Managing Workfare: The Case of the Work Experience Program in the New York City Parks Department

This report examines the implementation of welfare reform in the United States, specifically in New York City. In the future, many local governments will be faced with the challenge and opportunities presented by the presence of former welfare...

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By

Steven A. Cohen

Executive Director, Earth Institute, Columbia University Professor, Practice of Public Affairs, SIPA, Columbia University Director, Master of Public Administration Program in Environmental Science and Policy

Columbia University sc32@columbia.edu

This report examines the implementation of welfare reform in the United States, specifically in New York City. In the future, many local governments will be faced with the challenge and opportunities presented by the presence of former welfare recipients in the workforce. New York City has the largest local workfare population in the United States, and the New York City Parks Department manages one of the city's largest Work Experience Program (WEP) workforces. Innovation