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Program overlapMany of the respondents in our study
described experiences with other educational and social welfare programs
(some of which are also sponsored by the Cabinet for Workforce Development).
For example, several study participants had formerly participated in
Parent and Child Education (PACE) programs. Other
participants were currently receiving KTAP services and participating in
mandatory welfare-to-work placements. Still
others had regular contact with vocational training or rehabilitation programs.
Individuals receiving service from multiple programs are often frustrated
by the lack of communication between programs and what they see as bureaucratic
red-tape. This study provides
important information about how these services are perceived.
One issue that became clear through the stories our respondents told of
previous experience with education or workforce development programs was lack of
consistency and relevancy. Many of
our respondents spoke with frustration of their interactions with government
agencies and were indiscriminate about which agency was which.
Various welfare and workforce development programs were referred to in a
confusing array of alphabet soup. When
asked about the goals of a program or what they had learned, most of our
respondents were vague or said that they did not know.
Government programs were spoken of passively, “they told me to do this
or to do that,” with little to no sense of autonomy.
There is a need for more communication among programs so that social
service caseworkers and unemployment counselors are more knowledgeable about
adult education opportunities. It
is also important for adult education providers to play a larger advising role
to help individuals navigate the confusing world of government programs and
understand their rights and responsibilities.
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