To decrease dependency on state welfare services, change needs to start at the ground up - with education, according to some area professionals.
On Friday, state officials met at Jamestown Community College with representatives from social service organizations located in Chautauqua, Erie and Cattaraugus counties to find out what's working, what's not working and what the state can do to improve the social services system.
State Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda, said they need input from local departments to start fixing New York state's welfare problems.
"The challenge is how can we come up with policy initiatives that better the system and that make sense, but also focus on making sure that people have ladders out of poverty, making sure people are able to develop the work skills that they need to be successful and making sure that we're focused on the economy," said state Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean. "There's no greater need now in the state and this country than to build the economy."
Erie County Department of Social Services representatives discussed why their program, which garnered national recognition, is so successful. The program, called Placing Individuals in Vital Opportunity Training, is a wage-subsidy program designed to bridge the gap between the local business community and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients. It focuses on a work-first philosophy, with 80 percent of participants receiving work opportunities, rather than immediate welfare assistance.
A major issue the PIVOT program faces is that 62 percent of participants do not have GEDs, according to Frank DeCarlo, Erie County DSS assistant commissioner. He said unless participants have a GED, it's hard for them to advance in the program and employment. In turn, PIVOT incorporates GED, ESL and other education components into participants' experience hours.
The other counties echoed the need for better education as a way to decrease dependency on state welfare. Barbara Hungerford, Joint Neighborhood Project executive director, said she likes the PIVOT model because it not only focuses on work but also on education, enabling people to build on their skills and progress in life.
Christine Schuyler, Chautauqua County DSS commissioner said for real reform to occur, though, change needs to start in K-12. To fight generational poverty, goal-setting and self-esteem needs to be taught as early as kindergarten.
Samantha Ellis, Joint Neighborhood Project hispanic service navigator, addressed the ESL issue, saying that learning English must be the first step.
"If you can't speak English, you can't get a job," she said.
"If we don't target children who can't speak English now, they will require assistance as adults," said Max Martin, Eastside YMCA director.
State Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, asked for suggestions on how the state could integrate social services with the education system.
The counties also need help identifying and assessing safety-net families. Michelle Hoffman, Cattaraugus County Temporary Assistance chief examiner, said the safety-net population is rising and the costs are falling on local departments. People that qualify for safety-net assistance include families of persons abusing drugs or alcohol and persons who have exceeded the 60-month limit on assistance.
"Welfare reform is about temporary assistance ... it's not about public assistance," said Hoffman.
Goodell stressed the need for a welfare system that supports and encourages people, not traps them.