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Shift from WEP to internship-focused programs

0:22:53

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Scott French explains how HRA has moved away from the Work Experience Program (WEP) to focus on more beneficial internship-based programs. He outlines the new approach to providing meaningful work experiences for cash assistance clients.

WEP was discontinued under Commissioner Banks due to its ineffectiveness in benefiting clients
New focus on internships that provide well-rounded experiences aligned with individuals' interests
Creation of an internship placement service contract to develop opportunities with nonprofits and other organizations
Emphasis on connecting individuals to internships that match their specific interests
Implementation of better assessment processes to identify appropriate support services or benefits (like SSI) for individuals with disabilities or other barriers to employment

Scott French

0:22:53

No.

0:22:54

You know, we we did away with rep in the prior innings.

0:22:58

Right.

0:22:58

Commissioner Banks felt very strongly similar to you that that was not a program that was actually benefiting cash assistance clients and giving them access to experience education that will help someone to find what they want to do in their future.

0:23:11

So in that place, we put a a strong primacy on internships.

0:23:16

We created an internship placement service contract that is specifically about developing internships across the city with nonprofit organizations and others that actually provide a well rounded experience for individuals, and then we will connect individuals with specific interests to internships that were developed for that specific interest, whether it's a nonprofit that's focused on healthcare or serving children or other types of things.

0:23:45

So all of our providers are very much held to the expectation that the experiences that they develop need to be a well rounded experience that is very different from Webb.

0:23:56

Additionally, yes, through the assessment process, it sounds like that individual, right, should have been connected to We Care, right, where he could have been assessed on Are there other services that could have supported him better?

0:24:07

Or if truly he would would best be served through SSI, we care would have helped him submit an application to SSI and go through that pro processing program.

0:24:17

So that's what we're really focused on at this point and that's what we put into place and we'll further sort of emphasize in the new round of contracts that will be coming in a year.

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Comparison of current programs to past work requirements (WEP)

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Contract terms and duration for career services providers