Working with Families in THP- Working with Families in THP- PlusPlus
Julie Jackson, Bill Wilson CenterJulie Jackson, Bill Wilson CenterAngela Martinez, Bill Wilson CenterAngela Martinez, Bill Wilson Center
Amber Goggia, St. Anne’sAmber Goggia, St. Anne’sPeggy Perry, Larkin Street Youth ServicesPeggy Perry, Larkin Street Youth Services
CalWORKsCalWORKsCalifornia Work Opportunity and Responsibility to KidsCalifornia Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids
Cash aid program for low income families Cash aid program for low income families Subsidized child careSubsidized child care Employment and training programsEmployment and training programs Transportation costsTransportation costs Substance abuse, mental health and domestic violence Substance abuse, mental health and domestic violence
counseling counseling Helps families move towards greater self-sufficiency Helps families move towards greater self-sufficiency
Basic CalWORKs RequirementsBasic CalWORKs Requirements Be a United States citizen or a lawful immigrant Be a United States citizen or a lawful immigrant Have a Social Security number or have applied for one Have a Social Security number or have applied for one Reside in California and intend to stay Reside in California and intend to stay Have children or are pregnantHave children or are pregnant If both parents are in the home, the principal wage earner is either unemployed If both parents are in the home, the principal wage earner is either unemployed
or working less than 100 hours per month at the time they apply for assistance or working less than 100 hours per month at the time they apply for assistance Have a net monthly income less than the maximum aid payment for family Have a net monthly income less than the maximum aid payment for family
size, and have less than $2000 in cash, bank accounts and other resources size, and have less than $2000 in cash, bank accounts and other resources Provide proof of regular school attendance for all school age children and Provide proof of regular school attendance for all school age children and
proof of immunizations for all children under the age of six proof of immunizations for all children under the age of six Perform 32 hours of work related activities per week for a single parent Perform 32 hours of work related activities per week for a single parent
household or 35 hours per week in a two-parent householdhousehold or 35 hours per week in a two-parent household Cooperate with child support requirements unless the participant is a victim of Cooperate with child support requirements unless the participant is a victim of
domestic violence, the participant or child(ren) may be in danger if Child domestic violence, the participant or child(ren) may be in danger if Child Support Services Department contacts the absent parent, or when rape or Support Services Department contacts the absent parent, or when rape or incest has occurred incest has occurred
CalWORKs Time LimitsCalWORKs Time Limits
Adults can generally only receive 60 months of cash aid for their Adults can generally only receive 60 months of cash aid for their whole life. whole life.
Some exceptions to the 60 month time limit are as follows:Some exceptions to the 60 month time limit are as follows:
Disabled and getting benefits such as Supplemental Security Disabled and getting benefits such as Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP), Workers Income/State Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP), Workers Compensation or State Disability Insurance (SDI)Compensation or State Disability Insurance (SDI)
A victim of domestic violence and the County determines good A victim of domestic violence and the County determines good cause exists to waive time limitscause exists to waive time limits
CalWORKs Child Care ProgramCalWORKs Child Care Program Helps families access immediate, affordable, and quality child Helps families access immediate, affordable, and quality child
care necessary for them to move off cash assistancecare necessary for them to move off cash assistance Must be a CalWORKs participant attending school, working, Must be a CalWORKs participant attending school, working,
or completing approved Welfare-to-Work activitiesor completing approved Welfare-to-Work activities Work with an eligibility worker to identify a child care Work with an eligibility worker to identify a child care
provider of the parent’s choiceprovider of the parent’s choice 3 different “stages” of CalWORKs child care: 3 different “stages” of CalWORKs child care:
– Stage 1 begins with a families entry into the Cal-WORKs program. Each Stage 1 begins with a families entry into the Cal-WORKs program. Each family may be served in Stage 1 for up to six months or until the family’s family may be served in Stage 1 for up to six months or until the family’s work activity and child care become stable. work activity and child care become stable.
– Stage 2 begins when the parent’s employment and child care arrangements Stage 2 begins when the parent’s employment and child care arrangements are stable. Families may remain in this stage for up to 24 months after they are stable. Families may remain in this stage for up to 24 months after they stop receiving CalWORKs cash assistance.stop receiving CalWORKs cash assistance.
