Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) Program fy 2009 Service Profiles Region X alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington October 2010 fta-08-0162 Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) fy 2009 Service Profiles: Region X

Portland Community College (502)

JobLink (443)

Location: Portland (OR)
Type: Information-Based Services/One-stop center/referral
Goal: Improved customer knowledge
Service description: Job Link provides retention and support services designed to resolve emergency transportation issues experienced by newly employed, low-income workers. Job Link is designed to solve immediate, short-term transportation needs while also helping workers access a variety of support services that facilitate continued secure employment. Job Link is available to all enrolled Workforce Network clients, including TANF (welfare-to-work clients), Adult One-Stop, Dislocated Workers, and Adult Food Stamp clients.
Evaluation: Every client at Workforce Network who enters employment receives a Job Link information letter and membership card explaining Job Link Services (509 letters sent in FY 2009). Part of our evaluation of the effectiveness of Job Link is the number of clients in their follow up/check in call who express positive feelings for this service and confirm potential use of Job Link Services. For this program year, we made confirmed contact with 106 clients in a follow-up calls from the letter. Out of the 106 contacts, 83% confirmed they would use Job Link within the first 90-days of employment.
Accomplishments: For program year 08-09, there was an 81% increase in usage of Job Link from last year, FY 07-08. Participants are genuinely relieved and excited to have Job Link available to them. It makes them feel much more secure as they start their jobs. In addition to transportation service and information, we also started to offer other community resources such as clothing, rent assistance, and food support.
Lessons learned: We revised some language in our Job Link letter on how to activate Job Link. The result is more clients are directly using Job Link without an initial call to WorkSource prior to use.

Ride Connection (499)

U-Ride (441)