Welcome!

1. Welcome! • Welcome to the South Florida Workforce (SFW) Welfare Transition Program. This is the first step on your journey to economic self-sufficiency.

2. PARTNERS IN YOUR JOURNEY • Together, we are partners on this journey. • The SFW Welfare Transition Program will provide you with specific training, support and transitional services that are geared to enhance your opportunities to become gainfully employed.

3. WELFARE TRANSITION PROGRAM PURPOSE The Welfare Transition Program: a) assists families who are currently on welfare to transition into employment and economic self-sufficiency; b) helps prevent at-risk families from going on welfare; c) assists former welfare recipients who have recently entered the workforce retain their jobs and upgrade their skills and d) emphasizes work, self-sufficiency and personal responsibility

4. SUMMARY OF SERVICES • Work Registration • Up-Front Diversion and Relocation Programs • Assessment of Skills and Interests • Job Placement • Training • Support Services • Employment Retention

5. WHY AM I HERE? • In order to continue receiving your monthly Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefits, you are required to participate in a countable work activity for a minimum of 35 hours per week • There are very few exemptions to the work requirements, such as those with medical limitations, and victims of domestic violence

6. WHAT HELP CAN I EXPECT FROM MY CAREER CENTER? You can expect to be assisted by a courteous Career Advisor who will: • Conduct a one-on-one assessment of your individual goals, needs and barriers; • Assist you with the development of a resume; • Provide you with job readiness and job placement services; • Provide support services, based on program participation in assigned work activities

7. WHAT CAN I EXPECT? (CONT’D) • Provide Information on: • Up-Front Diversion; • Cash Severance; • Relocation Assistance; • Mental Health and Substance Abuse counseling/services; • Domestic Violence counseling/services

8. WHAT AM I REQUIRED TO DO? • Participate in, and document all assigned weekly activities for required number of hours; • Submit documentation of hours completed on a weekly basis to career center; • Attend scheduled appointments; • Inform your Career Advisor of changes in your participation, employment, family circumstances (including change of address, telephone number), child care needs, transportation problems, health problems; etc.

9. WHAT AM I REQUIRED TO DO? (CONT’D) • Respond to all contacts from your career advisor or other agencies you are referred to; • Apply for and seek employment; • Accept any reasonable offer of suitable employment; • Remain employed and • Report reasons for failure to participate immediately to your Career Advisor

10. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY PLAN • The IRP is an agreement between you and your Career Advisor and it is used for gathering information which will document your employment and education goals, needs, barriers, and experiences. It also outlines your steps toward economic self-sufficiency

11. WORK ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS • Each adult participant who receives Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) must participate in countable work activities for a minimum of 35 hours per week

12. SCHOOL-TO-WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR TEEN PARENTS • A teen parent, age 19 or younger, who is pregnant or already a parent, has to maintain satisfactory attendance at a secondary school or its equivalent or an approved alternative training program AND/OR participate in an educational activity directly related to employment

13. WHAT ARE THE WORK ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS? • Job Search/Job Readiness • Unsubsidized Employment • Subsidized Public Employment • Subsidized Private Employment • On-the-Job Training (OJT) • Community Service • Vocational Education or Training • Work Experience • Providing Child Care • Education Directly Related to Employment • Jobs Skills Training • Satisfactory Attendance at a Secondary School/GED

14. MAY I BE DEFERREDFROM PARTICIPATING? • If you have a situation that limits your ability to participate in a work activity, an alternative plan may be developed to include your therapy as required by your treatment provider

15. DEFERRAL DUE TOA MEDICAL CONDITION • If you have a pending SSI, SSDA, or SSDI application, you may be eligible for deferral from the required participation if you provide evidence of a pending claim and medical documentation to the Career Advisor

16. DEFERRAL DUE TODOMESTIC VIOLENCE • During Orientation, you will receive a Domestic Violence Package which includes the following: • Information on your legal rights • Domestic Violence Hotline Number

17. DEFERRAL DUE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE/MENTAL HEALTH • You can receive substance abuse and, or mental health counseling or treatment

18. SANCTIONS • If you receive cash assistance and are required to participate in a work activity, you will be penalized if you fail to participate in the assigned work activity • If you have a good reason for not participating, immediately inform your Career Advisor

19. CASH PENALTIES • First Non-Compliance – Temporary cash assistance is terminated for the family for a minimum of ten (10) days, or until the individual who failed to comply does so, whichever is later. • Second Non-Compliance – Temporary cash assistance is terminated for the family for one (1) month or until the individual who failed to comply does so, whichever is later. The non-compliant individual must comply with the required work activity upon completion of the (1) month period before cash can be reinstated.

20. CASH PENALTIES Third Non-Compliance – Temporary cash assistance is terminated for the family for three (3) months or until the individual who failed to comply does so, whichever is later. The individual shall be required to comply with the required work activity upon completion of the 3-month penalty period, before reinstatement of TCA

21. FOOD STAMP PENALTIES First Non-Compliance – Food Stamps are cancelled for the entire household for one month or until compliance, whichever is later Second Non-Compliance – Food Stamps are cancelled for the entire household for 3 months or until compliance, whichever is later Third Non-Compliance – Food Stamps are cancelled for the entire household for 6 months or until compliance, whichever is later

22. SUPPORT SERVICES • In order to be eligible for Support Services, it is required that you are actively participating in a work activity

23. SUPPORT SERVICES Childcare • To arrange for childcare services please see your Career Advisor

24. TRANSITIONAL BENEFITS • Childcare and transportation assistance may be available to customers no longer receiving Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) due to employment • Customers exiting the system via a sanction are not eligible for transitional benefits

25. INCENTIVE BONUS • Customers who exit the program due to employment may be eligible for an incentive bonus • Customers exiting the system via a sanction are not eligible for the bonus

26. UP-FRONT DIVERSION • Customers who apply for Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) may choose to receive a one time only Up-Front Diversion payment of up to $1,000 to assist with immediate needs; such as: • a shelter or utility payment, • car repair to continue employment or • other services, to alleviate the emergency and allow the person to focus on obtaining or continuing employment

27. RELOCATION ASSISTANCE • Relocation assistance may be available to assist with obtaining employment opportunities in other communities

28. GRIEVANCE / APPEALS • A grievance package is available upon request to your Career Advisor

29. GOOD LUCK! We look forward to celebrating your success!