Employment & Training

CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work

Welfare to Work Activities

  • Job Club

    Where you will learn about the current job market, discover what job skills you have, write a resume, and understand how to present yourself in an interview.

  • Supervised Job Search

    Where you will have the help of an experienced Employment Services staff to find the job that will start you on the way to your career. You will have access to job openings, job fairs, and referrals to employers who are hiring.

  • Work Experience

    This activity in a work setting will enable you to gain knowledge and experience to help you get a paying job.  

  • Community Service

    This activity in a work setting will enable you to gain knowledge and experience to help you get a paying job, while providing a service to others.  

  • On-the-Job Training (OJT)

    This activity is work in a job where your salary is paid by another agency.  

  • Work Study

    This activity is work in a college setting while you take college courses. 

  • Adult Basic Education

    This activity includes education that will help you improve your reading and math skills and get a GED or high school diploma. 

    If you are a pregnant or parenting teen, your primary activity will be to attend full-time school programs that will lead to either a high school diploma or its equivalent. Click here for more information. 

  • Vocational Education and Training

    This activity allows you to attend college or training classes designed to teach you a job that you can do for a private employer and/or move toward obtaining a degree/certificate. 

  • Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance

    This activity teaches you how to find work and gives you a chance to look for work with the help of Employment Services staff. 

  • Counseling Services

    This activity provides you with counseling to get through the difficult times in your life and help you get yourself on the road to finding work. These can be related to mental health, substance abuse or domestic violence. These services are free to you.

    Other services offered include but are not limited to:

    • Job Placement, where you will receive referrals to job openings
    • Job Development, where you will look for a job by working one-on-one with an experienced Job Developer
    • Employment Counseling, where our Employment Services Staff will help you choose reasonable and realistic job goals, based on your skills and abilities
    • Access to a One-Stop Business and Career Center to access their job services
    • Supportive Services, which are provided to you to help you participate in WTW activities or to accept employment opportunities, such as child care, transportation, etc.
    • Domestic Violence Services
  • CalWORKs Public Service Training Program (CPSTP)

    The CPSTP is a program funded through Alameda County's Social Services Agency, geared toward promoting self-sufficiency for mothers and fathers of Alameda County.

    • CPSTP is a paid, one-year transitional job program, which uses both classroom skill building and on-the-job training to prepare CalWORKs participants for careers in the public and private sectors.
    • Selected participants earn $21 an hour as a full-time (37.5 hours per week) temporary Social Services Agency employee for the duration of the 1-year program.
    • If you are interested in learning more about or applying to the program, click the link Here!
  • Career Pathways and Employment Training Centers

    Many of the above services are offered through the Career Pathways and Employment Training (CPET) centers located at these SSA offices. Service Providers at these locations provide ongoing career counseling and intensive supportive case management services.

    They also provide employment preparatory training workshops for participants who are seeking employment opportunities or who will participate in an unpaid or subsidized work experience program that allow CalWORKs participants to gain basic employment skills at a private or public work sites. SSA currently partners with Lao Family Community Development and Rubicon Programs to provide CPET services.

  • Limited English Proficient (LEP) Program

    CalWORKs clients who are monolingual or have limited English proficiency may participate in the Limited English Proficient (LEP) program. LEP services include orientation, job and career counseling, case management, job search and placement assistance.

    The LEP program also offers Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) classes, translation and interpretation services, citizenship application support, and other support for social integration. SSA currently partners with Lao Family Community Development and La Familia to provide LEP program services.

Services Offered

The Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program will open many doors for you to achieve your career goals. There are many pathways open to you as a WTW participant that can range from finding full-time employment to working towards getting a college degree. Our goal in WTW is to help you take the steps to reach your career goals by helping prepare you for work and ultimately finding a career best suited for you.

Orientation/Appraisal

When you start participating in Welfare-to-Work, you will go to an Orientation session where you will learn about the program and different employment and training opportunities. During this stage, our dedicated Employment Services staff will review with you; your work history, education, need for supportive services, and other information to help you decide what your next Welfare-to-Work activity will be to get you on the best path to help you reach your career goals.

The below are some, but not all, of the WTW activities that are available and geared towards helping you with your job search and job training goals:

Supportive Services

Did you know that Welfare-to-Work (WTW) participants are eligible to receive many supportive services? As a WTW participant, we want you to utilize all the services that are available to you to help you reach your career or educational goals. Your Employment Counselor (EC) will support you and provide necessary supportive services to help you participate in WTW activities and/or to find employment opportunities.  

You can find more information on some of the supportive services available to you below:

Frequently Asked Questions

Curing a Sanction

Have you been sanctioned for not meeting the Welfare-to-Work (WTW) participation requirements and want to get your CalWORKs cash aid restored?

If you are currently working, going to school or participating in a Welfare-to-Work (WTW) activity, you can end your sanction and possibly restore your full cash aid grant. If you are not currently participating in a WTW activity, we also have resources to help you resume participation in WTW so that you can take advantage of the many benefits designed to support your career and/or educational goals.

Additionally, you can also get help with barriers that may be preventing you from participating in WTW such as:

  • A Disability
  • Pregnancy
  • Caring for a child under 6 months old
  • Caretaker of an ill or incapacitated member of the household

If you are unable to work or unable to participate in a WTW activity, due to the above or other circumstance, you may qualify for an exemption from participation and end your sanction.

