Program Description
Program/Practice Description: For employment issues, LINC uses a similar community partnership approach in evaluating and modifying the local welfare-to-work system. By bringing community knowledge and insight to bear on issues related to welfare to work, LINC works to reform human service delivery programs so they are client-driven, non duplicative and focused on moving low-income adults to full-time, unsubsidized employment. This comprehensive approach mobilizes local partners to provide intense case management, job training, employment placement, child care, and transportation and retention support, and assists participants with reaching education goals such as receiving their GED.
Background/Program History: LINC began operation in 1992 at the instigation of the Missouri Department of Social Services.
Innovations and Results: In all areas of its work, including workforce development, LINC's approach engages the community at a deep and genuine level. In LINC's experience, it has found that often the most effective and insightful strategies for moving adults from welfare to work have come from individuals and families in the community. This level of support and insight from community members, employers, local institutions, and expert contractors allows LINC to connect clients with very specific employment support, both short- and long-term, and helps indicate to staff appropriate times to disengage or engage further. Within its service delivery area, Kansas City LINC has seen a reduction in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families caseloads of nearly 50 percent.
Operations: In its work with partners providing welfare-to-work activities, LINC promotes case management strategies that include not only a thorough pre-screening but also consistent post-employment follow-up with clients. Maintaining close relationships with participants throughout the employment process has resulted in strong job retention and low recidivism rates. Collecting, converting, and disseminating data to the community also drive much of LINC's' work. Ensuring that information is useful and easy to comprehend, and holding individuals accountable for the work they do with these data, are critical components of LINC's operations. Additionally, LINC uses focus groups as an important strategy for gathering information relative to its work. To help remedy transportation barriers and other disincentives for attendance, LINC provides child care, food and gift cards for gas, or other services for community members who participate in these forums. LINC conducted a focus group with the Latino community and is conducting a survey with Somali community members to help identify their challenges and assets.
Funding: LINC operated with a $13.3 million budget for the 2006 fiscal year. LINC receives financial support from the State, local and national foundations, private businesses, and other public sources.
Staffing: Over 2,000 volunteers compose the majority of LINC's staff. Working in partnership with LINC's paid staff, this diverse set of individuals and welfare recipients, neighborhood businesses, seniors, parents, corporation executives, and faith-based organizations decides how funds are spent in their community while creating an informed constituency to advocate reform in human service systems statewide. Staff receives training in areas that affect job placement and work attachment, such as domestic violence, case management, and cross-cultural training.
Additional Information: LINC's relationships with community partners are critical to its work. Among these key partners are the Department of Social Services/Family Support Division, the Department of Economic Development/Division of Workforce Development, and local partners such as the Kansas City-based Full Employment Council and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.