OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Oklahoma Human Services is focusing on helping low-income families across the state become self-sufficient through their statewide expansion of Work Ready Oklahoma.
Human Services awarded contracts for the Work Ready Oklahoma (WRO) expansion following a statewide solicitation process.
The effort, which will be solely devoted to making low-income families more self-sufficient, strategically expands Human Services’ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families work program, according to a state-issued news release.
The contracts are renewable for up to five years, underscoring Human Services’ commitment to equipping Oklahomans with the tools that will help them achieve family stability and gain employment opportunities that provide 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 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.”
WRO began operating in the Oklahoma City metro area seven years ago. The program expanded into rural areas in 2022, installing centers in McIntosh, Muskogee and Pittsburg counties.
The rural offices placed 164 individuals into jobs, 60 percent in remote positions, from January to October 2022. It has the potential to add $6 million in annual wages to local areas and give financial security to struggling families.
“It’s encouraging to witness the statewide adoption of this vital initiative, guiding individuals towards greater self-sufficiency,” said 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.”
The expansion enables Oklahoma Human Services to open Work Ready Employment Centers across the state this year, including the following locations:
- Ada
- Altus
- Ardmore
- Durant
- El Reno
- Enid
- Idabel
- Lawton
- Okmulgee
- Ponca City
- Poteau
- Shawnee
- Tahlequah
- Tulsa
- Weatherford
- Wilburton
- Woodward
Each center will strive to serve at least 150 community members each year by helping them grow their ready-for-work skills so they can enter the workforce and obtain a solid job.
Families that use a government-funded safety-net service will receive priority.
“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 offer the following to meet the needs of low-income individuals and give them access to quality jobs:
- Tailored workshops
- Job preparation services
- Co-working spaces
- Ongoing coaching
- Employment opportunities
Staff will be trained in evidence-based programming 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.”
WRO is Human Services approach to social welfare, tackling poverty’s root causes through more than temporary financial aid. It provides program participants with job readiness skills for further training through CareerTech and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act partners, which enhances career prospects.
“Work Ready Oklahoma is a pathway to a brighter future, transforming lives through employment and family stability,” Smith said.
The program also refers participants to family strengthening services.
