November 27, 2002
Wednesday - 12:40 am

Anchorage - Highlighting the success of Alaska's welfare reform efforts, Gov. Tony Knowles on Tuesday honored Alaska citizens who have made the transition from welfare to work and

"In the past five years, Alaska's welfare caseload has dropped 40 percent percent."... Gov. Knowles.

the businesses that help make it happen at the fourth annual Governor's WorkStar awards.

"In the past five years, Alaska's welfare caseload has dropped 40 percent percent," said Knowles. "That smaller caseload meant nearly $57 million in reduced welfare payments last year alone, and more than $228 million over the past five fiscal years. Almost 6,000 fewer Alaska families are receiving public assistance since welfare reform started, dropping the welfare caseload to its lowest level since 1990. The percentage of Alaskans receiving benefits is down by almost half, from 6.2 percent in FY94 to 3.1 percent in the last fiscal year."

Knowles noted several reasons why welfare reform is working in the state, including:

• Economic good health - As of October, Alaska's unemployment rate was 6.3 percent, below the average October rate of 6.9 percent since 1990. About 6,700 more Alaskans had jobs this October than at the same time last year.
• Wise use of welfare savings - Child care assistance has increased from $18 million to $36 million, with the number of children served nearly doubling to about 8,000. When welfare reform started, 500 families were on the waiting list for child care assistance; today, there is no waiting list.
• Getting money to families who need it - Child support collections are up to $95 million for the last full fiscal year. That's up nearly 30 percent since the first year of the Knowles-Ulmer administration.
• Keeping kids healthy - Through Denali KidCare, about 26,000 more Alaska children now have basic health care. Parents can now move from welfare to work without fear of losing health coverage for their children.
• State of Alaska hire - The State of Alaska has placed about 400 former welfare recipients into entry-level positions since welfare reform began.

Knowles cautioned that the continued success of welfare reform is not guaranteed: "Continuing this progress while making sure the safety net stays in place for those Alaska who truly can't work, or who live in communities where jobs aren't available, will be a challenge."

Knowles applauded the Workstar award recipients, businesses that hire people receiving state assistance and those who have made a successful transition from welfare to work. Joining Knowles for the presentation were Health and Social Services Commissioner Jay Livey, Public Assistance Director Chris Ashenbrenner, and most of the 2002 WorkStar award winners. The awards were presented at the Muldoon Jobs Center.

Nana Management Services
Nana Management Services is a steady and consistent user of the Fairbanks Job Center. They have developed a relationship with Sarah Hunter, a Job Developer there, and regularly inform her directly of openings. Nana hires a large number of ATAP clients, including many with language barriers and other obstacles to employment. According to Sarah Hunter, Nana goes out of its way to help match clients with positions that do not conflict with transportation or childcare issues. Their wages and benefits are above average and their training and advancement programs are well developed and consistent. We honor Nana Management services this year for their efforts in helping Alaskan families find self-sufficiency.

IGA Food Cache
The IGA Food Cache in Delta Junction, owned by Ed and Gail Larson, was nominated for a WorkStar Award for their efforts over several years in the community. According to Judy Dewar of Adult Learning Programs of Alaska, "Due to Ed and Gail Larson's generous spirit and willingness to take a chance on people with limited English, I have seen our second language students reach independence and regain their self-esteem." Recently, when a mother of 16 lost her husband, Ed Larson offered the woman's only son his deceased father's job, allowing him to help support the family. The Larsons are an integral part of the process of blending new imigrants into the community and gaining independence.

Castable Ceramics
Because they offer training in a highly skilled, specialized occupation, Castable Ceramics is a WorkStar Employer of the Year. In April, 2002, Stradley Brady hired his first lab trainee, teaching the fabrication of dental appliances, finish casting, articulation of models and many other skills and procedures related to dental laboratory technicians. Mr. Brady offers his employees a trade that will be marketable the rest of their lives. As Anchorage Job Developer Lori Perko wrote, "We need more employers like Stradley Brady, willing to train specialized, high demand occupational skills."

Master's Touch Manufacturing
Mr. Alva Reed of Master's Touch has been supporting welfare to work efforts since before the 1997 reform. Reed started his business as a way to earn income for himself and has grown it into a means for others to support their families. Master's Touch is a family run business, but Reed keeps two to four other people on the payroll depending on the season. Sue McCarty of the Division of Public Assistance in Fairbanks writes that Mr. Reed has been instrumental in the training, mentoring, and guidance of at least seven people that she knows of. He even once taught an employee how to drive, provided him the vehicle and gas to learn to drive, and would have accompanied him on the road test too. Mr. Reed has also helped job developers make connections with other businesses in the community. For his community spirit and his dedication to moving Alaskans to self sufficiency, we honor Alva Reed and Master's Touch Manufacturing.

