Executive Summary
This report highlights the work of more than 80 community organizations working together in a collaborative effort known as the Austin/Travis County Welfare-to-Work Coalition. The Coalitions primary goal is to move welfare recipients into jobs and to provide them with training and supportive services necessary to keep them employed and moving towards better jobs leading ultimately to self-sufficiency. To meet this goal, the Coalition is creating a system of support and opportunities to help people transition off welfare benefits and secure sustainable employment.
All sectors of the community are engaged in the initiative. Membership includes health and human service agencies, educational institutions, private businesses, public housing authorities, communities of faith and nonprofit organizations. Mayor Kirk Watson serves as Chairman of the Coalition.
This report contains seven sections.
Section I provides background on the history and mission of the Coalition. This section also describes the structure of the collaborative effort; the "continuum of service" approach philosophy used by the Coalition; and the welfare-to-work grants being pursued to help fund the effort.
Section II highlights the economic climate in Austin/Travis County. Despite massive economic growth, many residents still live in poverty. It notes how the present economic conditions present a remarkable opportunity for employers to connect with the welfare-to-work population in order to fill job vacancies.
Section III profiles the welfare population in Austin/Travis County using data from the Texas Department of Human Services.
Section IV contains a description and model of the Welfare-to-Work Coalitions Self-Sufficiency Model. The model presents the major issue areas and needs that must be addressed for individuals to move successfully from public assistance to self-sufficiency.
Section V identifies population characteristics and needs using the Welfare-to-Work Need Matrices for three main issue areas: workforce development, supportive services and subsistence requirements.
Section VI contains the Welfare-to-Work Planning Matrices for each issue category in the Self-Sufficiency Model. The planning matrices contain challenges, strategies, action plans and organizations involved in each category.
Section VII notes that the most challenging work still lies ahead of the Coalition. In the next several months, the Coalition must improve upon these initial plans, provide service costs for specific action plans and identify responsible organizations to make welfare-to-work a reality.
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