Arkansas Division of Workforce Services to Restructure Arkansas Workforce Centers

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 25, 2023 –  The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (ADWS) is restructuring ADWS Workforce Centers across the state to increase program flexibility and reach more Arkansans.

The restructuring includes the transfer of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program of ADWS to the Department of Human Services (DHS), as required by law from the 2023 legislative session. This will result in the relocation of underutilized offices in Arkadelphia, Batesville, Benton, Blytheville, Camden, Helena, Magnolia, Mountain Home, and Rogers.

ADWS services will continue to be offered through mobile centers with the flexibility to reach citizens across the state. As part of this effort, ADWS has created a job seeker database, enabling the division to contact unemployed Arkansans directly, improving the delivery and efficiency of services. The ADWS employees affected will receive offers for new employment from DHS at their current salary.

“The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services has worked hard to align our services with the needs of  Arkansans,” said Secretary Hugh McDonald. “The Arkansas Department of Commerce is fully committed to providing services and resources throughout the state to meet the needs of all Arkansans.”

“Our primary goal is to continue to deliver services to Arkansans,” said Dr. Charisse Childers, Director of the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. “The restructure of our service delivery model will allow us to better utilize our federal funding in the most efficient way possible. We are following the national trend of reducing brick and mortar locations to more efficiently deliver services through enhanced technology and the use of our eight mobile workforce centers.”

“We are excited to welcome these talented staff members from the Division of Workforce Services to our team at the Department of Human Services as we take on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam. “These employees bring a wealth of experience and a true commitment to serving Arkansans, and I look forward to seeing them support our operations and help further our important mission.”

ADWS Workforce Centers provide workforce readiness training, job search, academic enrichment, and work experience to job seekers linking them to employers through a statewide delivery system.

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Click here to view the Mobile Workforce Centers schedule.

About the Division of Workforce Services:

The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce, provides programs and services that are specialized for meeting the needs of job seekers, employers, and the public. These programs and services are administered and delivered by Workforce Services, Arkansas Adult Education, Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind, and Arkansas Rehabilitation Services – all partners in providing workforce services across the state.

About the Arkansas Department of Commerce:

The Arkansas Department of Commerce is the umbrella department for workforce and economic development drivers. Its divisions and regulatory boards include Division of Aeronautics, Waterways Commission, Wine Producers Council, Division of Workforce Services, Office of Skills Development, State Bank Department, Insurance Department, Securities Department, Economic Development Commission and Development Finance Authority.