Welfare to Work: A Closer Look

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Welfare to Work A Closer Look
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Welfare to Work Presentation

• Sarah Rach Renee Ormson
• Leeann Jorgensen Ph.D
• Presented at
• St. Cloud State University Student Research
  Colloquium
• Minnesota Counseling Association Conference

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Student Research Colloquium
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Minnesota Counseling Association
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Introduction

• Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) was
  designed to assist low income families by
  providing cash, food assistance and job
  counseling under the stipulation that work is
  obtained.
• Despite the implementation of this program, the
  recidivism rates at the Stearns-Benton Workforce
  Center remain high.
• The impact of high recidivism rates includes
  loss of funding that MFIP receives, the financial
  security of MFIP recipients, and societal
  consequences (increased crime rates,
  homelessness, and negative impact on children of
  MFIP recipients).

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Hypothesis

• Individual interviews of MFIP participants at the
  Stearns-Benton Workforce Center will identify
  racial and cultural factors contributing to high
  recidivism rates.

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Method

• Multiple interviews completed by Community
  Counseling graduate students in the Career
  Counseling course for Stearns-Benton Workforce
  Center
• Semi-structured interview format
• MFIP recipients career planners
• Graduate researchers consulted with career
  planners to schedule and conduct interviews
• Interviews conducted Fall semester 2006
• Information obtained was compiled with previous
  research on welfare programs to identify barriers
  in obtaining and maintaining employment

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Questions

• What are your hobbies/recreational interests?
• How would you compare your last work environment
  to previous experience?
• What would be your ideal work environment?
• How do you family and friends respond to your
  work responsibilities?
• What circumstances brought you to the
  Stearns-Benton Workforce Center initially? What
  brings you back?
• How did your last job placement end?
• What do you expect to have to do to fit into your
  workplace?
• How do you prepare to make a good impression at
  the workplace?
• What do you think employers expect? When do
  employers become dissatisfied with a worker?
• Did the last work placement use the skills you
  have to offer?

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Method

• Participants MFIP recipients
• Selection determined by career planner and
  assigned to graduate researchers
• Demographics
• Gender
• Age
• Race
• Education
• Parental Status

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Results

• Common identified barriers in maintaining
  employment
• Single-parenthood
• Daycare
• Education
• Physical and mental disabilities

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Results

• Employment discrimination based on race
• Mental illness
• Domestic violence
• Language barriers
• Transportation
• Lack of family support
• Lack of self-awareness regarding career goals
• Guidelines for participation in MFIP
• Previous work experience (lack of job skills)
• Criminal history

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Discussion

• Considerations for reducing MFIP recidivism rates
  at Stearns-Benton Workforce Center
• Clarified communication between administration,
  career planners, recipients employers
• Become informed of realistic expectations
  regarding acculturation of participants
• Review the effectiveness of the sanctions program

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Discussion

• Additional considerations
• Better screening referral processes for mental
  health concerns
• Adjust guidelines for individuals who cannot meet
  standard guidelines due to disabilities
• More thorough explanation and assistance to MFIP
  applicants recipients, of program guidelines

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Discussion

• Additional considerations
• Incorporate training and education opportunities
  in MFIP
• Increase accessibility to interpreters and
  affordable daycare
• Offer a job search carpool program
• Offer a social support network and/or support
  group

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Conclusion

• What next?
• Provide results to MFIP Stearns-Benton Workforce
  Center
• Increase awareness regarding barriers often faced
  by MFIP participants
• Create a program that allows for flexibility due
  to participant diversity

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Conclusion

• What next?
• Support and advocate for funding for MFIP at
  state level
• Expand research to include more representative
  group of interviewees
• Future research could explore social impact of
  recidivism rates

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