MERS/Goodwill Awarded Half of Missouri Work Assistance Program Contracts

Online, September 27, 2010 (Newswire.com) - MERS/Goodwill was awarded a $5.7 million Family Support Division (FSD) grant on Tuesday, greatly increasing the organization's capacity to now assist more than 26-percent of the state's needy families through the Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) program, formerly known as the Career Assistance Program.

"Our top priority has always been to help those in need get back on their feet and find employment," said Lewis Chartock, President and CEO of MERS/Goodwill. "With this grant from the FSD, we will be able to extend our services throughout Eastern and Southern Missouri and more than triple our impact on families with career counseling, skills training and many other programs."

The new FSD grant will allow MERS/Goodwill to serve 54 counties in Missouri, including Jefferson, Franklin, and St. Charles, as well as the Southeast, South Central and Northeast regions. It is estimated that the services funded by the new grant will aid more than 7,000 Missourians. Previously MERS/Goodwill served eight counties through this program.

MWA services funded by FSD offer recipients of Temporary Assistance career counseling, skills training, employment services and education and literacy programs. Follow-up support is also provided once individuals are employed. The grant will run through June 30, 2012, with the potential to be renewed.

About MERS/Goodwill
MERS/Goodwill is a non-profit agency that provides for the vocational needs of individuals who have barriers to employment through disability or economic disadvantage. Annually serving more than 13,000 people, the organization operates 38 service centers in 53 counties in the bi-state area. Revenues from 40 Goodwill stores and the auto donation program assist with funding MERS/Goodwill job training and employment services. MERS/Goodwill is a proud member of the United Way. For more information about MERS/Goodwill or to find a Goodwill donation center near you, call 314-241-3464 or visit www.mersgoodwill.org.

About Missouri Work Assistance programs
The Missouri Work Assistance Program is funded through the Family Support Division, a division of the Department of Social Services. The program provides assistance to needy families with children so they can be cared for in their own home and reduces dependency by promoting job preparation, work and marriage. Major provisions include cash assistance and case management. Funds may also be used to prevent non-marital pregnancies and encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. Both children and adults are eligible for assistance.