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Outline of Need:
The Housing Programs's (Housing Programs) commitment to helping people become self-sufficient extends to its employees. In July 1997, in response to the Presidential Federal Welfare-to-Work Initiative, the USDA Centralized Servicing Center (CSC) in St. Louis, Missouri, hired its first Welfare-to-Work employee. Since then, the CSC has hired 22 Welfare to Work employees. Nineteen are still employed by USDA. One transferred out of the St. Louis area and now works for the Internal Revenue Service.
How Rural Development Helped:
Housing Programs's Welfare to Work program has had a 90 percent success rate. Several factors contributed to the success of this program. The CSC works in partnership with Hope House, a transitional service agency. Hope House refers candidates and provides child care, skill training, and housing for them. At USDA, trainees complete an orientation that helps them understand how the working world operates. Each trainee is assigned a mentor from the CSC who assists and advises the trainee on personal issues as well as work-related problems.
Welfare-to-Work employees are initially hired to work as customer service representatives. This helps the trainees because they receive in-depth training on all areas of the CSC, they can take advantage of flexible scheduling, and there is a special supervisory team to give them individual support and training. Once they make the transition to a working environment, they may apply for other positions.
The Results:
Here is an example of a success story in the Welfare-to-Work program. When this employee started as a trainee, she found it difficult to handle her work schedule and manage the demands of her family. Her mentor and supervisor helped by giving her the support, encouragement, and flexibility she needed for success. In addition to job-related assistance, her mentor has advised her on personal decisions, such as buying a new car and, recently, buying her own home. Currently, this employee has a permanent position in the telephone center and is attending junior college. She plans to complete her associate degree in computer science this year.
This is just one illustration of how Housing Programs programs touch many areas of rural life. Housing Programs has great opportunities to assist rural people and their communities in becoming self-sufficient, and makes a difference in the lives of rural Americans.
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