Welfare-to-Work Competitive Grants
Third Round Award

Awardee:	Jefferson Parish Government Department of Employment & Training 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 403 Harahan, LA 70123
Contact:	Earl Wright
Phone:	(504) 736-6464           Fax:       (704) 736-6765
E-mail:	emptrg@bellsouth.net
Proposed Award Amount:	$2,703,397
Project Emphasis:	Noncustodial Parents

Summary Paragraph: Jefferson Parish Department of Employment and Training's Project ADAMS will target noncustodial parents facing such employment barriers as a criminal history, low skill levels, poor work history and substance abuse. The program's mission is to provide job placement while simultaneously providing occupational and basic skills training to noncustodial parents. All participants will be assessed for job aptitude, GED aptitude, math and language skills, work attitudes and learning styles. Once a participant is assessed, the Case Manager will then complete an employability plan which will address any needed support services and a service strategy which will outline the individual's employment goals. A Job Coach will motivate participants and help them experience the world of work, while an Employment Specialist will place the participant in an appropriate job. Each participant will be required to attend job readiness/job retention and basic skills training 10 hours weekly for six months. Participants will work during the remaining 30 hours per week. Once on the job, participants will be referred to the District Attorney's Office to determine their estimated child support payment. All participants will also be required to attend a monthly forum to address their program-related concerns and interests.

Community Served: Jefferson Parish (Kenner, Marrero, Westwego, Harvey, Bridge City)

Barriers/Target Group: The Project Adams program will target under-employed and unemployed noncustodial parents. The most significant barriers facing this group are a lack of reading and math skills, lack of high school diploma or GED, involvement with the criminal justice system, and poor or no work history.

Partnerships: Partners for this program are Louisiana department of Labor, Jefferson Community Action Programs, Jefferson Parish Transit, Jefferson Economic Development Commission, Jefferson Parish Community Parish Development, Jefferson Housing Authority, Jefferson Parish Juvenile Judges, Jefferson Parish Substance Abuse Clinics, Living Witness Ministries, Jefferson Parish District Attorney, Delgado Community College and Louisiana Technical College, and a variety of employers.

Innovations/Service Strategy: Through this collaborative effort, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office has agreed to fully support the Jefferson Parish Department of Employment and Training's initiatives to locate and place unemployed, noncustodial parents of children on welfare in employment opportunities. As part of this initiative, Juvenile Judges will send these individuals directly to Project ADAMS. The program will also use a mobile work van to access hard-to-reach participants who may have transportation barriers.