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What is Greater Buffalo Works Program?
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
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, Competitive Grant - (716) 845-6003
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