Families across Colorado are receiving assistance toward increased self-sufficiency through the Colorado Works Program-- Colorado's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Our department, in partnership with 64 counties and hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout the state, stands firmly behind our mission to support all Colorado families in their efforts to become stable, strong, safe and self-sufficient.

In Colorado, the Employment First Program goals are to (1) get people to work and (2) reduce individuals' dependence on public assistance. Progress toward these goals is measured by the number of job placements, number of individuals successfully completing an education component, and the number of sanctions imposed for failure to comply.

The purpose of this study is to examine Colorado employers' experiences with welfare recipients they have hired for low-skill, entry-level jobs.