PRESS RELEASE: Cardinal Institute Calls for Integration of Safety Net & Workforce Programs
CARDINAL INSTITUTE CALLS FOR INTEGRATION OF SAFETY NET AND WORKFORCE PROGRAMS
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy today released a new policy report, One Door to Opportunity, recommending that West Virginia consolidate its fragmented workforce and social service programs into a single, integrated department.
West Virginia faces acute economic challenges of a 16.7% poverty rate, a median household income of $55,498 and a labor force participation rate of just 54.4%—all of which trail national averages. Yet the state’s assistance programs remain fragmented across multiple government agencies, requiring residents in need of support to navigate the complex system.
“Our fellow West Virginians need better support in challenging times than the current safety net and workforce support apparatus offers,” said Jessi Troyan, Cardinal Institute Director of Policy and Research. “Programs and resources are available, but the pathways to access them are too often disconnected and duplicative. Program participants, taxpayers and agency workers deserve a functional system focused on outcomes of helping people get back on their feet rather than abiding by bureaucratic procedure.”
The report cites Utah’s Department of Workforce Services as the national model, which has achieved measurable results through streamlined services and outcome-focused administration, including a 26% decline in SNAP participation since 1994, compared to a 17% increase nationwide.
More recently, Louisiana demonstrated bipartisan support for reform by passing its 2025 Louisiana Works legislation, integrating workforce and safety net programs.
The urgency for reform is heightened by federal changes. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed in July, raises state SNAP administrative cost shares from 50% to 75% beginning in 2027 and imposes penalties for states with high error rates. With West Virginia’s current 9.43% SNAP error rate, the state could face significant new costs.
“This summer’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means that states bear more responsibility in administering programs,” Troyan said. “Across work requirements, increased cost-sharing, and error rate penalties, West Virginia must modernize operations. Utah provides the gold standard for workforce and safety net integration. Louisiana offers a clear implementation pathway. Now it’s time for the Mountain State to embrace this proven approach.”
Cardinal Institute polling shows that 83% of West Virginians support streamlined application processes, underscoring broad public appetite for reform.
The One Door to Opportunity report builds on the foundation laid by West Virginia’s 2022 Workforce Resiliency Act and provides a roadmap for policymakers to act boldly in modernizing the state’s safety net and workforce systems.
The full report is available at: https://cardinalinstitute.com/research/one-door-to-opportunity/.
Founded in 2014, the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to researching, developing and communicating effective free-market public policies for West Virginia.
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