| Public Benefits Employment Outcomes- Every resident is on a path to upward income mobility and career advancement |
Strategic Priorities |
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6.3 Implement “stair step” approach to align all tools in our career access tool box
- Every resident is on a path to upward income mobility and career advancement
About this measure |
Ohio Works First (OWF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) establish guidelines regarding participation in work activities intended to produce self-sufficiency through employment. Cuyahoga County awards contracts to various service providers in order to provide federally-mandated activities to support OWF and SNAP program participants.
This measure provides updates on major milestones related to the establishment of performance measures to monitor program participant outcomes. In the future this measure will report on the performance measures established in contracts between Cuyahoga County and its service providers.
Why is this important? |
Cuyahoga County is committed to providing avenues to self-sufficiency for county residents who receive public benefits. Each year, the Division of Job and Family Services serves approximately 2,000 recipients of cash assistance and 16,000 recipients of food assistance. A large body of welfare-to-work research conducted in a variety of labor markets suggests that the most effective job preparation and placement programs require public benefit recipients to participate in employment-related activities, provide a mix of job search activities and short-term education/training, and include a strong focus on quick employment. Aligning with these best practices and the County’s strategic goal to "ensure every resident is on a path to upward income mobility and career advancement,” the Division of Job and Family Services provides the tools to foster positive outcomes for OWF and SNAP program participants.
How are we making an impact? | |
The Division of Job and Family Services recently adopted the Enterprise Workforce Service program model to help OWF recipients move toward a meaningful career path and a family-sustaining wage. This program model emphasizes a streamlined approach and relies on the concept that a recipient will be connected with a single provider through the course of their development. This process will allow the recipient to maintain a connection to a team of support providers who will work with county staff to develop strategies designed to help the recipient build key skill sets needed to gain meaningful employment.
Reporting Agency |
Cuyahoga County Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Job and Family Services
Additional Resources |
Milestone Measure | |
The Enterprise Workforce Service model began providing workforce activities for Ohio Works First participants on July 1, 2019. The program will track job placement of participants. Participants placed in employment will be provided with follow-up services for 180 days. Services will be delivered to OWF participants by two contracted providers: MAXIMUS and The Centers for Families and Children. The providers will also provide access to Job Readiness/Search, Work Experience, and Vocational Training.