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The People's Guide 2013-2014 10 CalWORKs welfare-to-work plan based on what your treatment provider recommends. You have the right to refuse any mental health treatment, but if you do, you can't use mental health problems as a reason to not work or not participate in GAIN or REP. Substance Abuse Services: You can ask for help with substance abuse treatment at anytime by calling your eligibility worker or GAIN worker. If you find it difficult to obtain or keep a job because of problems with alcohol or drugs, the DPSS worker can refer you to a substance abuse clinical assessment. You may recieve help through residential or day treatment: individual, group or family counseling; rehabilitation services: and health care information and referrals. You can continue getting these services as part of your Welfare-to-Work requirements while receiving cash aid. You can go to a substance abuse treatment program as the welfare to work activity. You have the right to refuse any substance abuse treatment program as the welfare- to-work activity; however, If you do not go to a treatment program, you cannot use substance abuse as a reason to not work or not participate in GAIN or REP. Up to $1500 for Housing Relocation: If you are working or have a job offer for 20 hours or more a week you can apply for Housing Relocation assistance to move closer to your job, your child care, or your transportation. If you travel one hour or more each way to get to or from work, or to drop off or pick-up your child(ren) at childcare, or buses are not running when your shift starts or ends, and moving closer to work/childcare would make it easier for you to keep your job or accept a job offer, you may be eligible for the HRP. This benefit is available only once in a lifetime. You must show that you either have a com- mute of one hour or more each way to work or to child-care or a combination of the two; or that there is no public transporta- tion available at the time your work shift starts and ends. You must also show that you have located a place to live. Your new rent must be less than 60% of your Total Monthly Household Income. You can also get up to $405 for a refrigerator or stove if you need one because of the move, so the total can be $1,905. GAIN AND REP ACTIVITIES 1. Appraisal Soon after you apply for CalWORKs, you will receive an appointment letter to go to an Appraisal appointment. This will most likely take one hour. You will meet with your GAIN or REP worker in a one-on-one meeting where you will talk to your worker about your work and educational history and what kind of services you need to get back to work. If you have problems due to mental health, substance abuse, or domes- tic violence, tell your worker at this time so that you can get services immediately. Tell your worker if you are already enrolled in an education or training program. It might qualify as what they call a Self-Initiated Program. This will let you do the education and training as your welfare-to-work activity instead of going through Job Club and the rest of the GAIN process. 2. Job Club & Search The first day of Job Club is called Orienta- tion, during this day you will learn about the rules and regulations of the GAIN Program and you will receive motivation to find employment. The first four weeks of GAIN are spent in Job Club and Job Search. You don't have to do job search if: 1. It would interfere with a full time job or approved training you already have, or 2. You are in the Cal-LEARN program Doing a job search would not help you (example-you need basic English or literacy training first) You need other help with domestic violence, mental health, or substance abuse. 3. Assessment When unsubsidized employment is not found within the first three weeks of Job Club you will attend Vocational Assessment at mid-week of the fourth week. A Vocational Assessment will help identify your interests and strengths; it will determine your math and reading levels and determine if you have any barriers to finding and/or keeping employment. This information will help the Vocational Assessor develop a personalized Employment Plan. Your personalized Employment Plan will identify the training, subsidized employ- ment, on-the-job training, and other welfare-to-work activities needed to reach your employment goal. Stand Alone Assessment: Stand Alone Assessment is for participants who, dur- ing their appraisal interview or after Job Club are: • employed full or part time: or • are in a Self Initiated Program (SIP) • in need of a clinical assessment: or • Post Employment Career Assessment for participants who find a full-time job of 32/35 hours or more per week and request Post-Employment Services. 4. Your Welfare to Work Plan and Activities After the assessment you will meet with your Worker, to sign a "welfare to work" plan in which you agree to go to welfare to work activities. The plan must be based on the assessment of your needs and skills. Your plan can include: • Counseling • education and training at adult schools or community colleges, • ESL classes, • or other work activities that will help you reach your employment goal. All WtW participants are required to sign a Welfare-to-Work Plan, including those who are employed full-time after January 1, 2013. 5. Make Job Training Part of Your Welfare to Work Plan You have the option to request that your Employment Plan includes any job skills training offered by DPSS or other private or public agencies such as: the Transitional Subsidized Employment program offered by DPSS. In addition, DPSS, the commu- nity colleges, and adult schools may offer special job training programs for people with limited English-speaking skills.