CUNY/CARE WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (WEP)

Low-income minority young adults who attend college while receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families from the government are required by law to obtain work experience in order to continue receiving their benefits. In an effort to help these students succeed at both their studies and their work assignments, the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island has over the past six years worked with the City University of New York and CARE’s Work Experience Program (WEP) to provide placement in specialized work settings for students from colleges and training programs throughout New York City. The WEP program works with students from 17 City University of New York colleges, as well as 40 non-CUNY colleges and training programs, across New York City. Approximately 1200 students are currently enrolled in the program.

Meeting with each student, JCC staff members take careful note of the individual’s current personal situation and goals. They then seek to have the client assigned to a conveniently located job that matches their interests and complements their academic pursuits. Developing “on-campus” assignments in cooperation with the City University of New York administration, the coordinators place students at administrative offices, laboratories, libraries and similar sites. “Off-campus” assignments are developed at community-based nonprofit organizations, such as hospitals, senior centers, schools, day care centers, and other social service settings. The Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island’s Work Experience Program currently has two hundred participating nonprofits serving as worksites.

The JCC’s WEP coordinators supervise each student’s performance to ensure compliance with the workfare requirements. They also provide case management assistance, helping their clients with such issues as transitional benefits, childcare arrangements, etc.

Professionally directed by Elise Wunder, the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island’s Work Experience Program enables public assistance recipients to develop employment skills, work experience and job-related self-confidence. Many of our clients have gone on to career success, often in positions at the same worksite. In just one example, a student who was assigned to a receptionist job moved up to become a Case Management Assistant, obtained a degree in Social Work, and is now the Director of a Social Work program.

In July of 2004, the NYC Human Resources Administration conducted an intensive monitoring of the JCC’s Work Experience Program. It gave the program a perfect score and a “Very Good” rating, the highest possible ranking.