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INTRODUCTION

Wisconsin, historically an innovator in social reform, has just undergone unprecedented change in its philosophy and practice of social service delivery. A huge package of new laws and policies--collectively called "Wisconsin Works" or "W-2"--has radically altered the welfare landscape. The creation of a state "Department of Workforce Development" to replace the welfare office dramatically underscores the new approach. Work is key, and self-sufficiency the goal.

To find out how it is working Wisconsin Public Television spent a year documenting the impact of W-2 on former welfare recipients, case workers, and administrators. The result is "What Welfare Reform Did For Me..." a one-hour television documentary.

This Web site is a complement to that broadcast. Here, you can read profiles and interviews with people featured in the program; study America's history of social welfare; measure your knowledge of poverty with a quiz and spend a simulated month on W-2. There are also many links and other resources where you can learn more.