Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

TEA Program Putting Citizens Back To Work

The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) released figures in March indicating that the department's new Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) program has filled 77 jobs for Clark County residents since the welfare reform effort began in July 1997.

"We are breaking the cycle of welfare dependence that has troubled our nation for years," Kurt Knickrehm, DHS director, said.

"Gov. Huckabee has made it a priority that all of state government work to move people from entitlement programs and into work," he said. "We are immensely proud of the efforts of local groups who have stepped forward to help make this process work."

As of January 1999, a total of 11,809 jobs had been filled in the state through the leadership of county-based TEA coalitions in Arkansas. Statewide, the welfare rolls have been reduced by almost 42 percent since July of 1997.

Figures released by DHS, indicate that of those, 77 were in Clark County, representing a savings to the taxpayers of $4,969 for the county, compared to the same time last year. Statewide, the savings add up to around $1.42 million compared to the same time last year.

In July of 1997, Arkansas policy makers enacted Act 1058, The Arkansas Personal Responsibility and Public Assistance Reform Act of 1997. The new law replaced the former AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) program with the TEA Program, said Knickrehm.

The TEA program is focused on transitioning welfare recipients from dependency on public assistance to self-reliance through work. It is designed specifically for mothers and families with children. It rewards work and fosters self-reliance, responsibility and family stability.

"The program is designed to provide benefits to families as they transition from welfare to work," Knickrehm said. "Assistance can include help with job-related expenses, child care, transportation, healthcare coverage and earned income tax credit."

One of those people who went back to work was "Nadia." The last time she had a job was 1996. She had been dependent on state assistance until the new federal welfare reform policies required states to begin moving welfare recipients off welfare rolls and into work. In order to get a job, Nadia needed additional skills training and through her local TEA program, she was able to attend vo-tech school.

Knickrehm says that the TEA program is the solution for people like Nadia. "A big part of what makes the TEA program work is that DHS has engaged a broad cross-section of community leadership in building local service groups call TEA Coalitions," he said.

Ruth Whitney, director of county operations for DHS, oversees the TEA Program and says, "These coalitions are community-driven and designed to give the leadership in a community the autonomy to craft local solutions. And the numbers show that it's an approach that's getting Arkansas back to work."

Nadia is working now as a certified nursing assistant, thanks in large part to the support and service from her local TEA Coalition. Whitney says that there are TEA Coalitions chartered in all 75 counties in Arkansas.

She encourages employers who are in high turnover industries to call for more information about people who are ready to go to work.

To get more information or to become involved in your local coalition, contact DHS county operation at 1-877-886-0565.