EMPLOYMENT NEEDS EVALUATION

This is the first activity in GROW.  It is an interview conducted at intake to capture participant information that will identify job readiness and barriers to employment.  Participants are asked questions regarding their housing arrangements, education levels, language proficiencies, work experiences, etc.  Participants who complete this activity are automatically scheduled to a GROW Orientation/Job Skills Assessment appointment.  Information collected from this activity is later reviewed by the GROW Case Manager for making referrals to appropriate services/programs.
 
ORIENTATION/JOB SKILLS ASSESSMENT

Orientation  is a half-day session which introduces participants to GROW and its services.  Upon completion of orientation, participants will meet with their Case Manager to discuss the next activity.  For employable applicants, attendance is mandatory before aid is approved. 

SELF-INITIATED PROGRAMS (SIP)

Participants enrolled in education/training programs prior to orientation/job skills assessment are considered self-initiated. Once the self-initiated program is completed, participants attend job skills preparation class, vocational assessment and education/training/intensive case management/work experience until they obtain employment or for their remaining time on aid. Approval of self-initiated programs are conditional on:

• The participant does not already have a bachelor's degree, certificate, employable skills, or a vocational license; and  
• the program is consistent with the employment goal; and  
• attendance must be a minimum of 20 hours per week; and  
• the program must be likely to lead to employment in a growth occupation; and  
• the program must be completed within the participant's remaining time on aid.  

FASTRAK

Fastrak is a four week class for participants returning to GROW and those age 50 and above.  Fastrak activities consist of workshops addressing job readiness, criminal history, referrals to free community resources, interview and preparation for available government employment opportunities, advanced training in soft skills, targeted job search with referrals to employers and employment counseling. 

JOB SKILLS PREPARATION CLASS

The three-week Job Skills Preparation Class consists of a one-week workshop and two weeks of directed job search activities. 

In Job Skills Preparation Class, the participants learn job-seeking techniques, such as resume/application completion, mock interviews, etc. They also develop job leads, schedule interviews, network and use phone banks set up for calling prospective employers, expand job search and employer contacts, and receive continued support and connection with the program once employed. 

These activities are designed to motivate them, build self-esteem and self-confidence, improve self-image and develop workplace skills. 

OFFICE OCCUPATIONS

The 12-week class is intended to prepare participants with little or no applicable experience in office occupations.  Participation is voluntary.  Office Occupations provides fundamental clerical skills and hands-on office training in filing, typing, 10-key machine, telephone techniques and office computer software. The course  utilizes the latest business word processing and spreadsheet programs most often used by employers.  After completing Office Occupations, participants will be prepared to meet the minimum requirements of many entry-level clerical and related positions. Participants who do not find employment are referred to Vocational Assessment.

VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT

Individuals who remain unemployed after Job Skills Preparation Class will be assigned to professional vocational assessors who will evaluate what they need to obtain jobs. The result of assessment is an agreed upon employment plan and 20 hours per week of activities needed to achieve the employment goal. These activities will be selected from education/training, intensive case management or work experience.  If needed, they may also include, as part of the 20 hours per week, participation in supportive services programs.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Participants who have been determined to need additional education or training to realize their employment goal will be assigned to the school/program that meets their needs. Upon completion, participants may be assigned to work experience or job search until they obtain employment or for their remaining time on aid. 

INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT (ICM)

Participants who, at vocational assessment, are determined to be job-ready will be assigned to this activity.  ICM provides directed job search activities and intensive case management assistance in finding employment.  The purpose is to provide a supportive relationship between the participant and GROW Case Manager that results in the participant's employment. Participants in ICM may also be assigned to JSPC, One-Stop, Non-Custodial Parent or Youth component as a concurrent activity, as appropriate.

POST-EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

Once employment of 20+ hours per week is obtained, job retention and other services are available to individuals who will remain on aid.  General Relief (GR) participants will be told of the availability and given the option to volunteer. 

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

GR applicants are currently screened for substance abuse problems as part of the application process. If warranted, they are referred for treatment. Additional supportive services screening for mental health/domestic violence will take place at orientation/job skills assessment and during vocational assessment. Case Managers will also make referrals at any time a participant expresses the need for such assistance.

WORK RELATED EXPENSES

Transportation, books, supplies, uniforms and other items necessary for employment/education will be provided, as needed. 

NONCOMPLIANCE

Individuals' participation will be tracked throughout the program. Those who fail to comply with any required activity, without good cause, will be discontinued and sanctions will be imposed which could result in progressive periods of ineligibility. 

The first time this happens, the participant can reapply immediately; however, a "0" sanction is imposed, assuming he/she cooperates with the program's requirements. On the second occurrence, the case will again be discontinued, but this time a 30-day period of ineligibility will be imposed. Subsequent occurrences will also result in termination, followed by a 60-day period of ineligibility.

NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT

The Non-Custodial Parent (NCP) component is designed to assist participants find employment and to help them meet their child support obligations. First-time participants must first complete Vocational Assessment before they can be assigned to the NCP component. Participants who are returning to GROW after being time-limited off can be referred after completion of JSPC or Fastrak.

ONE-STOP

For this activity, participants are referred to a One-Stop Center that will offer the following activities: short-term training programs, employment resources, job referrals and job retention services. The One-Stop component is available to first-time participants who have completed Vocational Assessment and have been assigned to Intensive Case Management (ICM) as a post-assessment activity. Participants who are returning to GROW after being time-limited off can be referred after completing JSPC or Fastrak.

YOUTH COMPONENT

The Youth component is designed to provide services for participants who are between the ages of 18-21 and will assist in preparing them to successfully enter the working world by offering a variety of employment, educational and vocational training programs that are geared to their age group. Services for this component are provided by the specifically designated Workforce Investment Act (WIA) One-Stop Career Centers throughout Los Angeles County. This component is available to first-time participants after they complete Vocational Assessment, of if they are returning participants, after JSPC or Fastrak.


EXPUNGEMENT PROCEDURES

The expungement component is designed to assist participants who have criminal records get them expunged (dismissed), which in turn increases their opportunity to find employment. This is an optional component for GR participants who might be interested in expunging their criminal records and it is not counted towards their 20 hours participation requirement.

HOMELESS COURT

The Homeless Court program is a supportive service designed to assist qualifying individuals to clear tickets and warrants for minor offenses such as jaywalking, illegal us of shopping carts, traffic tickets, and any warrants arising from failure to resolve these offenses. This is an optional service to those GROW participants interested in this program, and it is not counted towards their 20 hours participation requirement.