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

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.

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

SUMMARY OF SERVICES Work Registration Up-Front Diversion and Relocation

Programs Assessment of Skills and Interests Job Placement Training Support Services Employment Retention

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DEFERRAL DUE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE/MENTAL HEALTH

You can receive substance abuse and, or mental health counseling or treatment

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

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.

CASH PENALTIESThird 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

FOOD STAMP PENALTIESFirst Non-Compliance – Food Stamps are cancelled for the entire household for one month or until compliance, whichever is laterSecond Non-Compliance – Food Stamps are cancelled for the entire household for 3 months or until compliance, whichever is laterThird Non-Compliance – Food Stamps are cancelled for the entire household for 6 months or until compliance, whichever is later

SUPPORT SERVICES

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

SUPPORT SERVICESChildcare

To arrange for childcare services please see your Career Advisor

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

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

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

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE Relocation assistance may be

available to assist with obtaining employment opportunities in other communities

GRIEVANCE / APPEALS A grievance package is available upon

request to your Career Advisor

GOOD LUCK!We look forward to celebrating your success!