Washington's WorkFirst Program

The WorkFirst Program is Washington State’s welfare-to-work strategy.  It is based on the belief that everyone has abilities needed in today’s workforce with work as the foundation building block to assist families to get off welfare.  Washington initiated the WorkFirst Program in August 1997 to help low-income families become self-sufficient by providing employment services, training, child care, and other support services necessary for parents to get a job, keep a job and move up a career ladder.

CTED's Work Programs

The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) provides WorkFirst parents opportunities to gain job skills and experience through a variety of work readiness programs including Community Jobs, Career Jump, Community Service, Community Works, and  Community Work Experience (WEX).  All programs are available statewide and are provided by 17 contracted, community-based organizations.

Community Jobs is a comprehensive, paid work program that combines training opportunities with intensive case management services to parents who participate in Washington State’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program and who have been unsuccessful in traditional WorkFirst job readiness activities. 

Contractors provide direct services to families and develop job opportunities and employ parents 20 - 30 hours per week in temporary paid positions at nonprofit organizations and public agencies.  Some parents may be co-enrolled in an education activity for a minimum of 10 hours per week.  In addition to work and education, CTED contracted case managers provide case management to assist parents with issues and to ensure parents gain access to services that will lead to employment. 

The Career Jump Program provides the same services as Community Jobs with the exception that worksite placement is with a business who has made a commitment to hire that parent at an agreed upon time.  Career Jump offers the parent and the employer the opportunity to gain training while on the job with the additional assistance of the CTED contracted case manager to assist the parent with issues.

Parents referred to a Community Service, Community Works or Community WEX Program coordinate with a CTED contracted case manager who designs and manages the work opportunity.  Parents are placed on a worksite in a nonprofit organization or public agency and supervised by a worksite supervisor who provides daily supervision and work training.  These programs are designed to provide unpaid employment skills and experience for up to six months and are typically combined other WorkFirst activities.  Worksite placement is based on each parent's prior training, experience, skills, and interests.

For more information about the WorkFirst program in Washington state,
please visit the WorkFirst Washington Website.