Welfare-to-Work employment programs continue to face evolving challenges; However, they now have extraordinary opportunities to serve clients to achieve employment and focus on cultivating opportunities to live the highest quality of life and flourish in his or her community. This weeklong boot camp provides any employment services staff with knowledge, skills, tools, best practices, and resources to advance their professional development. This bootcamp will provide tools to the participants to successfully serve families and cultivate partnerships with other agencies, programs, and stakeholders in achieving greater outcomes.
All areas of training will be based on most current State ACL’s, ACIN’s, and MPP’s. the Philosophy of CW 2.0 will also be demonstrated throughout the life cycle of case management
The boot camp is comprised of the following sessions:
Day 1: Introduction to the Welfare to Work (WTW) Program
Day 2: Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Initial Appraisal Experience
Day 3: Activities, Supportive Services, and Case Management Strategies
Day 4: Non-Compliance: Technical Processing and Re-engagement
Day 5: Collaboration at Its Finest
Day 1: Introduction to the Welfare to Work (WTW) Program
Participants will learn how the program became what it is today, along with common acronyms and terminology, and get a feel of the WTW participant experience. The major learning goal for Day One is to build a foundation for the remaining days.
Topics include:
- History of WTW
- WTW Program Flow Overview
- WTW Exemptions and Requirements
- Service Referrals: Learning Needs, Behavioral Health,Substances Use Disorder, or Family Violence
- Brief Appraisal Overview and Requirements
Day 2: Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Initial Appraisal Experience
This workshop will empower the participants to build professional relationships with the people they serve by developing the “speed of trust” and begin mastering the soft skills needed to provide a safe environment; Allowing the client to openly speak of his or her needs to thrive and provide economic and emotional sufficiency for their self and families. As a result of this training, WTW staff will become better equipped to “appraise clients for needs, barriers, strengths and the capacity to work” and reach the desired outcome in which the Online CalWORKs Appraisal Tool was intended for; Building on the principles CalWORKs was founded and leading the clients to understand effective engagement is a necessary first step. Additionally, it will also support the rebranding of the WTW program as a safe and meaningful program for them.
Topics include:
- Building trust during the initial contact
- Establishing engagement goals through strength focused techniques
- Best practices for interviewing
- Working from a trauma informed perspective and creating a space for psychological safety
- Identifying and removing artificial barriers
- Assessing and defining Job Readiness
Day 3: Activities, Supportive Services, and Case Management Strategies
Participants will learn the difference between core and non-core activities and how to personalize the activities based on the participants needs. The major learning goal for day three in the morning is to learn how to create meaningful WTW plans. The afternoon will focus on identifying supportive service needs and being proactive instead of reactive with case management.
Topics include:
- Core and Non-Core Activities
- State and Federal Hourly Requirements
- Assessments
- Co-Development of Meaningful WTW plans
- Purposeful strategies through the use of SMART goals
- SB 1232 – Publicly Funded Education vs Traditional SIP
- Supportive Services: Transportation, Childcare, Diapers, and other work and/or education based supportive services
Day 4: Non-Compliance: Technical Processing and Re-engagement
Participants will learn what services are available to help move them to meaningful employment, and the process to follow if the participants do not complete requirements, from beginning to end. We will also review what is available in county optional post-aid services.
Topics include:
- Participant retention and re-engagement in the WTW program
- The Non-Compliance Process
- Cause Determinations
- Compliance Plans vs Plan to Cure Sanction
- Curing a sanction with reachable goals
Day 5: Collaboration at Its Finest
Participants will review the week’s main points through two fun and competitive activities, as well as sharing best practices with workers from other counties. Each participant will partner with their supervisor or lead to identify the history and culture of collaboration amongst protentional organizations in their workplace. The participants will identify the referral process used in their office to connect the customers/clients with the support needed to be successful and attain their immediate needs and future goals. At the end of the training a one-page desk aid will be created by each team/participant with the resources they have gathered to use in their role.
Topics include:
- Collaboration in your community: Is the collective impact approach right for your community?
- Developing partnerships with community, stakeholders, and other agencies
- Creating a new referral process and follow-up care
- Understanding the labor market
- Addressing and overcoming roadblocks to participation
- Sharing best practices and developing a forum –
- Wrap-Up Questions and Putting it All Together