First Stop Employment Assistance Program

As a requirement of the State's welfare reform law, Work First applicants who are not exempt are required to register for the First Stop Employment Assistance Program with the Employment Security Commission (ESC). Failure to register results in the family's ineligibility for Work First Family Assistance.

As part of First Stop, county departments may contract with the ESC to further assist registrants through job search, job placement, or referral to a community service placement, or they may enter into an agreement with the community college system or any other entity to operate the Job Preparedness component. ESC has provided an automated solution to tracking First Stop registrants' progress toward employment. The automated tool that is available allows ESC and county departments to communicate about families' progress, status, and support services needed and provided.

This is a valuable partnership that has proven effective and powerful in helping families leave welfare for work and even getting a job and avoiding welfare altogether.

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