Spring greetings to everyone from the Director's office. Brace yourselves. The recent weather map shows a statewide thaw that heralds the coming of spring activity. Even Barrow was a balmy 12 degrees yesterday. This means, of course, increased activity at our offices, as folks migrating into Alaska seek program assistance and others step up their job search efforts in anticipation of summer employment. Spring and summer always present our greatest opportunity to help our fellow Alaskans find self-sufficiency and self-esteem though employment.
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Our OJT program and Jobstart programs offer employers an opportunity to help underemployed Alaskans. These programs enable employers to train low-skilled workers at little risk and cost to their enterprise. But these programs are only as good as our efforts to place clients in them.
Please help Work Services in their efforts to place clients in these very worthwhile programs. Remember that people rise to the expectations set for them. Have confidence in your clients abilities to rise to the occasion and offer them an opportunity to succeed. The world is full of the most surprising and wonderful success stories. Best wishes for a happy and productive springtime.
Anthony M. Lombardo
Director
Division of Public Assistance