BRINGING THE DIGNITY OF WORK TO EVERY ABLE AND WILLING INDIVIDUAL
WORK
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COMING OUT OF PRISON, KEVIN WAS LOOKING FOR MORE THAN A JOB
With roadblocks at every crossroad, Kevin was simply looking for someone to give him a chance. His story is an inspirational reminder of how important work is to our self-worth.
PROGRAMS
BETTER WORK
Bringing local non-profits and businesses together to provide work for our communities.
BENEFITS CLIFFS
A website for identifying unintended consequences of policy that traps people in dependencies.
ALLIANCE FOR OPPORTUNITY
A multi-state coalition designed to create policy that empowers low-income citizens to move above government dependency and find true opportunity.
POLICY
BENEFITS OF WORK
Numerous studies outline the positive personal and societal impacts of work.
IMPACT OF NONWORK
Studies show the impact nonwork has on individuals and communities outside.
HIRING EX-OFFENDERS
How and why businesses can institute second chance programs in their community.
ADDITIONAL POLICY
INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY
Exploring ways to break the cycle of poverty passed from generation-to-generation.
CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE
The opportunity for abuse and the lack of accountability is resulting in a system of corruption.
POLICY HANDBOOK
A handbook on the public policies that will lead to a thriving Georgia.
YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS
Offering opportunities that will jump start opportunity for youth in our communities.
SAFETY NET REFORMS
Addressing safety net policies so that we meet needs while removing obstacles that trap people without helping people.
STATE PANDEMIC RESPONSE
State-by-state data on the jobless impact of state responses to the pandemic.
Cooperation Needed to Solve Welfare Cliff Problem
Confirmed: Welfare Cliffs Pervasive in 8 Southeast States
A review of the welfare cliffs that exist in the southeast of the United States and how legislatures can identify where cliffs exist in their state.
YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP IN GEORGIA
Dr. Lerman’s most recent report, focuses on Georgia’s Youth Apprenticeship program, created in the mid 1990s with fewer than 400 student participants. Today, the program has grown to more than 3,000 students in nearly 350 schools across the state.
SYSTEMIC WELFARE IN GEORGIA (PART 1): THE CASE FOR REFORM
Part 1 of 3 in a report on systemic welfare. This report demonstrates how the current system does not meet these assumptions and points to the need for reform.
SYSTEMIC WELFARE IN GEORGIA (PART 2): PRINCIPLES AND FRAMEWORK FOR REFORM
Part 2 of 3 in a report on systemic welfare. In this report we explore the new system as we imagine it could be, give guiding principles, provide a general framework for how the reformed system can function, and establish preliminary steps needed to implement the vision.
SYSTEMIC WELFARE IN GEORGIA (PART 3): HOW A NEW SYSTEM WOULD WORK
Part 3 of 3 in a report on systemic welfare. In the final report we present a structure Georgia’s governor and executive agencies could adopt to effectively and in relatively short order implement a reformed system.
A better way to get welfare recipients back into the labor force
If the One Big Beautiful Bill becomes law, states will quickly discover that their administrative systems are ill-equipped to move recipients from welfare to work. To succeed, states should adopt a more integrated approach.
What Georgia can learn from other states about fixing welfare
Like most states, Georgia’s welfare system is a maze of complex rules and disconnected programs that trap people in a cycle of frustration and dependence. A few states are beginning to rethink how welfare operates and are making changes that could also work in Georgia.
It’s time to eliminate marriage penalties in the U.S. tax code
An important step to eliminate marriage penalties is to take those programs away from the IRS and give them to an agency that knows how to run safety-net programs.
OUR PARTNERS





OUR WORK STAFF

Eric Cochling
Chief Program Officer

Kristin Barker
VP of Workforce Solutions

Luisa Beeco
BETTER WORK Gwinnett Program Manager

Amber Gorman
BETTER WORK Columbus Program Manager

Carolina Pachon
BETTER WORK Gwinnett Program Specialist

Erik Randolph
Director Of Research

Kelsey Underwood
VP of Strategy and Product