A FAREWELL TO WELFARE : THE SUMMIT.

Byline: Deborah Adamson Daily News Staff Writer

When Chanda Peters got a job after two years of depending on welfare, she was so happy she cried.

The 38-year-old New York native, who now lives in Inglewood, was offered a receptionist's position at a Los Angeles nonprofit business group in 1995. After three months, the company promoted her to program associate.

``I'm in a better situation now to take care of my children,'' she says today. ``I can splurge on them on their birthdays and give them allowances.''

Peters represents the hope of the San Fernando Valley Welfare-to-Work Summit to be held Thursday at Cal State Northridge.

The invitation-only meeting will bring together government representatives, business and community leaders to discuss the impact and implementation of a mandate by Congress last year for people on welfare to find employment.

Los Angeles County has 240,000 welfare recipients, of which 60,000 have to be employed or participating in a job training program by the end of 1997, according to County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who is sponsoring the event.

But while Southern California's economy has been looking brighter in recent years, it still might have trouble absorbing the extra work force, said Jack Kyser, chief economist at the Economic Development Corp. in Los Angeles.

``We still haven't recovered all the jobs we lost in the restructuring,'' he said. ``There will be problems especially if we grow more slowly next year.''

He expects the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, slowing growth for the rest of the year and 1998. Kyser estimates 72,000 new jobs in the county next year, down from 90,000 in 1997.

Employing a welfare recipient also brings other concerns.

Many have little or no work history, lack a high school diploma and need access to child care and transportation services. While large businesses can easily absorb some welfare workers, small- and midsize companies often can't afford to hire someone who can't hit the ground running, Kyser said.

These are some of the issues facing Linda Clayton, human resources director for Lamps Plus in Chatsworth. She's particularly concerned about welfare recipients finding child-care services and getting a ride to work.

Many businesses are confused about how welfare reform will be implemented and hope the summit can answer their questions, said Gary Thomas, president of the United Chambers of Commerce, a coalition of 24 chambers in the San Fernando Valley.

However, ``people are willing to participate,'' he added.

Consider Bobrick in North Hollywood, a maker of washroom products. Lester Hicks, human resources director, said the firm believes in helping people get out of ``unproductive situations.'' It is willing to hire former welfare recipients as job openings come up.

``You just need to give them a chance,'' he said.

Peters' helping hand came in the form of a letter from the Los Angeles County GAIN job training program in 1992.

It offered to pay for child care, tuition and books. For the next two years, she took classes.The program took care of her main reason for getting on welfare in 1987 - the single mother couldn't afford child care.

``If I didn't jump on that, I would have been lazy,'' Peters said.

In 1994, she went to work for a temporary agency, which eventually placed her with her current employer. She worked hard at her job and was never tardy.

It paid off when the company noticed her dedication and hired her.

After working as a receptionist for three months, she was promoted to program associate, the assistant of the head of the nonprofit group.

Now that she's making more money than the $900 in cash and food stamps a month she received from welfare, Peters is saving up to buy a car.

``I was never satisfied with that (staying on welfare),'' she said. ``I didn't like it at all. People think you just want to be on it and have babies. Not everybody on welfare wants to be on it.''

WHAT: San Fernando Valley Welfare-to-Work Summit.

WHERE: Cal State Northridge.

WHEN: Thursday.

WHO: Community and business leaders, by invitation only.

PANELS:

Overview on the economy, welfare reform and impact on the San Fernando Valley.

Overview of Los Angeles County's welfare-to-work and work programs, presentation from employers who participate in the GAIN job training program and from former public assistance recipients.

Ideas, thoughts and perspectives on welfare reform, welfare-to-work.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: (Color) Chanda Peters of Inglewood is a former welfare recipient who took advantage of a county welfare-to-work program.

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News

Box: (Color) THE SUMMIT (See text)