Recommending and encouraging Governor Tom Ridge, the Pennsylvania Legislature and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare to improve strengthen and expand opportunities for sufficiency under Welfare Reform through extended training, higher wages, greater support systems.

WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia authorized hearings on Resolution 000036 before the Committee on Public Health and Human Services on April 26, 2000; and

WHEREAS

,

With nearly 300 persons in attendance, the Philadelphia Unemployment Project with representatives of the welfare mothers group, "Mothers on the Move," non-profit agencies such as Philadelphia at Work, the Greater Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation, the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, Transitional Work Corporation and social, religious and civic organizations: Kensington Welfare Rights, Catholic Social Services, Women’s Association for Women’s Alternatives, One Day at a Time, United Communities Southeast of Philadelphia and Greater Philadelphia Federation of Settlements, delivered testimony on the impact and success of the programs designed to place welfare clients in the workforce; and

WHEREAS, The welfare-to-work efforts of the City and State are evolving and adapting to a real world of mothers who need dependable child care, workers who need preparation and readiness training for work and employees who require a higher initial wage level of approximately $7.00 and access to health benefits; and

WHEREAS, Current data collected from former welfare recipients, provider agencies, and "watch dog" organizations, such as Community Legal Services, the 21St League and the Institute for the Civic Values offered recommendations to improve the outcomes for the majority of welfare mothers who seriously wish to work and need at least 18 months of skills preparation; and

WHEREAS, The basic recommendations are easily attainable by improved quality controls on the prompt payment of child costs, the authorization of an extended training period with objective goals and appropriate compensations, and the establishment of job development and placement services; now therefore

RESOLVED

,

THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Recommend, encourage and persuade Governor Tom Ridge, the Pennsylvania Legislature and the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare to improve, strengthen and expand opportunities for self sufficiency under welfare reform through extended training, higher wages and greater support systems.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That certified copies of the Resolution be forwarded to the state and federal officials.

End