On-Line Education and Training Connection

Welfare reform is now law in Ohio and it is called Ohio Works First. Ohioans formerly receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children are now part of the Ohio Work First emphasizes employment, training, education, and support services. Many individuals affected by the new change in public welfare find themselves in low-wage earning jobs. In order to effectively meet the challenge of integrating people into the ever-demanding work force innovative training vehicles must be introduced and tried. During the next decade, states will face increasing pressure to generate good jobs and help many people navigate a complex labor market for which their education, training, and experience leave them ill-prepared. There are stringent guidelines that govern the number of hours these women have to work thereby decreasing educational time that would be traditionally spent in a week and up to 10 hours may be donated to education or development. This transformation, coupled with rapid changes in the structure of the labor market, is transition to employment and work their way out of poverty. State policymakers, program administrators, and frontline workers are realizing that a "work first" approach is not simply about placing welfare recipients into entry-level jobs. It is about working with people after they are employed to help them keep their jobs and to advance within the labor market. The majority of the households affected by these changes are female-headed households. The Web Site developed in this work target these women. It allows caseworkers, welfare recipients, and service providers and employers access to on-line educational opportunities that will create a promising program to help facilitate job users with the most efficient access to educational advancement courses than what currently exist. Frequent users of Web browsers spend hours locating information, and opportunities. With the use ofthe On-Line Education and Training Connection, learning will be facilitated. Innovative on-line educational resources would certainly address time constraints issues, as well, as the need for self-paced educational advancements for the women affected by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act.