WELFARE EFFORT GETS KEY DATA (WELFARE-TO-WORK; FIRST OF FIVE PARTS)

A preliminary report of an analysis made by a Boston consulting firm suggests Cape Girardeau County's Welfare Reform Task Force faces some obstacles in its attempt to move people from welfare rolls to independent lifestyles with jobs.

However, the report indicates cooperative networks -- such as the task force itself -- will be critical for future efforts to increase job opportunities for former welfare recipients.

The task force, led by the Community Caring Council, is working to formulate a community policy to help county residents who are affected by changes in the welfare system. The group was organized in December 1996 after local agencies decided to pool their resources and prepare for the time when welfare funding became limited and assistance requests increased.

The membership of the task force includes community residents, social-service workers, state agencies and other organizations' representatives.

Task force members reviewed the preliminary report last week with Peter Kwass, a principal with Mt. Auburn Associates of Boston. The company was commissioned last year by the Missouri Department of Social Services Family Investment Trust to do the community analysis and recommend employment strategies for low-income communities in Cape Girardeau, Springfield, St. Joseph and Jefferson County.

"It's a little premature to really do a comparison, because we haven't completed all of the findings for all of the communities," said Kwass. "One of things I can say is Cape has a really robust economy. The economic and employment opportunities are very favorable."

The report is the product of six months of collecting statistics along with interviews and focus group discussions with employers, social service workers and public assistance recipients in the county. Mt. Auburn Associates is re-evaluating the report, inserting additional data as needed and confirming the accuracy of data used in the preliminary document.

The company will analyze all of the information and formulate recommendations on how to help county residents who need help to become capable and employable individuals. A draft of that final report should be ready next month.

"We're still getting feedback. There were some rough edges, and, of course, we're going to go on to the next phase," Kwass said in a telephone interview. "The bulk of the work has been done. Generally, the thrust of it will not be changed much. Our central focus is on employment of low-income and low-skill people, but when you think about people on welfare, there are a whole range of issues that might be barriers to employment."

Initial findings in the report indicated Cape Girardeau County has seen strong job growth and relatively low rates of unemployment in recent years. Growth in personal income has also been strong, surpassing state and national growth rates in the past decade.

There are many jobs available, but most of them are in low-wage industries, the report says, including those associated with eating and drinking, amusement, recreation, lodging and retail trade.

United Way executive director and task force member Nancy Jernigan said hearing relevant statistics helped her to put some of the goals of the task force in perspective. The report indicates the task force's goals need to include the working poor as well as families receiving public assistance, she said.

"What we are wanting to do is create programs and services for people who want to help themselves," she said. "Some people are concerned that we're trying to help people who are just milking the system, which isn't true. We need to target people who really do want a better life for themselves and their families."

The report also outlines several secondary issues that will need to be addressed by the task force. Although these issues are not directly related to employment, they serve as barriers that can keep people from seeking or retaining jobs, Kwass said.

Included on the list of secondary issues: Pre- and post-employment support, changing negative attitudes towards applicants who receive public assistance, providing more and better short-term educational opportunities for applicants with skill deficiencies and solving employment barriers such as child care and transportation issues.

One notable omission from the preliminary report that will be included in final recommendations is housing, Kwass said.

"You're taking things to a higher level with welfare reform, and you really have to look at multiple barriers and putting a variety of resources and support services together," he said.

Shirley Ramsey of Caring Communities said that, although recommendations won't be received for at least another month, she hopes people will begin to recognize the enormity of the goals the task force has set. The group is trying to be proactive, but it will take a total community effort to tackle problem areas outlined in the preliminary report, she said.

"Part of our goal, we feel, is to assist the community in coming together," she said. "It's really important that there are a lot of folks who are working on welfare reform, but no one agency or organization or group is going to be able to do it all. It's going to take everyone working together."

Friday: Educational systems and social services networks lack coordination.