You can end your sanction at any time by contacting your Employment Counselor and agreeing to meet the Welfare-to-Work participation requirements or by providing proof that may qualify you for an exemption from participation as noted above.

If you do not know who your EC is, you can call one of the below:

  • North Oakland Self-Sufficiency Center (510) 891-0700
  • Eastmont Self-Sufficiency Center (510) 577-7067
  • South County (includes Eden Area Multi-Service Center, Fremont Office, Livermore Self Sufficiency Center)  (510) 670-6225
  • Enterprise Self-Sufficiency Center (510) 639-1090

You can also visit one of the Social Services Agency offices.

Reporting Attendance

As a Welfare-to-Work (WTW) participant, you will report your attendance to your Employment Counselor (EC). This allows you and your EC to ensure that you are staying on track with your goals and to discuss any barriers that may be affecting your participation and attendance in the program. 

An attendance sheet will be provided to you on a monthly basis to fill out and submit to your EC as verification of your participation in work, school and other approved WTW activities. If, at any point, you have a problem and find you will not be able to attend and complete the activities, you should call your EC and the place where you are attending your activity right away.

Family Stabilization Program

The Family Stabilization Program (FSP) provides intensive case management and additional services to help CalWORKs families overcome a crisis situation. FSP will help address a temporary crisis that prevents you from participating in Welfare-to-Work (WTW). FSP services can also be combined with WTW activities for families who face a crisis so the adult member can still participate in the WTW program.

Eligibility

CalWORKs recipients who are required to participate in WTW, have time remaining on their WTW 24-month time clock, and are facing a crisis that prevents full participation in the WTW program are eligible to enroll in FSP.

Situations that may cause instability in the family and could interfere with the adult's required participation in the WTW program include, but are not limited to:

  • Homelessness or at risk of eviction
  • A lack of safety due to domestic violence
  • Untreated or undertreated behavioral needs, including mental health needs

Adults and children in the family may receive FSP services, including those who are exempt from participation in WTW and those who are outside of the Assistance Unit as long as the services provided are directly related to the crisis that is preventing the adult from participating in the WTW program. FSP is a VOLUNTARY program and participation will not affect other benefits.

Services

Services offered under the Family Stabilization Program include:

  • Treatment for family members (intensive day treatment, non-medical outpatient treatment, and residential treatment)
  • Temporary and permanent housing assistance (security deposit and rental assistance, and referrals to housing programs)
  • Rehabilitation services
  • SSI Advocacy
  • Individual counseling due to lack of WTW participation

If you feel any of these situations apply to you and your family, please contact your Employment Counselor (EC).

If you do not know who your EC is, you can call one of the below:

  • North Oakland Self-Sufficiency Center (510) 891-0700
  • Eastmont Self-Sufficiency Center (510) 577-7067
  • South County (includes Eden Area Multi-Service Center, Fremont Office, Livermore Self Sufficiency Center) (510) 670-6225
  • Enterprise Self-Sufficiency Center (510) 639-1090

Agency Updates

JUN 15

COVID-19 Update

Effective July 1, 2021, the Alameda County Social Services Agency (ACSSA) CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program returned to full participation requirements. Employment Services staff continue to use statewide options to provide case management services both in-person and remotely. These services include, but are not limited to, connecting clients to online employment and training resources as well as various supportive services.

For more information on available remote options, click here.

What is Welfare-to-Work?

The Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program is the employment and training component of the CalWORKs program that will provide you with the tools to become self-reliant through employment. 

WTW services use the CalWORKs 2.0 approach with a focus on helping families set and achieve realistic goals that are meaningful to them and build confidence, motivation and the ability to develop essential skills. For more information on the CalWORKs 2.0 approach, visit the CalWORKs 2.0 website.

What are the benefits of participating?

As a WTW participant, you will receive one-on-one support to help you work towards your career and/or educational goals.  The program can help connect you to different job training and career planning opportunities. In addition, you will have access to several supportive services to assist you as you work toward your career goals.

Some of these services may help with:

  • transportation costs;
  • child care;
  • diaper costs;
  • mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence services;
  • ancillary expenses (ex. money for school books and supplies; clothing allowance for work, etc.);
  • tools for work; and
  • resume building and interviewing skills.

How do I participate?

After you are approved for CalWORKs, your next step is to attend a WTW Orientation session where you will learn about the program and different employment and training opportunities. You will also meet with a Career Development Specialist and your assigned Employment Counselor (EC). You will create a plan with your EC, who will help you to enroll in your WTW activity.

CalWORKs recipients are required to participate in the Welfare-to-Work Program to continue receiving CalWORKs benefits, unless they are exempt. If a CalWORKs recipient is exempt, they may still participate in the WTW program as an exempt volunteer.

To learn more about the WTW program, contact your Employment Counselor (EC). If you do not know who your EC is, you can call one of the following numbers:

  • North Oakland Self-Sufficiency Center (510) 891-0700
  • Eastmont Self-Sufficiency Center (510) 577-7076
  • South County (includes Eden Area Multi-Service Center, Fremont Office, Livermore Self Sufficiency Center) (510) 670-6225
  • Enterprise Self-Sufficiency Center (510) 639-1090

You can also stop by one of the Social Services Agency offices.