The Working Matters Program is designed to help individuals overcome their specific employment barriers. Piloted in Jefferson County in FY08, Working Matters expanded services and added Montgomery, Lowndes, and Dallas Counties to its service area in FY09. The program is funded by Alabama Department of Human Resources as part of their Integrated Work Support Programs.
The Working Matters Program addresses the work-first, personal responsibility model of core and supportive services designed to move individuals off public assistance and into self-reliance through gainful employment. Working Matters targets the hard-to-employ TANF recipient, as well as, the ready-to-employ or newly employed recipient who needs support to locate and to retain employment. Services meet the federal core hours, while providing wrap-around services that help promote sustained positive change including long-term retention of employment and recognition of the benefits gained from greater self-reliance.
The program assists participants in achieving enhanced, long-term self-reliance through gainful employment by placing individuals in volunteer work-readiness "CEMP" placements in local agencies and businesses.The Working Matters Program utilizes an effective individualized case management model with an array of core and supportive services.