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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8211
Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman today
announced the States of Oklahoma and Montana have been approved for Welfare to
Work grants totaling $14.9 million to help the hardest-to-employ welfare
recipients acquire the skills, work experience and resources they need to find
and keep good jobs. These grants are part of the $2.2 billion available for
state grants to help local communities transform the lives of long-term welfare
recipients.
"Our economy is the strongest it's been in a generation, and welfare
caseloads have dropped by a record 3.3 million since the President signed the
new welfare reform law in August 1996. But those left on the welfare rolls need
our help," Vice President Gore said. "Today's funds will help many long-term
welfare recipients eliminate employment barriers and break the cycle of
dependency."
"These grants will help Oklahoma and Montana provide vital services to
citizens moving from the welfare rolls to payrolls," said Herman. "The money
will help ease what is often a difficult transition, and enable new workers to
find and keep good jobs."
Oklahoma and Montana join Alabama, Arkansas , Delaware, Georgia,
Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana , Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina, and Tennessee in putting
the Administration's Welfare-to-Work initiative into action.
Under the 1997 Budget Reconciliation Act, $2.2 billion is being
allocated by formula over two years to states based on their population of poor
people and adult recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Another
$711.5 million is being awarded on a competitive basis directly by the
Secretary of Labor to local communities for projects that emphasize innovation,
collaboration and sustainable strategies to attain quality employment, earnings
and other successful outcomes for welfare recipients.
Oklahoma and Montana are receiving grants because their plans have been
approved by the department, enabling the Secretary of Labor to disburse their
welfare-to-work formula funds. Eighty-five percent of the funds will be sent to
Private Industry Councils that will design and operate collaborative,
integrated programs tailored to meet local labor market needs.
The grants may be used to fund unsubsidized and subsidized employment;
work experience; on-the-job training; and post employment retention services,
such as child care and transportation assistance.
Editor's Note: The grant amount to be allocated to the states follow,
with a state contact listed for further information.
OKLAHOMA
FEDERAL FUNDS TO BE PROVIDED TO STATE: $11,741,519
STATE MATCH: $5,800,000
STATE AGENCY TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM:
Oklahoma Employment
Security Commission
516 Will Rogers Building
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
73152
Contact Person:
Mr. Jon Brock, Executive Director
(405)
557-7249
MONTANA
FEDERAL FUNDS TO BE PROVIDED TO STATE: $6,668,399.00
STATE MATCH: $3,194,443.00
STATE AGENCY TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM:
Bureau of Program
Management and State Job Training Bureau
Montana Department of Labor and
Industry
1327 Lockey Street
P.O. Box 1728
Helena, Montana 59602
Contact Person:
Ms. Ingrid Danielson, Chief
(406)
444-2416
STATE: OKLAHOMA
Welfare-to-Work State Formula Grant
FEDERAL FUNDS TO BE PROVIDED TO STATE: $11,741,519
STATE MATCH: $5,800,000
STATE AGENCY TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM:
Oklahoma Employment Security Commission
516 Will Rogers
Building
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152
Contact Person:
Mr.
Jon Brock, Executive Director
(405) 557-7249
PLAN SUMMARY:
Oklahoma's Welfare-to-Work (WtW) targeting strategies will identify
eligible Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients, long term
TANF recipients, TANF recipients close to exhaustion of the time limit,
juveniles and non-custodial parents and those "at risk". Oklahoma's WtW program
will use marketing, outreach and recruitment strategies as a means of
maximizing the feasibility and effectiveness of their work-first criteria and
unsubsidized employment goal.
Activities:
- Job fair
- On-the-Job training
- Work experience
- Community service
- Job creation
- Entrepreneurial development
- Job readiness
- Work readiness information
Performance Measures:
Oklahoma's planned performance goals and outcomes are:
- 4,800 WtW participant placements into unsubsidized employment
- 74% duration of placement rate after three months of work
- 65% duration of placement rate after six months of work
- 5% increase in earnings between initial employment and employment in
second quarter
- 5% of Workforce Development Service (WDS) participants who moved from
below to above the poverty line.
15% Statewide Projects:
Oklahoma's 15% funds will be used to strengthen the WtW program through
the design and execution of new and innovative programs and services. Also, the
funds will be used to augment prior and currently existing projects and
services.
STATE: MONTANA
Welfare-to-Work State Formula Grant
FEDERAL FUNDS TO BE PROVIDED TO STATE: $6,668,399
STATE MATCH: $3,194,443
STATE AGENCY TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM:
Bureau of Program Management and State Job Training Bureau Montana
Department of Labor and Industry 1327 Lockey Street P.O. Box 1728 Helena,
Montana 59602 Contact Person: Ms. Ingrid Danielson, Chief (406)
444-2416
PLAN SUMMARY:
Montana's Welfare-to-Work (WtW) program will identify non-custodial
parents of minor children whose custodial parents meet the Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility criterion. Montana's program will
identify TANF recipients who:
- have not completed secondary school or obtained a certificate of
general equivalency; and
- face at least two of the following three barriers:
- demonstrate low math or reading skills;
- exhibit poor work history; and
- require substance abuse treatment.
Montana's One Stop Career Center identified service providers in
communities across the state in a resource guide, available on the Internet,
which will be used to facilitate partnerships to address clients' needs.
Activities:
- Community Service Employment Opportunities
- Work Experience
- On-the-Job Training
Performance Measures:
- Placement of participants in unsubsidized employment
- Retention of participants in unsubsidized private or public sector
employment
- Increase participant's employment earnings
15% Statewide Projects:
Montana established a 15% fund allocation workgroup. The workgroup, in
agreement with public input, gave the Private Industry Councils authority to
determine needs and allocate the funds to recommended projects and/or services.
The remaining funds will be used to support technical assistance and oversight
to the Service Delivery Areas.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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