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PROFILE OF THE WORKING POOR IN DUPAGE COUNTY
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, Policy Recommendations from A Profile of the Working Poor in DuPage County- February 2003 (*)
This document is a companion to the earlier Profile of the Working Poor in DuPage County (May, 2002). Together, these publications are intended to provide objective information and expert advice about the resources, needs and gaps affecting the estimated 50,000 working poor households in DuPage County.
These recommendations are the product of an extensive interactive process of research, writing, consultation with experts, revision and review by the Federation Board. Although they reflect our recommendations at the present time, we expect they will undergo further development as new ideas and information emerge. The Profile included information on topics, such as transportation and employment that are not addressed here because these areas are covered by other organizations. Future updates to this document will be posted on the Federation’s website. We encourage readers to check for updates, particularly as time passes from the publication date of this document. We invite comments and suggestions that may help improve future editions.
We believe that the solution to most of the issues of the working poor will necessarily involve a ‘mosaic approach’, with a menu of available options from which an appropriate selection can be made. There is almost never a ‘one size fits all’ solution to any of these issues. Rather, an assortment of strategies should be considered and implemented in order to provide a continuum of supports for the working poor.
In researching the Profile of the Working Poor, we found much about the current system of services that is positive. Often, the right array of services is in place; the system simply needs more capacity. In other cases, new structures are needed to adequately serve the need. In most cases, the unmet need is so great that there is almost no wrong answer. An array of well-designed programs with increased capacity is needed.
A further report is available at: www.dupagefederation.org
Reference: Policy Recommendations from A Profile of the Working Poor in DuPage County- February 2003, DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform, 146 W. Roosevelt Road, Villa Park, IL 60181 -- (630) 782-4782
