About Us
Governor Gregoire knows that “work is the best way to break the cycle of poverty for families.”
WorkFirst is Washington's welfare reform program designed to help parents get what they need to prepare for and go to work. It is a partnership between state agencies and communities to work together to provide the necessary services and resources families need to be successful. Across the state hundreds of local organizations and business partners are actively involved, they may include tribal governments, Workforce Development Councils, community action agencies, non-profit agencies of all types, schools, labor organizations, and childcare, transportation, mental health and substance abuse treatment providers.
The federal Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 forced changes to the program. To learn more about those changes, link here.
The WorkFirst Partnership Structure
Roles and Responsibilities of State Agencies
The Office of Financial Management (OFM) oversees the WorkFirst program and is responsible for managing the budget and monitoring program performance. In addition, OFM supports 32 Local Planning Area partnerships across the state providing services to WorkFirst families in their communities.
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is the entry point and ongoing contact point for WorkFirst participants. Once establishing eligibility, the agency provides an orientation to the program and assigns parents a case manager who will work with them throughout the process, helping develop an Individual Responsibility Plan, encouraging participation towards the goal of getting a job, and arranging for support services, such as transportation, clothing and childcare, needed to get and keep a job.
The Department of Early Learning (DEL) oversees the Working Connections Childcare program which provides childcare to WorkFirst partners who are working and/or participating in work-focused activities preparing them for work.
The Employment Security Department (ESD) makes the employment connection. Each parent is provided a comprehensive Work Skill Assessment that assists them plan their employment goals. The agency presents activities specifically designed to aid parents to make the best possible job connection and at the same time provides local employers the best pool of qualified applicants to select from. The department's hiring events and job fairs around the state bring WorkFirst parents together with employers who are ready to hire on the spot.
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) assures that training and basic skills education is available through the 34 community and technical colleges across the state. The colleges have shorter courses, offered during non-work hours and geared toward specific high demand jobs available to WorkFirst parents. In addition, they also offer programs that integrate basic skills and English as a Second Language with workforce training and full-time, short-term customized training programs leading directly to employment.
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) works to strengthen communities to bolster WorkFirst's success. The agency promotes the state's economic health by attracting and expanding business, and assists individuals going into business themselves. The agency also administers the Community Jobs program, which is a program designed to prepare the hardest to employ WorkFirst families for employment.
Governance Structure
When WorkFirst began in 1997, it was decided that the heads of the partner agencies listed above would form the WorkFirst SubCabinet Structure. The group is chaired by the director of the Office of Financial Management and meets several times a year to coordinate and make decisions about high-level policy and budget issues.
To learn more about the various WorkFirst programs and services, link here.
WorkFirst Sustainability Cover Letter and Plan (January 2008)
WorkFirst at a Glance (updated January 2009)
WorkFirst Program History (updated February 2009)
The Economic Services Administration's (ESA) Program Briefing Book is your reference guide to our programs, client demographics, caseloads, and expenditures. The book is updated annually and highlights information for each State Fiscal Year (SFY), the period of July through June, and provides you with some historical data as well.
