What is the Office of Work Opportunities ?

The Office of Work Opportunities coordinates employment services for public assistance customers through the local Service Centers in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, White Plains, and Peekskill. As a "Work First" county, Westchester's goal is to empower its customers to achieve lasting self-sufficiency through employment. 

The WCDSS has contractual agreements with a number of agencies to assist our TANF customers to find full-time employment.  Pre-employment services include skills assessment, resume preparation, interview techniques, employer/employee expectations, coping skills, conflict resolution, and job placement. Post-employment retention services are designed to ensure that employment is maintained even when problems and/or crises arise.  

The Welfare Reform Act of 1997 mandates that TANF applicants and recipients be screened for alcohol or substance abuse problems. Identifying and assessing clients with these and mental health problems are the first steps in dealing with potential barriers to employment. Staff training on substance abuse and mental health issues, the use of appropriate screening instruments, and co-location of substance abuse and mental health professionals offer possible solutions to overcoming these obstacles.

Case Managers play a pivotal role in the job placement and job retention of their customers. Their responsibilities include following up and assisting customers in the planning and coordination of post-employment support services to ensure job retention and eventual welfare case closing.

What services are available for customers leaving public assistance? 

Other programs and services offered to assist customers in the transition from public assistance to employment include:

• Child Health Plus Health Insurance

• Transportation - Using guidelines issued by the Federal Transit Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Labor on the use of TANF  and Welfare-to-Work funds for transportation needs, the WCDSS is addressing transportation needs utilizing alternative methods. For information regarding current transit links in the county, view the Westchester County Department of Transportation web site.

• Transitional Day Care

• Transitional Medical Assistance

• Earned Income Tax Credit - Workers who qualify for the EITC and file a federal tax return can receive a refund of some or all of their federal income tax.  Eligible families receive the full amount of the credit even if it is greater than the amount of taxes owed. Qualifying families with no tax liability receive the entire credit as a refund.

What is the Small Business Initiatives Program?

The Small Business Initiatives Program provides our customers with an additional means of achieving self-sufficiency. The program is designed to provide public assistance customers with the training and technical assistance necessary for them to create their own businesses. Locally owned businesses fostered by micro enterprise development can stimulate economic activity by creating jobs for customers , their families, and others in their communities, and can raise both their income and their assets.

What is the Community Relations Program?

Community involvement, including community based and collaborative efforts can be a core strategy in designing and implementing effective welfare reform programs. By educating the local communities, using the local faith-based organizations, and by building an ongoing dialogue with community based organizations and other service providers, we can get them involved in local implementation of welfare reform. Goals are:

• Create new partnerships and improve WCDSS's relationship with other agencies that share our customers

• Educate the community about our customers and the work the department performs

• Create and foster a supportive work environment within the community

• Develop a collaborative Mentoring Program between the Mount Vernon District Office, Office of Workforce Investment/Community Relations and the UJAMAA Community Development Corporation  (operating under the umbrella of Grace Baptist Church, Mount Vernon).  This project with its volunteers provides a support network on a one-to-one basis, including positive role modeling, troubleshooting, employment assistance and job retention efforts for our customers in Mount Vernon.  

What is the Job Development Program?

As welfare and workforce systems become work-centered, employer involvement in welfare-to-work efforts is increasingly important. A critical component  is to develop job opportunities for customers in both the public and private sectors. Utilizing account executives and job developers, the department works with businesses in the county to identify how using WCDSS customers and services can benefit them in a positive way. Businesses are encouraged to view us as a "first source" for recruiting employees. Among the benefits to businesses and employers are:

• No charge for the department's services

• Thoroughly screened candidates

• Motivated workers

• Support services to ensure high quality performance and job retention

• Quick response to job orders

• Federal and New York State tax incentives