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Work First
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Moving people off welfare and into the workforce is everyone's responsibility. Mentor and hire Work First participants in your business. Everyone profits.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Work First is to move people from welfare to work. The program is built on the foundation that all people have a personal responsibility to their families and the community to work and provide for their children. To assist in this transition, Work First offers education, training and work opportunities to empower people toward self-sufficiency. |
 Today, welfare reform is to everyone's advantage - from welfare recipient to employer. With the low unemployment rate in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, it's a challenge to find people to fill job openings - particularly in entry level positions. So, getting welfare recipients on the job makes sense for everyone.
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The Partnership
In an unprecedented partnership with the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, the Charlotte Chamber has launched a project for innovative welfare reform by involving the business community in Work First. This model program challenges businesses of all sizes to explore Work First's untapped reserve of work-ready people. |
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What is Work First
North Carolina's Work First program requires welfare parents to get a job-paid or unpaid-in 12 weeks or lose benefits. Cash benefits are limited to two years for these families. Welfare parents are required to sign mutual responsibility contracts detailing their plans to become self sufficient and pledging to keep their children in school and bring them to the doctor regularly. Work First also eases the transition into the work force through help with transportation, childcare and short-term job training. Since June 1995, Work First has cut welfare rolls in North Carolina by 59 percent statewide. More than 78,000 families have successfully left welfare for work. (Source: North Carolina of Health & Human Services, May 2000)
President Bush Pleased with Charlotte Welfare-to-Work Program "I am very impressed by the welfare-to-work program that has been instituted. There's obviously a sense of corporate responsibility in this community that is powerful, that recognizes that the bottom line is one thing, but taking care of their fellow humans is another. " -President George W. Bush
To view remarks by the President to the Chamber of Commerce, click here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020227-4.html
President Bush Discusses Welfare Reform and Job Training
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020227-5.html Why Support Work First? |
Richard's Story
Helping people like Richard is why the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services and the Charlotte Chamber joined forced to create the Work First Partnership in August 1996. Over the years, the partnership has successfully connected businesses in our community to people like Richard who need employment.
A native of Africa's Congo, Richard and his family moved to Aurora, Illinois in November of 1999 in search of a better life. Despite not speaking a word of English, the former accountant took a job working as a machine operator in a factory that made truck body parts. The family then moved to Charlotte in January 2001, in an effort to be closer to fellow countrymen who could help the family with their basic needs for survival.
In Charlotte, Richard and his family of six children moved in with their pastor and his family of 10. 18 people shared the 4-bedroom home, and Richard found that his language barrier made it increasingly hard to find a job. Handsome, standing tall, always neatly dressed, the gentle man wanted to take care of his family. With memories of days gone by and the type of employment he had had before, Richard was willing to work almost any type of job to make ends meet.
Richard and his wife, Eugenie, applied to the Mecklenburg Department of Social Services for help, and were referred to case manager Libby Conder at the offices of Curtis & Associates, a company that helps Work First participants secure employment through a variety of training and employment programs. When they arrived for their set appointment, they had with them an interpreter who was also their pastor and the person with whom they lived. Their native language is French, and neither of them was familiar with the English language. In their native country Richard had worked as an accountant. He had also completed a three-year program in pastoral studies, and had worked as a teacher for homeless children. Eugenie had had a good career in their native land in the secretarial field. When asked why he wanted to work he quickly replied, "To take care of my family!"
Richard and Eugenie went through an assessment with Libby Conder and the interpreter; the process was slow and tedious! Richard agreed to attend the required training hours and workshops to work on his written and spoken knowledge of our complicated English language, while his wife stayed home and took care of the 6 children. As the only man in a class of 8 women, Richard taught everyone an invaluable lesson on not taking your life for granted, that there are responsible fathers in this world, and finally that with hard work you can accomplish any goal.
Both Richard and Eugenie gained employment at Woonsocket Spinning Company in Charlotte through job leads from Curtis & Associates job developer. With the help of his church, his family moved to an apartment outside of Charlotte where bus service was still available. Libby Conder made referrals to different agencies so that immediate needs such as beds, blankets, clothing, etc. were filled. The family worked out their schedules so that one of them was always at home with the children. Woonsocket also helped to provide the family with one of their older vehicles, enabling them to travel with ease to and from work.
As of June 2001, the couple was no longer on public assistance. In less than 8 months both are successfully employed, working together to provide for their family needs. Richard and Eugenie will also receive housing help from Habitat for Humanity, and are currently applying for citizenship.
Imagine what you as an employer could do in your workplace to open doors for a future employee like Richard. Businesses taking part in Work First also receive considerable Tax Credit. |
Business Benefit
Business people often have the misconception that welfare recipients do not want to work. The Work First program is changing these attitudes. Through job preparation that matches skills and abilities with suitable occupations, Work First candidates become dependable workers when they are hired and trained by businesses. The Work First job developer carefully matches job requirements to the assessed skill level of the Work First candidates. Not only is there a responsible job developer link for businesses, but also there is a targeted tax credit for them to utilize when mentoring and hiring Work First participants. |
The Community Benefits
By moving people from welfare to the workforce, our community profits in other ways besides reducing government expenditures. For example, statistics show that with employment stability, home environments improve, physical abuse is lowered, family ties are strengthened and children excel dramatically in school. |
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What is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit?
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal income tax credit that encourages employers to hire certain groups of job seekers. The WOTC is designed to help job seekers most in need of employment gain on-the-job experience and move toward economic self-sufficiency. This employer tax incentive joins other employment programs and targeted tax credit initiatives aimed at helping American workers and increasing productivity and economic growth. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a part of the Enterprise Community Grants process.
How Can I Learn More About the Benefits of Hiring Work First Participants?
The Department of Social Services provides numerous opportunities for businesses to get involved. Businesses are welcome to participate in Job Finding Days, small 5-6 business career fairs where businesses can meet and interview a large number of participants in an informal setting; and Agency Days, where businesses can sign up to have an exclusive fair with a large number of participants.
Mentor and hire Work First participants in your business. Through job preparation that matches skills and abilities with suitable occupations, Work First candidates become dependable workers when they are hired and trained by businesses. Not only is there a responsible job developer link for businesses, but also there is a targeted tax credit for them to utilize when mentoring and hiring Work First participants. Call the Charlotte Chamber's Work First office to learn how you can connect your business with Work First participants. For more information, please contact Kit Cramer at 704-378-1301 or email kcramer@charlottechamber.com.
If you are interested in hiring a Work First Candidate please click below and fill out the form provided.
Work First Participant Form
Employers Hiring Work First Participants, 5/04
Employers Hiring Work First Participants, Fiscal Year 2004 |
Related Links
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Education Trip To Raleigh
What's Working III Conference Series Archive
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