Welfare-to-Work Program Pays Off

Re “Post-Welfare Jobs No Cure for Poverty, Study Finds,” Sept. 7:

The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 was passed in response to many years of training programs that proved to be ineffective and perpetuated the cycle of poverty. Studies showed that education and training alone did not work in promoting self-sufficiency.

Los Angeles County took the lead nationally in implementing welfare-to-work programs. In the last four years, over 200,000 individuals on cash assistance got jobs. In May 2000, the average entry-level wage for these individuals was $7.34 an hour.

Our contention is that having a job is better than not having a job at all. Getting a job means improved self-esteem, self-confidence and breaking the cycle of poverty. Once a person does get a job, our staff then works one-on-one with him/her to provide job retention and advancement assistance. Certainly, education and skill training play a major role in this aspect of moving people out of poverty.

Our welfare program has boosted employment and earnings and at the same time has reduced welfare spending. These results were validated by the prestigious Manpower Demonstration Research Corp. study released last month. The study found that individuals enrolled in Los Angeles County’s welfare-to-work program were more likely to get jobs and earn higher wages than those not enrolled in the program.

LYNN W. BAYER, Director

Dept. of Public Social Services

Los Angeles County