FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: KANSAS SECRETARY RECEIVES NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF YEAR AWARD FOR ANTI-POVERTY LEADERSHIP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: KANSAS SECRETARY RECEIVES NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF YEAR AWARD FOR ANTI-POVERTY LEADERSHIP
AWARD HONORS LEADERSHIP IN PROMOTING PRO-INDEPENDENCE WELFARE REFROMS

Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Phyllis Gilmore was honored with the 2016 Executive of the Year Award from the Foundation for Government Accountability for her leadership in championing welfare reforms that promote self-reliance, discourage abuse, and combat long-term dependency in the Sunflower State.

Under Gilmore’s leadership, Kansas’ DCF has become a national leader in tracking the impact of welfare reforms on the state, but more importantly, their impact on the well-being and prosperity of welfare recipients. Her agency helped conduct the first and largest study of work requirements on food stamp beneficiaries, and demonstrated the massive gains in incomes the enrollees made once the requirement was enforced. She has since continued to support reforms that focus welfare program incentives on increased incomes for recipients, in an effort to lift even more Kansans out of poverty.

“Our social safety nets are designed to help those who truly can’t help themselves, and to catch those who stumble, but the goal should always be to help each individual achieve prosperity and independence,” said Tarren Bragdon, FGA CEO. “Gilmore has helped achieve this with a common-sense approach to welfare reform for Kansas.”

“Our welfare programs do the most good when they are helping people leave dependency and enjoy a better life, and the Kansas DCF is truly a leader in helping the people escape poverty.”

Kansas’ DCF has helped so many thanks to their focus on preparing people for success by helping them develop the skills necessary for independence.

“DCF is an agency of opportunity,” said Gilmore. “We are here to help individuals in need. And we do this by supplying individuals with the tools they need to not just get jobs, but develop their skills, attain higher education and make wages that enable them to care for their families without relying on the limited financial support offered by welfare.”

Gilmore is one of a handful of state executive leaders in the country being recognized by the FGA for their work in 2016 with the annual award.

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