This study described and compared 12 current national work and training programs under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and the 1962 Amendments to the Social Security Act; investigated whether operation of the two public welfare systems reflected the intent of national policy and client needs; and identified operational problems encountered in the public welfare programs. Data were collected with an interview guide for use with administrators, social workers, and employment counselors, and by questionnaires directed to public welfare clients and work and training administrators in ten states. It was found that work as a social instrument has potential for economic rehabilitation of public welfare clients. Most programs had not fulfilled this potential because of problems related primarily to limited administrative know-how at the local level, community attitudes, confusion among policy makers regarding the nature of the social problem giving rise to the programs, and relationships between employment and poverty in contemporary society. Various short-term recommendations were made for modifying administrative alignments and national policies. (author/ly)