WorkFirst


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A job, a better job, a better life.

WorkFirst is Washington State's welfare reform program that helps people in low-income families find jobs, keep their jobs, find better jobs, and become self-sufficient.

WorkFirst Goals

WorkFirst has three main goals:

  • Reduce poverty by helping people to get and keep jobs
  • Sustain independence by helping people keep and improve jobs
  • Protect children and other vulnerable residents by providing for childcare and stopgap funding for emergency situations

What sets WorkFirst apart from other reform initiatives is the commitment to go beyond simply mandating participants to find work.

WorkFirst enables participants to gain the skills necessary for higher wages, better jobs, and further advancement. As this goal is achieved, savings from reduced caseloads have been reinvested in targeted supports that help participants be more employable and move up the wage ladder.

For WorkFirst student information at each provider, please refer to the WorkFirst Coordinators-Student Information LIne listed below.

Workfirst Delivery Agreements (WFDA)

2013-2014

2012-2013

2011-2012

WorkFirst Tools

Additional Websites/Documents

e-JAS Access

In order to access e-JAS, college representatives must complete and submit the Notice of Non-DisclosureWord to Deb Knackstedt via email (PDF) or fax at 360-704-4418.

To reset e-JAS passwords, please contact Deb Knackstedt at 360-704-4337.

For e-JAS technical assistance, please contact the e-JAS helpdesk at 360-664-4560.

Program Reports

College staff may sign up for the SBCTC WorkFirst listserv to receive the latest program updates.

For more information about the WorkFirst program in general, contact Rick Krauss.

WorkFirst Coordinators

College Student WorkFirst Information Line WorkFirst Coodinator Phone Number
Bates Technical College (253) 680-7290 Mike Brandsetter
(253) 680-7290
Bellevue College (425) 564-4180 Darlene Molsen (425) 564-2033
Bellingham Technical College (360) 715-8366 Jennifer Lewis (360) 752-8461
Big Bend Community College (509) 793-2052 Heidi Summers (509) 793-2052
Centralia College (360) 736-9391 Ext. 694 Bev Gestrine (360) 736-9391
Clark College (360) 992-2321 Jennifer Knapp (360) 992-2780
Clover Park Technical College (253) 589-5895 Cristeen Crouchet (253) 589-5895
Columbia Basin College (509) 547-0511 Ext. 2719 Debra Wagar (509) 547-0511
Driver Training & Solutions, LLC -------- Jeff Benesch (509) 623-4016
Edmonds Community College (425) 640-1465 Jan Strand (425) 640-1008
Everett Community College (425) 388-9547 Lynda Wolf (425) 388-9551
Grays Harbor College (360) 538-4058 Colleen Overton (360) 538-4262
Green River Community College (253) 833-9111 Ext. 2211 Tamar Zere (253) 333-4943
Highline Community College (206) 878-3710 Ext. 3340 Deana Rader (206) 878-3710 Ext. 3004
Lake Wa Institute of Technology (425) 739-8339 Demetra Biros (425) 739-8315
Literacy Source -------- Isabel Childs (206) 782-2050
Lower Columbia (360) 442-2581 Darcy Smith (360) 442-2347
North Seattle Community College (206) 527-7655 Greg Alvarado (206) 934-3769
NW Indian College -------- Tania Vega (360) 392-4301
Olympic College (360) 475-7846 Jane Blackman (360) 475-7168
Olympic College-Bremerton/Poulsbo   Patricia Carlin (360) 475-7841
Peninsula College (360) 417-6351 Evelyn Short (360) 417-6381
Pierce College-Ft Steilacoom (253) 964-6265 Susan Cable (253) 964-6265
Renton Technical College (425) 235-7836 Maggi Sutthoff (425) 235-2352
Seattle Central Community College (206) 587-3854 Pam Aden (206) 934-3855
Seattle Vocational Institute (206) 587-4936 Rhashida Brown (206) 934-2948
Shoreline Community College (206) 546-6957 Fikru Diro (206) 546-6957
Skagit Valley College (360) 416-7855 Sinead Plagge (360) 416-7869
South Puget Sound Community College (360) 596-5401 Barbara Loney (360) 596-5401
Sound Vocational Institute -------- Roger Lander (253) 471-0900
South Seattle Community College (206) 764-5835 Keith Marler (206) 934-6666
Spokane Community College (509) 533-8210 Tracey Osso (509) 533-8675
Spokane District Office -------- Lora Senf (509) 279-6028
Spokane Falls Community College (509) 533-3521 LInda Kraus-Perez (509) 533-3521
Spokane IEL (509) 533-4634 Geri Swope (509) 279-6050
Tacoma Community College (253) 565-9610 Carroll Ferguson (253) 566-5131
Tacoma Community House -------- Dana Boales (253) 383-3951
Walla Walla Community College (509) 527-4230 Debra Erikson (509) 527-1865
Wenatchee Valley College (509) 682-6790 Erika Wickenhagen (509) 682-6964
Whatcom Community College (360) 650-5354 Barbara Leveque (360) 383-3183
Yakima Valley Community College (509) 574-4979 Stephanie Ketcham, Interim (509) 574-4607

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Page Manager: dknackstedt@sbctc.edu
Page Reviewed/Updated: May 08, 2013, 12:06 PM

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