SALT LAKE CITY (December 11, 2024) – Sutherland Institute announced today the creation of a new working group to pursue policy reforms that strengthen the transition from government assistance to self-reliance anchored to work for families participating in the social safety net.

“We’re proud of Utah’s best-in-the-nation upward mobility and that our unique approach of providing stabilizing resources coupled with work opportunities is the envy of many other states,” said Gov. Spencer J. Cox. “Because of this track record of success, we are also committed to improving how we help economically struggling families move toward self-reliance by exploring any benefits cliffs and other obstacles to work and opportunity they may experience. This new cross-sector collaboration is a vital part of that commitment, and I’m grateful to Sutherland Institute and others who are willing to engage in this important work.”

The Sutherland working group brings together key leadership within Utah, coupled with respected organizations outside the state, that bring unique expertise on social safety net reform:

• Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox’s Office of Families
• Utah Department of Workforce Services
• Select members of the Utah House of Representatives, including Rep. Tyler Clancy, Rep. Mark Strong and Rep. Stephanie Gricius
• Circles Salt Lake
• Georgia Center for Opportunity
• Alliance for Opportunity

“I believe Utah is the best place for opportunity in the nation, and it’s precisely because of the hard work of our families and the proactive approach Utah’s policymakers take to issues like this,” said Rep. Tyler Clancy. “It’s essential that we work together to find ways to better empower Utah families in the social safety net to feel confident pursuing and accepting opportunities that help them take hold of the next rung on the economic ladder.”

“Recent Sutherland research shows that even in Utah, with its nationally renowned upward mobility, some families still feel disincentivized from taking new work opportunities,” said Nic Dunn, Sutherland Institute’s lead on its Work & Opportunity Initiative. “Fortunately, there is no state better equipped than Utah to strengthen the American Dream for these families, and this new collaboration will help identify reforms that build on the state’s already impressive track record to accomplish that.”

The working group will explore legislative reforms worthy of pursuit in the 2025 general session and beyond, focusing on what the state can advance in the near term to further empower families to pursue work and opportunity, while also identifying areas where the state needs additional flexibility from the federal government to explore future innovative reforms.

For more information on Sutherland’s Work & Opportunity Initiative, click here.

###