– Stage 3 is available (based on funding) to former CalWORKs participants Stage 3 is available (based on funding) to former CalWORKs participants who have exceeded their 24-months of child care who have exceeded their 24-months of child care
Welfare-to-Work (WtW) ProgramWelfare-to-Work (WtW) Program
Job preparation workshopsJob preparation workshops Vocational assessment and training programsVocational assessment and training programs Mental health servicesMental health services Substance abuse treatmentSubstance abuse treatment Domestic violence counselingDomestic violence counseling Post-Employment services for up to 12 months Post-Employment services for up to 12 months Participation is mandatory unless:Participation is mandatory unless:
– Show proof of employmentShow proof of employment
– Custodial parent is 18 or 19 years of age and is a Cal-Learn participantCustodial parent is 18 or 19 years of age and is a Cal-Learn participant
– Single parent caring for a child under one year of ageSingle parent caring for a child under one year of age
– Participant is disabled or has a medical excuseParticipant is disabled or has a medical excuse
Cal-Learn ProgramCal-Learn Program
For CalWORKs participants under 19 years of age who are pregnant or For CalWORKs participants under 19 years of age who are pregnant or parenting, and have not yet completed their high school educationparenting, and have not yet completed their high school education
Required to enroll in high school or an equivalency programRequired to enroll in high school or an equivalency program Payments for child care, transportation and school expensesPayments for child care, transportation and school expenses Intensive Case Management to assist participants in obtaining health Intensive Case Management to assist participants in obtaining health
and social services such as Women, Infant and Children(WIC), Food Stamps and social services such as Women, Infant and Children(WIC), Food Stamps and Medi-Caland Medi-Cal
Bonuses of $100 up to four times a year for each report card showing an Bonuses of $100 up to four times a year for each report card showing an average grade of C or better, and sanctions of $100 for each report card with average grade of C or better, and sanctions of $100 for each report card with an average below a C or for failure to submit report cards without good causean average below a C or for failure to submit report cards without good cause
$500 bonus for receiving a high school diploma or its equivalent$500 bonus for receiving a high school diploma or its equivalent Participants who turn 19 years of age while in the Cal-Learn Program may Participants who turn 19 years of age while in the Cal-Learn Program may
volunteer to remain in the program until they receive their high school volunteer to remain in the program until they receive their high school diploma or equivalent, or turn age 20diploma or equivalent, or turn age 20
Barriers to Including the Other Barriers to Including the Other ParentParent
Varying levels of commitment Varying levels of commitment Level of engagementLevel of engagement Presence of domestic violencePresence of domestic violence Unhealthy relationship (no DV)Unhealthy relationship (no DV) Child abuse risk potentialChild abuse risk potential Programmatic limitationsProgrammatic limitations Non biological care giverNon biological care giver Desire to co-habitateDesire to co-habitate Limited program resourcesLimited program resources
Benefits to Including the Other Benefits to Including the Other ParentParent
• Supports bonding and attachment between parent and childSupports bonding and attachment between parent and child• Co-parenting can provide emotional, social and economic benefits for Co-parenting can provide emotional, social and economic benefits for
familyfamily• Fosters life long connections for the child as well as the THP + youthFosters life long connections for the child as well as the THP + youth• Promotes shared responsibility and parental engagementPromotes shared responsibility and parental engagement• Close contact with family unit can help to identify and prevent potential Close contact with family unit can help to identify and prevent potential
risks (i.e. child abuse, neglect, drug use, etc.)risks (i.e. child abuse, neglect, drug use, etc.)• Promotes youth development and self-determinationPromotes youth development and self-determination• Provides opportunity to link other parent to services they may be Provides opportunity to link other parent to services they may be
eligible for but are not receivingeligible for but are not receiving• Enriches group learning Enriches group learning
AssessmentAssessment
Begin at IntakeBegin at Intake Client driven Client driven Relationship stability and historyRelationship stability and history Biological vs. non biological parentBiological vs. non biological parent Current or past domestic violenceCurrent or past domestic violence Current or past child welfare involvementCurrent or past child welfare involvement Current living situationsCurrent living situations Substance abuse Substance abuse Stability and current needs of other parentStability and current needs of other parent
Engagement the Other ParentEngagement the Other Parent
Begin at intake if possibleBegin at intake if possible Explain program purpose and participation Explain program purpose and participation
expectations expectations Family meetingsFamily meetings Parenting group participation Parenting group participation Referral servicesReferral services
Co-habitationCo-habitation
Case by case Case by case Emphasis on budgeting and financial contribution Emphasis on budgeting and financial contribution
(rent, food, utilities, childcare, etc.)(rent, food, utilities, childcare, etc.) Parenting educationParenting education Relationship counselingRelationship counselingIf living together is not an immediate option: If living together is not an immediate option: Provide the opportunity to re-assess in the future Provide the opportunity to re-assess in the future
(6 months, 1 year)(6 months, 1 year) Provide resources, support and preparation for Provide resources, support and preparation for
future co-habitation (upon graduation or program future co-habitation (upon graduation or program exit)exit)