FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, Nov. 6, 1995
Contact: Michael Kharfen (202) 401-9215
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION MAKES AWARDS TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF
WELFARE
HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala announced today the award of cooperative
agreements with eight state, city, and county agencies for innovative
programs designed to change the culture of welfare. Each of the local
agencies received $50,000.
"President Clinton is committed to sign a welfare reform bill
that will help move people from welfare to work," said Secretary
Shalala. "This administration has provided 35 states the ability
to enact welfare reform with waivers. Even while Congress debates, these
grants will help states change local welfare offices one office at a
time."
The eight programs were selected from 42 applications submitted by
state and local agencies. The programs will create and test various
models for changing the focus of the Aid to Families with Dependent
Children program from providing benefits to moving
individuals to work.
These innovations will include a one-stop job center to transform
a welfare office to a job skills and search office. Improved use of
technology and staff and management training will equip workers to provide
work skill orientations to recipients, to identify and match recipients
with job opportunities, and to improve efficiency of managing information.
Another effort will implement performance management standards to develop
goals for moving people into work. Customer relations training will
improve the quality of services provided to recipients, motivating both
the worker and client to obtain work. Also, local welfare offices will
develop partnerships with the private sector to expand work opportunities
and encourage employer willingness to hire recipients.
"As President Clinton has said, welfare must be a temporary assistance
program, not a way of life," said Mary Jo Bane, assistant secretary
for children and families. "Everyone involved -- recipients, state
and local officials, program administrators -- has
a part to play to end welfare as we know it."
The recipients are:
Anne Arundel County Department of Social
Services, Maryland
State of Nevada Welfare Division, Department
of Human
Resources, Nevada
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Public Welfare,
Pennsylvania
Denver Department of Social Services, Colorado
Napa County Health and Human Services,
California
South Carolina Department of Social
Services, South Carolina
Alaska Department of Health and Social
Services, Alaska
Oregon Department of Human Resources,
Adult and Family
Services Division, Oregon
###
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials
are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
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