Welfare change lets parents get training before job hunting, By Philip Marcelo, July 25, 2011, Providence Journal: “Rhode Island welfare recipients will be able to do more than seek a job in order to initially earn their benefits, following a change included in this year’s state budget. Now, qualified parents will be able to immediately pursue work-related activities like vocational education and literacy classes, which would make them better- prepared for the job market, according to advocates. The new provision marks the most significant change lawmakers have made to the state welfare program since it was overhauled in 2008 under then-Republican Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, and renamed Rhode Island Works. It is also one victory that supporters of the poor can point to in a budget that slashed more than $78 million for human service programs for people who are elderly, disabled or have low incomes…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty