DSHS must do a better job of telling parents that help is available. Measure and report whether former recipients are actually able to increase their earnings over time and experience greater stability. We need to make sure that former recipients do not end up in dead-end jobs that make their return to the welfare rolls more likely. Encouraging WorkFirst participants to further their education and increase their skills is one way to accomplish this. Set and follow customer service standards so that families seeking assistance are treated with respect and good service.
Every enterprise gets better results through good service.
Improvements in the state's responsiveness to these families will not only help the families but will help the program be more successful - to everyone's benefit. Now we need to hold ourselves accountable for making sure it does. New legislation will increase the likelihood that this goal is achieved. After all, what gets measured is what gets done. The health and well-being of thousands of children and families in Pierce County are important enough to set goals and measure performance.