Governor Patrick Morrisey announced on March 14 the creation of the WorkFIRST Taskforce, a new initiative designed to change how West Virginia delivers workforce and safety-net services while aiming to increase workforce participation across the state.
The initiative is intended to align job training, employment services, and assistance programs so that more residents can enter the workforce. Governor Morrisey said, “Government should be in the business of helping people succeed, not trapping them in dependency. WorkFIRST is about restoring a culture that values work and opportunity. By aligning job training, employment services, and assistance programs, we can help more West Virginians enter the workforce.”
WorkFIRST will focus on making government services prioritize pathways to employment. The taskforce will look at ways to combine employment, training, and social service programs into a more integrated system. This approach positions services such as SNAP, Unemployment Insurance, and WIC as short-term support rather than long-term solutions for individuals seeking self-sufficiency.
Christine Davies has been named leader of the WorkFIRST Taskforce. Davies serves as Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Workforce Participation at the West Virginia Department of Commerce and brings 25 years of experience from roles at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, U.S. Department of State, and Microsoft.
Delegate Tristan Leavitt of District 53 will represent the House of Delegates on the taskforce. Leavitt is an attorney with experience in federal oversight and whistleblower protections who also leads Empower Oversight. Senator Mark Maynard of District 6 will serve as Senate representative; he has chaired several Senate committees since joining in 2015.
The formation of this taskforce marks a step toward integrating state resources to encourage employment over dependency on government aid.
