Last Updated on March 7, 2024, 10:57 AM | Published: March 7, 2024
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services sends this information as posted below:
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 6, 2024) – Following a comprehensive solicitation process across the state, Oklahoma Human Services proudly announces the awarding of contracts for the statewide expansion of Work Ready Oklahoma (WRO). This pivotal initiative, aimed at enhancing self-sufficiency among low-income families, marks a strategic expansion of the agency’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work program efforts. With these contracts, renewable for up to five years, Oklahoma Human Services underscores its commitment to equipping the state’s residents with the essential tools for achieving family stability and fostering sustainable employment opportunities with livable wages.
“Helping families identify and leverage their strengths while increasing skills toward self-sufficiency are core to so many programs at Oklahoma Human Services, and also support better long-term outcomes for Oklahoma families,” said Dr. Deborah Shropshire, Secretary of Human Services and Director of Oklahoma Human Services. “We have long said we can’t do this work alone and are grateful for the excitement of engaged community partners who are supporting the unique needs of thousands of our clients, preparing them for the workforce opportunities they need to help their families thrive. These opportunities also benefit employers who need skilled workers to serve their customers and meet the demands of their industries.”
For seven years, WRO has successfully operated in the Oklahoma City metro area and expanded into rural areas in 2022, with centers in McIntosh, Muskogee and Pittsburg counties. The success of these rural pilots, which placed 164 individuals into jobs from January to October 2022—60% in remote positions—demonstrated replicable success in non-urban areas, with the potential to add $6 million in annual wages to local economies and stabilizing vulnerable Oklahoma families.
“It’s encouraging to witness the statewide adoption of this vital initiative, guiding individuals towards greater self-sufficiency,” shared Sandino Thompson with Work Ready Oklahoma. “Through our collaborative efforts with Oklahoma Human Services, we’re opening doors for low-income Oklahomans to the promising economic opportunities our state has to offer.”
With this expansion, Oklahoma Human Services is set to open new Work Ready Employment Centers across Oklahoma in 2024, including locations in Ada, Altus, Ardmore, Durant, El Reno, Enid, Idabel, Lawton, Okmulgee, Ponca City, Poteau, Shawnee, Tahlequah, Tulsa, Weatherford, Wilburton and Woodward. Each new center aims to serve at least 150 community members annually, focusing on enhancement of ready-for-work skills to equip them to enter the workforce and secure a stabilizing job. Programs will prioritize serving families accessing a government-funded safety-net service to aid in their individual efforts to achieve self-sufficiency.
“The Work Ready Oklahoma program is key to our mission to boost family stability and create viable and sustainable job opportunities for parents,” said Deborah Smith, Director of the Adult and Family Services Division at Oklahoma Human Services. “This expansion enables us to support more families in moving from dependency to resilience and independence by providing the skills and opportunities needed to strengthen the families we serve.”
WRO employment centers deliver tailored workshops, job preparation services, coaching and support to meet the diverse needs of low-income individuals, addressing employment barriers and ensuring access to quality jobs. Each center offers co-working spaces and ongoing coaching, connecting participants with employment opportunities. Staff will be trained in evidence-based programming and included in a statewide learning network to boost peer engagement.
“Helping Oklahomans achieve self-sufficiency through career [preparation] training is central to the mission of Oklahoma CareerTech,” said CareerTech State Director Brent Haken. “By teaming up with [Oklahoma Human Services] in its expansion of Work Ready Oklahoma, CareerTech will be able to reach more people in need of career education, enabling them to secure rewarding careers. We can provide them hands-on training that mirrors real-world scenarios. What we do can change lives, help families and improve our state.”
As part of the state’s TANF program strategy, this initiative represents Oklahoma Human Services’ comprehensive approach to social welfare, offering more than temporary financial aid by tackling poverty’s root causes. “Work Ready Oklahoma is a pathway to a brighter future, transforming lives through employment and family stability,” Smith said.
WRO prepares individuals with job readiness skills for further training through CareerTech and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act partners, enhancing career prospects. Participants are also referred to family strengthening services through other programs funded by Oklahoma Human Services and community partners. The WRO Centers statewide will be run by a wide range of local entities including youth services agencies, Community Action Agencies, Career Techs, community colleges, workforce programs, local governments, and well-established nonprofit organizations. Communities were able to select the lead organization for their counties.
Awarded Work Ready Oklahoma Employment Centers – Counties and lead organizations
- Bryan – Youth Services of Bryan County
- Canadian – Youth and Family Services of El Reno
- Carter – Southern Technology Center
- Cherokee – Zoe Institute
- Comanche – Quest Ministries of Oklahoma
- Custer – Southwest Oklahoma State University
- Garfield – Community Development Support Association
- Jackson – City of Altus
- Kay – Pioneer Technology Center
- Latimer – City of Wilburton
- Le Flore – Ki Bois Community Action Foundation
- McIntosh – WRO Pilot Center
- McCurtain – LIFT Community Action Agency
- Muskogee – WRO Pilot Center
- Oklahoma – WRO Pilot Center
- Okmulgee – Deep Fork Community Action Agency
- Pittsburgh – WRO Pilot Center
- Pontotoc – Pontotoc Technology Center
- Pottawatomie – The Education and Employment Ministry
- Tulsa – Goodwill Industries
- Woodward – Western Plains Youth and Family Services
About Oklahoma Human Services
Oklahoma Human Services offers help and hope to more than one million Oklahomans each year through a wide range of services and support that promote their safety, independence and wellbeing. Learn more at https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs.html and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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