The challenge of helping families become self-sufficient isn't about finding a job for individuals, but about helping them keep the job and permanently attached to the labor force.

Previous welare reform efforts found that 50 percent of individuals and 70 percent of long-term cash assistance recipients returned to cash assistance within one year. This endless cycle between work and welfare prevents families from becoming self-sufficient and drains the resources of employers through high turnover.

There are a number of Michigan examples in which employer-sponsored work supports have aided job retention by removing work and life barriers including Cascade Engineering, the SOURCE employer, Whirlpool Corporation and Donnelly Corp. At Cascade Engineering the job retention rate is 96 percent in contrast to the 50 percent rate achieved by the welfare program Work First. The success is directly attributable to the emphasis on post-employment supports and ongoing contact with individuals.