[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 104 (Tuesday, August 2, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             THE RIGHT START FOR ARIZONA'S WELFARE MOTHERS

 Mr. DeCONCINI. Mr. President, I would like to recognize 
Arizona Women's Education and Employment [AWEE] and Time Systems for 
sponsoring a free ``Organizing Your Job Search'' seminar for women who 
want to get off welfare and secure employment.
  The day-long seminar, held in Phoenix on July 12, sought to provide 
the 50 participating welfare mothers with the necessary tools and 
training to conduct an effective job search. These women learned how to 
establish goals; track achievements; and plan, schedule, and prioritize 
activities in order to develop a productive job search.
  The seminar proved to be an overwhelming success. Not only did the 
women gain practical job-seeking skills, but they gained a sense of 
confidence in their ability to secure employment. With this newfound 
self-confidence, the women left the seminar highly motivated to leave 
welfare and ultimately support themselves and their families.
  This seminar was very timely and relevant to the current concerns of 
the Nation. Welfare reform, together with health care reform, are two 
of the most important issues presently facing Congress.
  More seminars like Organizing Your Job Search are needed for reform 
of our welfare system to truly succeed. Programs which combine self-
esteem building with practical skills are invaluable in helping women 
leave welfare. Statistics show that around 30 percent of welfare 
recipients have basic skills below the minimum skill level of women in 
the lowest occupational levels. We cannot hope for these recipients to 
become self-sufficient without first teaching them some basic 
occupational skills. Organizing Your Job Search has given 50 women from 
Phoenix the tools to begin their job search, and should be a model for 
future welfare reform.

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