NLA Discussion: Welfare Policy

[DocBSP at aol.com]

Dear Andre,

  Perhaps one other trend that warrants attention and could be included in
your newspaper article is that the literacy participants "left' to participate
in programs since welfare reform, are those who are not "in the system"
(either yet or any more),
and participate voluntarily. This population includes individuals who are
holding down multiple part time, entry level jobs and are really struggling to
gain needed literacy skills, GED, etc. They are highly motivated, but often
leave programs before completing goals because they just can't  create a 24
hour + day! With relatively few support systems in place, they remain on the
edge of the welfare system.
We need to look deeper -beyond the statistics that are telling us that our
economy is doing well. Unemployment rates may be down, but that isn't
necessarily because the workforce is healthy! Many "faces" are not showing up
in the stats, because they have exhausted unemployment benefits and are
struggling with the country's new idea of a "career"--Three or four part-time
entry level jobs do not a career or a stable life make.

Brenda Peters
Albany, NY