Moving people from welfare to
work is now one of the primary goals
of local, state and federal welfare
policy. The Balanced Budget Act of
1997 authorizes the US Department of
Labor to provide Welfare-to-Work (WtW)
grants to states and communities to
move the hardest to employ
recipients of Temporary Assistance
to Needy Families (TANF) into
employment.
In Erie County, the Buffalo and
Erie County Workforce Development
Consortium, Inc. in collaboration
with the Erie County Department of
Social Services, has received
significant WtW funding in order to
facilitate the placement of
hard-to-employ TANF recipients.
PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM
The purposes of the
Welfare-to-Work program are to:
Facilitate the placement of TANF
recipients into transitional
employment opportunities which will
lead to lasting unsubsidized
employment and self-sufficiency
Provide a variety of activities,
grounded in the "work first"
philosophy
Prepare individuals for, and to
place them in lasting unsubsidized
employment
Provide for a variety of
post-employment and job retention
services which will assist the TANF
recipient to secure lasting
unsubsidized employment.
SERVICES WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED
Outreach to the eligible
population performed by DSS and WDC
staff
Eligibility determination and
initial assessment performed by DSS
and WDC staff
Program orientation and
motivational/workplace survival
skills training performed by WDC and
DSS or various subcontractors
Assignment to subsidized or
unsubsidized work activity by WDC or
various subcontractors
Post-employment services
including GED/Basic skills/literacy
instruction; occupational skills
training; life skills training; job
search training; motivational work
shops performed by WDC or various
subcontractors
Job placement services performed
by WDC or various subcontractors
Ongoing case management by WDC,
DSS and various subcontractors
Supportive services such as
childcare, transportation, clothing,
etc., coordinated by DSS and WDC.
(NOTE: These services can be
provided with WtW funds only if they
are not otherwise available to the
participant).
WHAT WILL PARTICIPANTS GAIN?
The Welfare-to-Work program is
designed to provide the most
intensive level of motivational
training, graduated work activity,
placement assistance and follow-up
training and supportive services to
TANF recipients.
These services will give these
individuals the support they need in
order to be successful in obtaining
and retaining employment and
breaking the welfare cycle. It will
also provide local employers with
job ready applicants who can
contribute immediately.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Louis Fasolino - Director,
Greater Buffalo Works - (716)
845-6003
Edie Rifenburg - Program
Coordinator, Greater Buffalo Works
(716) 845-6003
