The Department of Workforce Services and its employees received two award recognitions this week for their accomplishments in serving families and addressing poverty. More...

As part of the Department of Workforce Services’ comprehensive efforts to reduce the number of Utah families in intergenerational poverty (IGP), the Eligibility Services Division (ESD) has become a frontrunner in effectively engaging with and supporting these individuals and their families.

For a majority of Utah’s IGP population, contact with ESD is the only direct interaction they have with Workforce Services. ESD leadership recognized the unique opportunity their division has to become actively involved in serving these households. A work group was formed to identify what could be done to increase the division’s effectiveness in serving IGP customers. A significant outcome of this work group was the establishment of Community Resource Liaisons within ESD’s various teams. More...

The Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission released the revised Utah’s Plan for a Stronger Future: Five- and 10-Year Plan to Address Intergenerational Poverty. The plan details a set of recommendations and opportunities for communities to address focus areas of child well-being in early childhood development, education, family economic stability and health. 

“Utah is committed to addressing the complex issue of intergenerational poverty with our strategic five- and 10-year plan,” Utah Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox and chair of the Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission said. “To be successful in our efforts, we urge leaders and organizations to consider the recommendations laid out in the plan and work together on solutions that could lift families out of the cycle of poverty.” More...