During its 3 years of operation, Suffolk Works has helped transition over 7,500 program participants into full-time, nonsubsidized employment. Title IIA funds are used for short-term training and cover about 11 percent of the program's operating expenses. The Suffolk County Department of Labor also administers the JTPA program in the county. Suffolk Works is a partner in the Suffolk County workforce development system. These agencies share space, equipment, and even staff in one-stop centers.
Customers can get help preparing a resume and can fax it to employers.
Customers can register their credentials and the kind of work they are seeking with the On-Line Talent Bank, where local employers can review them for possible interviews and job offers. All targeted employable public assistance applicants are required to participate in Suffolk Works, and are automatically referred to the Suffolk County Department of Labor by DSS as a part of their welfare application process. Initially, applicants with children in school full-time were the focus of recruitment. This first target group comprised about 50 percent of the county's welfare caseload. Currently, participants with children ages 3 years and older are included in the target group and over the next year the program will be extended to all applicants with children 1 year old and above.