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American Morning

Welfare-to-Work Program in Denver Receives High Marks

Aired June 20, 2001 - 09:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The move to get more people off of welfare and into the work force is getting some high marks at a Denver facility.

Here's CNN's Gina London with that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The knife is always touching your knuckle with each cut.

GINA LONDON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A lot of welfare- to-work programs teach a skill, but the classroom at Denver's Work Options for Women is also a real-live restaurant.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There aren't, that I know of, a lot of programs just for women -- training them in food service skills. I can't think of any, and we looked around the country at other programs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You get to work with it and actually doing the cooking and things that you need to get done, and that's - I think that's the best way to learning is hands on.

LONDON: The city recently partnered with the nonprofit group to lease it the cafeteria at the Department of Human Services. During the 16-week program, the women serve more than 300 people a day, including many of their own caseworkers.

TONI SCHMID, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WORK OPTIONS FOR WOMEN: We're working with women that have never really worked. And so to put them in training in a real work environment, to me, that puts them one step ahead when they graduate from the program.

LONDON (on camera): Nationwide, welfare-to-work programs focus on achieving long-term employment. Some cite 50 percent success rates from its graduates as a real victory. But this program boasts 90 percent of its women go on to hold a long-term job.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've learned so many things, got my self- esteem up. You'll just know that you can do it. I mean they give you so much power that you can do it.

LONDON (voice-over): The director for Work Options for Women adds, calls are coming in from around the country -- other groups interested in copying their recipe for success.

In Denver, I'm Gina London reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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