|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ANSWERS |
|
The purpose of Welfare to Work is to help you prepare for work and to find and keep an job. Finding a job
will help you become self-supporting, and your family will enjoy a better way of life. After you get a job, you will have more money for your family, serve as a role model for your children, increase your
self-confidence, and build a future. Most CalWORKs recipients are required to participate in Welfare to Work. We will decide if you must
participate when: There are many paths open to Welfare to Work participants. Your path may not involve every activity in
Welfare to Work. A lot depends on What are hours of participation? If you are an adult in a ONE-PARENT CalWORKs family, you will have to participate in your assigned Welfare to Work activity or
activities for We understand that you may need more than just training and job counseling to take part successfully in Welfare to Work. That
is why we will help you arrange and/or pay for child care, transportation, and work or training related expenses. If other funding sources are not available to pay for all your supportive services expenses, we
may pay for them. What is the 32 hour regulation? In WTW the participant must complete 32 hours of employment, training, education etc. or you may be in non-compliance. Are all the same services available in both North and South County? Not necessarily. Most services are, however you should check by calling the local phone numbers of either center. The Federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) provides the framework for a national workforce preparation and employment system. Title I of WIA authorizes and funds a number of employment and training programs in California. Workforce investment activities authorized by WIA are provided at the local level to individuals in need of those services including job seekers, dislocated workers, youth, incumbent workers, new entrants, to the workforce, veterans, persons with disabilities, and employers. The WIA's primary purpose is to provide workforce investment activities that increase the employment retention, and earnings of participants, and increase occupational skill attainment by participants. All adults, age 18 or older, are eligible to receive core services without eligibility or residency requirements. Additional intensive services are available to unemployed individuals who have been unable to obtain jobs through core services. Training services are also available for those who meet intensive service eligibility criteria. Since there is training to upgrade employees, we can not only address unemployed individuals. Do you have to be someone's client or be getting benefits to use the Resource Room? No. The Resource Room in the WRC is open to the public, anyone can use the room for Job search or related activities. There is no charge for any of the services or materials available in the Resource Room. The Resource Room is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The WRC is closed on legal holidays. Is the Resource Room where I come to get a job? The Resource Room provides the "resources" so YOU can locate job openings or job information. Our resources include:
Staff to assist you with your self-directed job search. What if I don't know how to use a computer? We have made every effort to make computer job search as easy as "point and click." Our web page has numerous "links" to popular job search sites and local employers. The Resource Room Staff is always happy to assist you. Can I come to the Resource Room to get a Resume? Again, the Resource Room is provided so that you have the necessary tools for a successful job search. Our staff does not write or produce a resume for you, that is something you need to complete on your own. We will be very happy to help you create a professional resume using the resources available. We will even provide the resume paper! Again, many of our resources are based on the "point and click" theory. However, most resumes do require typing or word processing skills of some kind. Unfortunately, we do not have staff available to type resumes for participants in the Resource Room. Can I use the phones to make outside calls? Yes, the phones are available for your use during normal business hours. Use of the telephone is restricted to conducting a job search only. What is the difference between the Resource Room and the CalJOBS Room? CalJOBS is part of the Employment Development Department (EDD). Their staff is available to assist you with EDD related issues and access to CalJOBS, the State of California's Job Search internet site. The Resource Room also has access to CalJOBS through the internet as another job search tool. Do I need to register for the Resource Room? Yes. There is a one-time registration form that you fill out on your first visit to the WRC. Once you are registered you can use all the services in the Resource Room. When you fill out the registration form, you have also "registered" for a noncredit course at Allan Hancock College called the Open Access Career Lab. This registration allows access to many AHC student services, including counseling and job placement. When you use the Resource Room, we ask that you simply sign in and out so that we can keep track of how many people are using our services. Can I register for other classes at Allan Hancock College (AHC) in the Resource Room?. No. The Resource Room is the WRC's link to AHC. As part of the partnership effort of the WRC, AHC provides access to many credit and noncredit classes located in the WRC building. However, you still need to register through the college like you would for any other class. Note: Some noncredit courses such as Adult Basic Education, GED Preparation, and Business Skills Lab, are designed as open entry/open exit (meaning you can start or end the course at anytime throughout a semester) and do allow registration in class with the instructor. Check the course schedule for instructions and registration dates. Do I have to go to Allan Hancock College to meet with a Counselor? Not necessarily. As part of the Resource Room's service, AHC Counselor's have scheduled hours that they are available in the Resource Room. Ask a staff member how to sign up. The Hot Sheet is a weekly schedule of AHC classes that are being held in the WRC. It lists both credit and noncredit classes that are beginning that week. Those courses that are listed on "Get Trained Fast" are short-term, quick paced credit classes that may be taken together as a series. Once the series is completed, you receive a certificate of completion. "Get Trained Fast" lists those courses that are available in classrooms located in the WRC. For more information on class schedules, please see a class schedule (available in the Resource Room or on the main campus). What other job training is available? The Resource Room offers a link to Allan Hancock College. There are many training programs available to you. If you are interested in classes at Allan Hancock College, we encourage you to talk directly with a Counselor to develop an Education Plan. If you are on CalWORKS or other assistance and benefits, we suggest that you discuss any educational plans with your case manager. The Resource Room can also provide information on other training centers and schools, please ask a staff member for more information or referral. Can I get a list of job openings for Santa Maria? Not specifically. For the most part, our job search resources are divided by region or county and not a specific city such as Santa Maria. For many of the internet sites you need to specify an area or zip code to narrow your search down. There is not a site for just "Santa Maria." We can help you narrow your search so you can move quickly through available job opening. The Resource Room does have local newspapers and a job board that provide more local opportunities. How often do you get new job listings? Most of the internet job search sites (CalJobs, America's Job Bank…) are constantly updating and new positions can be listed at anytime. What kind of jobs are on the Job Board? We provide the space for any employer wishing to post a job opportunity in the Resource Room. For the most part, many of these jobs are short term or temporary positions. However, larger local employers and EDD will post openings, application information, and upcoming recruiting or interview efforts. Can I access my email account using the computers in the Resource Room? Yes, we encourage job seekers to have an individual email account. Many employers ask that you email resumes and cover letters to them. You may sign up with any free email provider using the computers in the Resource Room. We do ask that you limit email to job search only. Can I bring my children into the Resource Room? The mission of the Resource Room is to provide a professional atmosphere for your individual job search efforts. Unfortunately, children can be distracting to all the participants using the room. In addition, children are not allowed to operate computers. Your childcare arrangements are very much appreciated. Is there childcare available in the WRC? No, there is no childcare available. Can I bring food or drinks into the Resource Room? No, please do not bring in food or beverages – it's not computer friendly! |
Welfare-to-Work
