemployed (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having internet access would allow me to look for jobs online. Mental health services are too far from where I live, so this policy could make a big difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
IT Specialist (New York, NY)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I probably won't use these services myself, but it's good to know they're available to those in need.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Student and Part-time Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With my current workload, lack of affordable internet affects my studies. Mental health services would help manage my anxiety better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Construction Manager (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've got my needs covered, but I can see how important affordable services can be for people struggling more than I am.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
High School Graduate Seeking Job (Seattle, WA)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Getting cheaper internet access would make it easier to search for jobs and apply online, something that holds me back currently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Barista (Houston, TX)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm alright without these services, but it's reassuring to know help is available if needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a great step to help my employees who struggle with these issues. Though I won't use them directly, I'd encourage my staff to leverage such services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000000 (Low: $1800000000, High: $2300000000)
Year 2: $2100000000 (Low: $1890000000, High: $2415000000)
Year 3: $2200000000 (Low: $1980000000, High: $2530000000)
Year 5: $2400000000 (Low: $2160000000, High: $2760000000)
Year 10: $2800000000 (Low: $2520000000, High: $3220000000)
Year 100: $5000000000 (Low: $4500000000, High: $5750000000)
Key Considerations
- Coordinated efforts between federal, state, and local governments will be vital for successful implementation.
- Potential shifts in funding priorities might be needed to accommodate the new expenses incurred.
- The expansion in services could initially face challenges in terms of ramping up capacity and meeting demand.