Lifetime Eye Care
Earlier this year, Pam Johnston of Lifetime Eye Care learned about programs and services that were available to her as an employer through the Division of Public Assistance. Pam was excited about using the On-The-Job training program (OJT) and jumped in right away. Four months into the program she was so pleased with her new employee (who happens to be award winner Jenifer Johnston [no relation]) she arranged to give her additional training and promoted her to Optometrist Assistant. This is a shining example of how the welfare to work program is a benefit to both employer and employee.

Alaska Fresh Cut
According to Anchorage Job Developer Lori Perko, Thomas Hudson of Alaska Fresh Cut Inc. has shown unusual patience and continuing willingness to help harder to serve clients. There are not many employers with his patience. If an employee misses three days in a row, Thomas will call the employee and tell them that he needs them there every day, then he asks them if they want to stay in the position. If the answer is yes, he he says, "let's start over again next Monday." He is very patient with daycare, illness and transportation problems, all of which are significant barriers to welfare to work clients. Thomas is an employer with a good heart, as are all of our award winners, who set their employees on the important road to self sufficiency.

Dawn Davids
As stated by Pauline Hailstone, a Job Search and Retention Specialist at the Tanana Valley Campus: Dawn Davids "had to rebuild her family and lifestyle while overcoming feeling alone and without a job." Dawn went through training at the Tanana Valley Campus and not only got a job, but later was able to help her husband secure employment. Dawn was downsized from the first job she found, but she certainly didn't let this get her down. Dawn remained focused and now has an excellent position with the construction company building the hospital on Ft. Wainwright. Her ATAP case is closed and she and her family are working their way out of poverty together.

Julie Lane
A single mother of two, Julie Lane relocated to Alaska in December of 2001. She had to start over with nothing, and provide a home for her children. Julie is an employee of Denali Foods Inc, working at the Taco Bell in Soldotna. Julie began as a shift manager in March of 2002 but was quickly promoted to Assistant Manager. Garret Flanagan, Denali foods V.P. of Operations, wrote: "She took the initiative to act on her prior job skills and gain the respect of the employees she supervises. Julie is a great example of leadership for the employees on her shifts and supervises with a sense of teamwork."

Julie's ATAP case is closed, she has secured transportation and day care for her family, and is a valued employee of Denali Foods.

Heather Dearing
Another recent arrival to Alaska, Heather Dearing held several different non-permanent or part-time jobs. When that wasn't enough to make ends meet, Heather applied for assistance. Heather was accepted into the new Dental Business Assistant course at UAA. After completing the program, she volunteered for a week before being hired as a dental assistant in the office of Max Swenson, General and Cosmetic Dentistry. Heather is doing well and her ATAP case is closed. She hopes to return to school in the future and aspires to become a Dental Hygienist. According to her Job Developer, Heather is a perfect example of someone who, "used her time on public assistance wisely and achieved self sufficiency."

Cynthia Skidmore
Cynthia began work in the clerical field with Alaskan Automotive Distributing. Cynthia was hired as a clerical assistant but it was quickly apparent she was capable of much, much more. Cynthia greatly improved her general office skills, learned basic spreadsheet and accounting skills, as well as account reconciliation and shipping and receiving skills. At the time Cynthia was nominated for a Workstar award, she was moving into an Administrative Supervisor position and was in charge of screening and hiring drivers.

Annette Mayac
Thomas Hudson of Alaska Fresh Cut describes Annette Mayac as a very creative person who has become his number one employee in a very short period of time. Annette has faced the barriers of childcare and transportation that confront many ATAP clients. However, she has overcome those barriers and made herself a very valuable employee. Mr. Hudson wrote that Annette has, "stepped up to be the next supervisor promoted in this plant. We at Alaska Fresh Cut, Inc. are proud to have Annette on our team."

Jenifer Johnston
Since being hired as a receptionist at Lifetime Eye Care in Juneau in April of 2002, Jenifer has shown a great willingness to develop new skills. With training she has learned new roles in the office and has become a valuable employee. Her employer wrote that Jenifer was a little surprised to find out just how important her role was - she had landed in the office hot seat. Jenifer handled everything so well that in September of this year she was promoted to Optometric Assistant in the company's downtown office. With her skills and abilities increasing steadily, Jenifer is well on the road to success.

Source of News Release:

Office of the Governor
Web Site

Post a Comment           View Comments

Submit an Opinion - Letter

Sitnews
Stories In The News