The Fedcap WeCARE program stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to innovative approaches in workforce development. Recently, Grant Collins, Senior Vice President of Workforce Development at Fedcap and Executive Director of WeCARE, brought this impactful program into the national spotlight. His testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture highlighted the critical role of WeCARE in enabling individuals with significant barriers to employment to achieve self-sufficiency. This pivotal hearing, titled “Past, Present, and Future of SNAP: The Means to Climbing the Economic Ladder,” was part of a comprehensive review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), anticipating potential reforms. Collins’ presentation offered valuable insights into how programs like Fedcap WeCARE can be instrumental in transforming lives and fostering economic independence.
The WeCARE program, short for Wellness, Comprehensive Assessment Rehabilitation and Employment, is expertly administered by the NYC Human Resources Administration’s Customized Assistance Services. It is specifically designed to address the complex needs of cash assistance recipients who face medical and/or mental health challenges that hinder their employment prospects. The core mission of the Fedcap WeCARE program is to provide comprehensive support and tailored services, empowering these individuals to reach their maximum potential for self-reliance and participation in the workforce. Through personalized assistance and a holistic approach, WeCARE breaks down barriers and paves the way for participants to achieve lasting economic stability.
Fedcap is uniquely positioned as the sole provider of WeCARE services throughout New York City, demonstrating the scale and impact of this program. Annually, WeCARE serves over 50,000 cash assistance clients, making it one of the largest and most impactful programs of its kind. Since its inception in 2005, the Fedcap WeCARE program has touched the lives of over 485,000 individuals, providing a pathway towards employment and self-sufficiency for a vast population facing significant hurdles.
Christine McMahon, President and CEO of Fedcap, expressed immense pride in Grant Collins’ impactful testimony. “We at Fedcap are extremely proud of Grant’s appearance before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture,” she stated. “This underscores Fedcap’s pioneering approach to establishing pathways to self-sufficiency for individuals facing obstacles, and it recognizes the exceptional dedication of Grant and his team in managing the WeCARE program.” This public acknowledgment further solidifies the Fedcap WeCARE program as a model of effective social intervention and workforce development.
In his testimony, Collins effectively positioned WeCARE within the framework of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, emphasizing its alignment with participation and time limit requirements. TANF, a crucial federal initiative, provides block grants to states with the aim of supporting needy families and reducing welfare dependency. The Fedcap WeCARE program distinguishes itself within the TANF landscape through its distinct and unwavering focus on workforce readiness training and direct job placement. Unlike many public assistance programs that may exempt clients with health concerns from work requirements or primarily direct them towards federal disability benefits, WeCARE prioritizes equipping individuals to enter and succeed in the job market.
A cornerstone of the Fedcap WeCARE program is its rigorous and independent medical assessment process, a mandatory step for program eligibility. This assessment is crucial in understanding each client’s unique capabilities and needs, resulting in one of four distinct outcomes:
- Fully Employable: Individuals deemed ready for immediate employment.
- Employable with Accommodation: Those who can work successfully with specific workplace adjustments or support.
- Temporarily Unemployable: Clients needing focused wellness interventions or condition management before job readiness.
- Unable to Work: Individuals with significant limitations preventing current employment.
The outcomes of these assessments are particularly striking and highlight the transformative potential of the Fedcap WeCARE program. Remarkably, within a client population where all 485,000+ individuals initially perceived themselves as unable to work, the assessments revealed that: 6 percent were fully employable, a significant 44 percent could work with accommodations, and 33 percent could achieve employment after their medical conditions were stabilized. Critically, only 17 percent were determined to be unable to work. Of those identified as employable with accommodations, an impressive 95 percent have since entered the workforce, with 60 percent securing employment of 30 hours per week or more. These statistics powerfully demonstrate the Fedcap WeCARE program’s ability to unlock the employment potential of individuals often overlooked in traditional workforce programs.
The remarkable success of the Fedcap WeCARE program is fueled by its innovative and holistic approach, seamlessly integrating job training, placement services, and a supportive clinical environment. This jobs-driven methodology permeates every aspect of WeCARE, engaging both staff and program participants alike. In 2014 alone, Fedcap WeCARE achieved an average of 192 job placements per month, notably including 90 placements generated directly by the participants themselves, without the direct intervention of staff job developers. This participant-driven job search is a key element of the WeCARE philosophy, empowering individuals to become proactive in their career journeys and fostering long-term self-sufficiency. Participants are trained to take ownership of their job search, developing crucial skills and confidence.
In total, the Fedcap WeCARE program facilitated 2,321 job placements in 2014, significantly surpassing the program’s ambitious goal of 145 placements per month. This outstanding performance underscores the effectiveness of the WeCARE model and its commitment to exceeding expectations in workforce development.
Furthermore, the Fedcap WeCARE program, the largest of its kind nationally, serves as a model of best practices in comprehensive case management. The program’s multifaceted approach integrates client wellness, vocational rehabilitation, employment services, job retention support, and assistance with federal disability benefit applications – all within a single, coordinated framework. Committee members at the hearing showed significant interest in this comprehensive case management aspect of WeCARE, recognizing its potential as a key component of future SNAP reforms and broader social support systems.
In his concluding remarks to the committee, Grant Collins emphasized the profound impact of the Fedcap WeCARE program, demonstrating that individuals often marginalized from the workforce can achieve genuine self-sufficiency and become valued contributors to the economy. “I believe that the first step on the path out of poverty is to know the dignity of work,” he stated. “The WeCARE program demonstrates that work and self-sufficiency are achievable for a far greater number of individuals with barriers than previously recognized.” The Fedcap WeCARE program stands as a powerful example of how targeted, comprehensive, and innovative programs can transform lives and build stronger, more inclusive communities.
