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)