This report provides findings from 429 DSHS Economic Services Administration parents who were under sanction for not participating in Work First in 2005. 93% of the clients agreed that they were not participating in required activities. Personal and family barriers to participation were unevenly spread: 24% reported no major barriers, 27% reported one, 24% reported two, and 23% reported three or more. The six most frequently reported big barriers included transportation (43%), work clothing (23%), childcare (22%), personal (22%) or family (12%) medical needs, and personal mental health needs (12%, mostly depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders). Sanctioned clients suggested many program and policy changes that would help them participate, including transportation assistance, and more intensive and coordinated services families with complex social, medical and behavioral health needs.
