| MADISON – The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy today announced it has joined the Alliance for Opportunity (A4O), a growing multi-state coalition of policy organizations working to transform the safety net so that more Americans can escape poverty and achieve lasting independence through work. “Administrative redundancy slows the process of connecting Wisconsinites with assistance and, ultimately, helping them become self-sufficient,” said Annette Olson, Chief Executive Officer of the MacIver Institute. “Sharing experiences, resources and knowledge as part of A4O’s coalition will enable MacIver to help people flourish by improving services and processes designed to connect them to work.” MacIver’s decision to join builds directly on the Institute’s recent research documenting the fragmentation of Wisconsin’s welfare and workforce systems. Programs that should form a coherent pathway from assistance to employment are currently administered across multiple state agencies, county consortia, and private contractors. That complexity creates administrative barriers that delay help and make it harder for people to move toward self-sufficiency. The Alliance for Opportunity focuses on three core areas: safety net reform that keeps vulnerable people on track, workforce reforms that protect the right to earn a living, and criminal justice reforms that address poverty. A central policy priority is advancing “One Door” models that integrate assistance and employment services so that individuals encounter a single, work-focused entry point rather than a maze of separate programs. By joining the coalition, MacIver will share Wisconsin’s experience and learn from successful reforms in other states while continuing to advance practical, state-driven solutions that reward work, strengthen families, and expand opportunity. |
| The MacIver Institute is a leading Wisconsin-based think tank that promotes free markets, individual freedom and responsible government. Keep up with MacIver’s commentary and research at MacIverInstitute.com. To schedule an interview with a member of the MacIver staff, email info@maciverinstitute.com. |
