Welfare’s New Emphasis: Jobs

When Congress decreed reform of the nation’s welfare system two years ago, it set the stage for sweeping changes. It’s not just Orange County’s welfare recipients who are entering uncharted waters; the county workers who help those on welfare also are about to see their jobs change.

Orange County Social Services Agency workers say they are making sure that welfare recipients know that the new rules limit payments to five years in a lifetime. The emphasis now has changed appropriately to finding jobs for people or enrolling them in training that will lead to jobs.

The county has opened resource rooms in two of its welfare offices, in Santa Ana and Anaheim; two more will be opened in Garden Grove and Laguna Hills. The offices offer Internet searches for jobs and equipment to write and print resumes.

Last week, the county announced that it will let private-sector companies handle much of its job training and job development programs. With payments for those programs totaling millions of dollars, the county will have leverage in telling bidders what it wants done and ensuring that it is done properly.

Welfare reform means the county will be a conduit for tens of millions of dollars in new state and federal funds. That money will pay for everything from job training to baby-sitting. But the Social Services Agency says it will not hire new workers, although other counties will.

While existing staff may be called on to do more work, there are limits to how much workloads can increase. So private companies will have to toe the line, seeing to it that welfare recipients are trained properly for jobs that really do exist.

A number of Social Services Agency workers have shown commendable enthusiasm for the changes they are about to face.

It should be more satisfying to help people get a job than simply to hand out monthly checks.

The changes in welfare will not be easy. For recipients who are mentally ill or addicted to alcohol or other drugs, the transition to the work force is likely to be especially difficult. But Orange County officials have been mapping out plans for the transition for two years now and should be ready to launch new programs without major problems.