They are also being asked to interface with the business community to assess their needs and solicit their cooperation in helping welfare recipients make the transition into the work world, she said. The governor is also reportedly asking his welfare reform team to look into ways to expand the territory's employment base overall. First, key members must read and digest the 286 page document covering federal welfare reform. Then come round after round of meetings to make sure various agencies inside the executive branch understand what they must to do comply with the federal government. For instance, take teen pregnancy, the commissioner said.
Federal reforms call on the states and territories to come up with ways to reduce teen pregnancy.
All must comply or risk losing a portion of their federal welfare block grants. If the state or territory does not already have a plan for reducing teen pregnancy in place, the proper authorities must devise a plan and present a document detailing the plan as part of their local reform program. Similarly, portions of the federal mandate correspond to other agencies - the Departments of Health, Justice, Labor, Education, the Housing Authority and the Internal Revenue Bureau. Commissioner Mills and her Human Services team are now in the process of meeting weekly with representatives of these agencies to hear what they are doing to complete the changes they need to make in order to comply with the new law. That vision goes to the V.I. Legislature, which rounds up the funds to make that vision possible.