Archive
Welfare to Work, a Pamphlet for Federal Managers
June 1997
An Overview:
Each Federal Department and Agency has developed a "hiring plan" which highlights the personal commitment from the Department Secretary or Agency Administrator. An abbreviated version is published in a report by the Vice President. A copy of this publication can be obtained by calling the National Performance Review (NPR) at (202) 632-0150 or viewed on the web site: w2w.fed.gov.
Some agencies are planning recognition ceremonies and awards for managers who demonstrate exceptional success in hiring welfare recipients.
Agencies are taking advantage of high-tech options to help people find out about jobs by utilizing the Office of Personnel Management's (OPMs) internet site for federal jobs.
HELP IS AVAILABLE:
National Performance Review:
- Serves as the coordinating office for the federal agencies.
- Gathers reports and information on "best practices."
- Disseminates information to Federal agencies, FEBs/FEAs, and "Lead Agencies" regarding policy updates and resources available for mentoring services, child care assistance, transit subsidies, etc.
- Maintains the Federal agencies' Welfare-to-Work plans, located at w2w.fed.gov in an effort to share information and ideas with a large audience.
- Distributes and maintains information on policy and guidance in regard to the "Welfare-to-Work" initiative through this same homepage.
- Maintains a list of frequently asked questions at w2w.fed.gov.
US Department of Labor:
- Provides leadership in coordinating technical resources for other federal agencies.
- Makes its developed Resource Guide available, as well as a training module for Human Resource professionals, and has representatives to participate in a Speakers Bureau.
- Identifies community organizations providing support services (i.e. child care, financial and housing assistance, counseling services, transportation, health services).
- Assists FEBs/FEAs in developing partnerships and/or cooperative endeavors (i.e. recruiting welfare hires, identifying and sharing information about support services available to new hires). Connects with state, municipal and community contacts that can serve as source leads for recruitment efforts.
- Expands community outreach to identify the best source for candidates and establishes active partnerships with these organizations.
- Keeps an updated web site containing general information about this initiative, useful job training and welfare contacts and other information such as fare subsidies, child care and tax benefits for participants.
- Develop training modules on successfully transitioning new hires into the world of work. These 34 modules will be available on their web site listed in the resources section of this pamphlet.
Department of Health & Human Services:
- Provides technical assistance for states and localities in implementing an employment-focused approach to welfare reform.
- Funded development of a "How-to Guide" on the implementation of programs moving people from welfare into unsubsidized employment is provided on the DHHS web site at
aspe.os.dhhs.gov/hsp/isp/work1st/frontm.htm.
- Provide Welfare Reform Implementation leadership through regional leadership and extensive information on Welfare Reform Resources on the World Wide Web at www.acf.dhhs.gov/news/welfare/.
US Office of Personnel Management:
- Provides technical information and assistance on recruitment and hiring.
- Collects data from federal agencies as reported through the automated reported mechanisms on new-hires.
- Maintains Welfare-to-Work information on an OPM web site at www.opm.gov including information such as:
- FEB/FEA page with "lead agency" points of contact for Welfare-to-Work initiative.
- Worker Trainee Program information by which to give promising entry-level individuals an opportunity to learn marketable skills and good work habits.
- Detailed information on various hiring authorities available as tools to bring qualified individuals into federal employment.
- Template for Worker-Trainee Vacancy Announcements which can be utilized as a guide in assisting agencies in developing vacancy announcements.
- Posts most frequently asked questions regarding Welfare-to-Work.
- Coordinates with NPR to provide up-to-date information in a timely manner to FEBs/FEAs and Lead Agencies.
- Hosts meetings of the Interagency Advisory Group to provide up-to-date information to Federal Agency Personnel Directors which can be distributed to their field locations.
- Provides the "USACareers" web site on a reimbursable basis to employers for use in career planning, development, and transitioning. To obtain more information regarding this effort, call Phong Ngo (202) 606-2307 or Norma Callen (202) 606-3602.
Lead Agencies:
- Are member agencies of the local FEBs or FEAs who have volunteered to serve as the "federal lead" in their area to gather and distribute information on resources, hiring practices, mentoring and/or support services available in the area of Welfare-to-Work.
- Plan and coordinate meetings which provide an informational forum, establishing working partnerships with federal agencies and local entities which serve welfare recipients.
- Lead Agencies coordinate resources available to assist the Federal sector in the recruitment and retention of welfare recipients.
- May serve as a clearinghouse to distribute information on vacancies (identified by various federal agencies in their area) to local agencies and organizations serving welfare recipients.
Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) and Federal Executive Associations (FEAs):
- Serve as conduits for information from Washington DC to regional and field offices regarding the Welfare-to-Work initiative.
