WORKFIRST:COMMUNITY JOBS

Contact: Diane Klontz
Department of Commerce
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
Telephone: 360.725.4142
E-mail: diane.klontz@commerce.wa.gov

State Website: http://www.commerce.wa.gov

Local Link: http://commerce.wa.gov/site/615/default.aspx

 Participation: 3,670 participants were served by the Community Jobs program between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.

Who is Served: Community Jobs participants must demonstrate to their Department of Social and Health Services case manager that:

• They have been unsuccessful in job search.
• They would benefit from intensive case management to manage employment barriers.
• They have the potential to become more employable after a Community Jobs assignment.

Program Description: The Community Jobs program provides comprehensive, paid work experience plus training opportunities for hard to employ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients. Community Jobs builds work and life skills. Participants improve the quality of their communities through their work in community, government, and tribal organizations. Private nonprofit contractor-partners provide participants with 20 hours of work per week, a paycheck, one-on-one support, and mentoring to resolve barriers to work. Program participants remain in the program up to six months—long enough to gain both substantial work experience and an opportunity to deal with life situations beyond crisis management. The ultimate goal is unsubsidized job placement.

Program History: Since WorkFirst’s implementation in 1997, Washington state has provided services to help clients conduct an effective job search to enter the labor market. Most WorkFirst clients have been successful in finding a job; however, some clients need additional assistance to enter the regular job market. The Community Jobs program was started in June 1997 to provide temporary community-based work and skill building experience to increase employability and successful job placement.

Planning Cycle: Community Jobs is part of the annual WorkFirst local planning process.

Outcome Measures: Program contracts are performance-based with pay points for participant engagement, job enrollment, success in meeting individual development plan goals, and Community Job completion and/or unsubsidized job placement.

Funding and Regional Division: Department of Commerce contracts with community-based organizations throughout the state to provide local service delivery operations, often as regional consortia.

State Funding: None.

Federal Funding: $19,653,315 (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009).

Statutory Authority: The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Community Jobs Program is administered by the Department of Commerce.