• Applicants:

English and Spanish-speaking applicants are referred by the Employment Specialist at the time of the Employment Needs Evaluation.  Applicants must attend and complete Orientation before their cases are approved.   After completing Job Skills Assessment, applicants are referred back to their Intake EWs to complete their application process. 
 
• Approved Participants:

Approved participants referred to Orientation include:
 
• Those whose employablity status changed to employable; and
• Non-English and Non-Spanish speaking applicants not assigned to Orientation during the Employment Needs Evaluation because of class availability.  These individuals are referred to GROW by mail. 
 
• Orientation sets the tone for each individual's participation in GROW. 
 
• It stresses the importance of setting and obtaining employment goals and the benefits of employment.
 
• It explains available work-related expenses and supportive services while participating in GROW.
  
  
• It explains JSPC , REP and EJS componenets and their requirements. 

 
• During Orientation, a literacy test, is given to all participants.  Literacy will also be evaluated when the individual goes to Vocational Assessment. Prior to the Job Skills Assessment interview, the test is reviewed and scored by the participant's Case Manager utilizing the GN 6143-2, Instructions and the GN 6143-3, Scoring Key.  The passing score is 12 correct answers. Depending upon the test results, the Case Manager will take one of the following actions:
   
  • For applicants/participants who pass the test, the Case Manager is to continue with the Job Skills Assessment interview.  After JSA is completed, the Case Manager will determine the next appropriate GROW activity. 
  • For applicants/participants who do not pass the test, the Case Manager is to determine if the reason for not passing is due to a vision problem. 
  
   
  • If it is determined that the applicant/participant has a possible vision problem, the Case Manager should encourage him/her to schedule an eye exam. 
  • For applicants/participants who do not appear to have a vision problem, the Case Manager is to determine the next appropriate GROW activity and to encourage enrollment in a literacy program. 

• If the applicant/participant expresses an interest in a literacy program, the Case Manager is to provide referrals.  Participation in a literacy program is voluntary and is in addition to the participant's 20-hour week participation requirement.  Because it is voluntary, participation in a literacy program is not tracked by the Case Manager.


• Participants who cannot attend their original Orientation appointment may reschedule it once by contacting the Orientation contractor. However, they must reschedule this appointment no later than on the date of their original appointment. Failure to do so, will result in the denial of their General Relief (GR) application (for new applicants), or the discontinuance of their benefits (for GR recipients).

 
• Once Orientation is completed, all applicants/participants meet with their Case Managers for a one-on-one interview or Job Skills Assessment during which:

• Applicants/participants are given an overview of the GROW program requirements, including:


• Applicants/participants are required to notify the Case Manager if they find employment or if there are any other changes in circumstances that may affect their assignment.
• Applicants/participants must inform their Case Manager of any changes that may prevent them from participating in any activity within three work days of signing the ABP 1463, Welfare-To-Work Plan Activity Assignment.
• Applicants will be offered enrollment in either EJS or REP which are voluntary components.  The Case Manager will explain the pre-requisites to participate in REP and ensure participants meet these before a referral is made.
• Participants interested in enrollment in REP who do not meet the pre-requisites, will be encouraged to enroll in EJS.
  
• Applicants, who decline participation in any of these voluntary components, are informed that they will be receiving an appointment letter by mail to return to GROW once their aid is approved. 
  Note:  Homeless applicants should be advised to frequently check their mail at the district.
  
• Participants who did not complete the Employment Needs Evaluation at intake will complete it during the Job Skills Assessment with the Case Manager.

• The Employment Needs Evaluation is an interview between the Employment Specialist during Intake, or the GROW Case Manager, and the participant to identify job readiness and employment barriers.
• With this information, the Case Manager can recommend appropriate services or programs that can remove or reduce the impact of employment barriers.
• The information from the Employment Needs Evaluation will help the participant focus on improving areas to increase employment opportunities.
• Participants who are noncustodial parents are informed about Welfare-to-Work training programs and asked to complete the ABP 191, Non-custodial Parent-to-Work Certification Form.
• The Case Manager should pay particular attention to the Noncustodial Parent (NCP) and Foster Care indicators on the EVA screen, making referrals to One-Stops for federally funded education/training as appropriate. Emancipated Foster Care Youth may also be identified from the Monthly Report available on the Supervisor screen.

Literacy

• Review and score participant's literacy test utilizing the GN 6143-2 and the GN 6143-3.

• Discuss results of literacy test with the participant and provide appropriate referrals as necessary.

Job Skills Assessment

• Interview participant/applicant, obtaining background, education, and work history. If necessary, update the Employment Needs Evaluation screens.

• Review Employment Needs Evaluation screens to determine if participant would benefit and/or is willing to volunteer to participate in free services or programs that would reduce or eliminate the impact of the identified barrier(s) to employment.

• The case manager will also:

• Request the Appraisal Appointment form, ABP 1465, from the applicant.
• Complete the 'County Use Only' section.
• Return the form to applicant, informing the applicant to return it to his/her EW.

• For Applicants:  May be assigned to EJS, REP, Working, Self Initiated Program (SIP), Mandatory Substance Abuse Recovery (MSARP), Domestic Violence Services,  Mental Health Services as appropriate.  Those individuals not enrolling in any of these activities will be notified that, once their case is approved, they will receive an appointment letter to return for referral to the next GROW activity.
  
  
Note:  Applicants may not always be assigned to a GROW activity; however, if they are, they should be advised that if their GR applications are denied, they are not eligible for further GROW activities.


• For Approved Participants:  Assign to the next appropriate GROW activity (e.g., SIP, JSPC, Fastrack).

• If the applicant is employed:
  
  
• The Case Manager will update Working Component (WRK) screen, request employment verification using the ABP 192, Verification of Employment Request and notify EW using ABP 296.  The applicant will be referred to EW for the completion of application process.
  
  
• If the approved participant is working:

• Full-time (32+ hours each week) or part-time (20-31 hours each week), update Working Component (WRK) screen, request employment verification using the ABP 192, Verification of Employment Request, schedule another appointment in 30 days (for participant to return employment verification), notify EW using the ABP 296, Notification of Change, and offer post-employment services if the person remains on aid. 
• or Part-time (less than 20 hours each week), update Working Component (WRK) screen, request employment verification via the ABP 192, notify EW with the ABP 296, and assign the participant to another concurrent activity.  The part-time employment plus any other activity (plus Supportive Services, if any) must equal 20 hours per week.  

• If the applicant or participant  is in an education/training program, evaluate as a  Self-Initiated Program (SIP).

• Explain and have the participant/applicant sign the ABP 1463.
 

• Authorize work-related expenses. 
 

• Complete ABP 821, GROW Case Manager Checklist. 

• The individual was praised for completing the activity, motivated to continue participating, and encouraged to become self-sufficient. 
  
  
• Applicants interested in participating in any of the voluntary components, were referred to EJS or REP as appropriate.
  
  
• If requested, referrals were made to literacy programs.
  
  
• The Employment Needs Evaluation was completed and/or reviewed.  If barriers to employment were identified, referrals were made to appropriate resources or programs.
  
  
• Noncustodial Parents and emancipated Foster Care youth shall have been identified and offered referrals to One-Stops for federally funded education/training.
   
• Job Skills Assessment screens were completed on the GROW system. 
   
• Any requested supportive services referrals were made.
  
  
• The participant/applicant and Case Manager signed the ABP 1463. 


• Noncustodial parents completed the ABP 191. 


• The ABP 1465 was initialed, dated and returned to applicant.
  
  
• Work-related expenses were authorized.