- Assist the "Lead Agency" in their areas in the coordination of multi-agency meetings during the development stage of Welfare-to-Work.
- Assist in identifying local, state or national subsidies and financial assistance which may be available to welfare recipients when they accept federal employment.
- Serve as liaisons in developing partnerships and/or cooperative endeavors (i.e. the recruitment of welfare hires, as well as sharing information about additional support services available to new hires).
- Assist in identification of state, municipal, and community contacts that can serve as source leads for recruitment efforts.
- Assist, as necessary, to expand community outreach contacts to identify the best sources for candidates and establish active partnerships with these organizations.
Dated Information:
Federal HR Forum's quarterly interactive Satellite Broadcast on June 25, 1997 will address the Welfare-to-Work initiative with extended time for questions and answers directly from the field. Subtopics expected to be addressed include: recruiting, resources, and retention. The program airs at 1:00-2:30 p.m. EDT. Coordinates are available at www.opm.gov under "satellite" on the index. If you're interested in this information after June 25th, call your local FEB for a copy or you can purchase a copy by calling (703) 620-6000.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE:
The following information is maintained at the agency's web site (addresses listed throughout this document).
- Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Service Centers.
- OPM's information and background (to Directors of Personnel) on the reporting requirements for Welfare-to-Work.
- OPM's Vacancy Announcement template for Worker-Trainee positions.
- US Department of Labor's Resource Guide.
- US Department of Labor's Speakers Bureau.
- US Department of Labor's "Worker Training and Assistance Program," training developed for new hires entering the federal labor force (all 34 modules will be maintained on their web site).
- US Department of Labor has also committed to develop training for federal supervisors/managers on an "as needed" basis.
- USDA Graduate School has developed "Basic Skills training" in communications, computers, office etiquette, etc. for the welfare recipient. If interested in pursuing this fee-for-service, call (215) 597-3551.
- Call the identified member of your National Governors Association to obtain information on continued benefits which may be available for welfare recipients accepting employment (especially at the lowest grade levels) such as continued child care benefits for a specified period of time and/or continuation of medical benefits if employed on a temporary basis with no medical coverage (information is listed in the Department of Labor Resources Guide or on the web at www.doleta.gov/ohrw2w/index.htm).
- Call your local CASU (Cooperative Administrative Support Unit) about providing previous welfare recipients to meet temporary staffing or long-term project staffing support under contracts. This may be in the form of full range of clerical, administrative, light industrial, technical or professional duties. CASUs have the ability to ensure employment of welfare recipients (when requested) through targeted recruitment. Any Federal manager can access these contracts by contacting their local CASU. If an agency does not have a local CASU, a listing of CASUs with staffing contracts can be obtained through your local FEB/FEA or Lead Agency.
Web site information on Welfare-to-Work is increasing. Some helpful web sites available at the time of developing this information include:
AS A SUPERVISOR/MANAGER
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT WELFARE-TO-WORK?
When pursuing information on Welfare-to-Work, there are many informational resources available:
- Contact your local Federal Executive Board or Federal Executive Association. A listing of FEBs and FEAs is provided on the OPM web site at www.opm.gov.
- If there is a Federal Lead in your area, call the point of contact. (Points of contact are listed on the OPM web site at www.opm.gov/feb/html/feb_w2w.htm).
- Contact your Regional Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration office (points of contact are listed on the web site at www.doleta.gov/ohrw2w/index.htm).
- Contact your Regional Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families representative.
- Call resource organizations in your area (i.e. JTPA, Job Corps, state welfare organizations) to obtain assistive services which may be available for newly hired welfare recipients.
- Check your organization's policies on support programs such as child care affordability and transit subsidies.
- Utilize mentoring services available through state and local government agencies, non-profit, civic, religious, and service organizations to aid in the retention of your newly hired employee.
Actions Underway:
- Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) are meeting with the various Regional Department of Labor-Employment and Training Administration, Department of Health & Human Services, and Office of Personnel Management representatives regarding available resources and information on the recruiting, hiring and supporting of welfare recipients.
- Many FEBs/FEAs (Federal Executive Associations) are asking agencies in their area to identify possible vacancies (by number and job series).
- FEBs/FEAs and Lead Agencies are surveying agencies to determine necessary training and assistance needs which may need to be coordinated.
- FEB/FEAs are working with Lead Agencies to identify "mentoring" resources which are available through social services agencies or non-profit organizations.
- Agency heads are planning to leverage their own commitment by encouraging contractors and grantees to hire welfare recipients.
- Some agencies are using partnerships with non-profit organizations and civic groups to assist those looking for work or newly hired (see Resources section of this pamphlet).
