Wisconsin
Community Action Agencies exceeded first year expectations in
helping low-income households transition from working poor
status toward economic self-sufficiency through a statewide
replication of a successful central Wisconsin program called the
Skills Enhancement Program. A report issued today by the
Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) found
490 low-income individuals have enrolled in the program, which
is designed to assist low-wage workers obtain jobs paying good
wages with access to employer benefits. Twenty-nine
participants completed their training programs and obtained jobs
in this initial year even though the average time to complete
the program is typically about two years.
The 29
participants were expected to increase their average annual
earned income by $6,000 but these first year completers actually
increased their income by more than $11,890. The 29 started the
program with an average annual income of $9,649 and finished by
obtaining jobs paying an average of $21,540. More than 79% of
completers obtained employer-based health insurance. The
average hourly wages rose to $11.56 per hour, an increase of
$4.61.
WISCAP
Executive Director Richard Schlimm stated that the initiative
was demonstrating clear movement of workers out of poverty,
which is the heart of the mission of Community Action Agencies.
The program
offers assistance with tuition, books, child care and
transportation to individuals residing in poor households who
work at least 20 hours a week while building their job skills.
Participants are required to continue working throughout their
enrollment period. The focus is on assisting individuals to
train for and obtain higher-skilled and higher-wage occupations.
Over 60% of those enrolled are training in nursing and other
health-related fields.
