Haley Touts Success of DSS Welfare-To-Work Program

One of the biggest challenges for governments, particularly in a time of economic uncertainty, is getting people off of public assistance and into the workforce.

At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Gov. Nikki Haley announced that the state had done just that.

Haley and Department of Social Services (DSS) Director Lillian Koller told the media that 12,298 residents had transitioned from welfare to work in the last 10 months. That’s more than double a similar period in 2010 and in excess of the goal of 10,120 that Koller set in September of 2011.

Koller said the accomplishment would not have been possible without help from the private sector. Companies large and small, local and national used DSS to expand their workforce. They ranged from big box stores to family farms.

“People need jobs to feel sufficient,” Koller said “It helps them now and in the future. Children who see their parents working have the example of working parents in their home. This is how you break the cycle of poverty.”

Haley said that the success came in spite of Washington, DC. “I told my agencies to get creative. We have to get creative and find opportunities,” Haley said.

Koller, who joined Haley’s cabinet in Feb. 2011, said the state has urged those on welfare to avoid “taking a pass” on work via the waiver from the Federal Government.

According to Koller, the DSS has taken a proactive approach in getting people work. In essence, the DSS acted as a screener for many companies who expressed frustration with employees hired through job fairs and temp agencies. Many went through training and/or the new hire orientation, only to leave and go back on to assistance. The DSS has succeeded in bringing motivated candidates, eager to get off welfare.

Roughly half of the 12,000-plus jobs were full-time, a ratio Koller said she is actively looking to improve. She said in some cases workers took two part-time jobs. Children of parents who entered the workforce remained on Medicaid. In some cases, when adjusting for household size and earnings relative to poverty levels, newly-hired workers were eligible for additional public assistance.

Koller said the average rate of pay was $9.00 per hour with a high of $23.00.

While the state seems to have made some headway with DSS, it is still in limbo with respect to Medicaid funding, as explained in this article from The State.

Visit the DSS web site HERE.