DPSS GROW Judith Lillard, Acting Chief General Relief & Food Stamp Division Bureau of Program and Policy

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 2 GENERAL RELIEF OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORK (GROW)  DPSS implemented the General Relief Opportunities for Work (GROW) Program in February 1999 to assist employable General Relief participants achieve self- sufficiency.  As of May 2009, GROW participants make up approximately 38% of the total General Relief population.  GROW is mandatory for all employable GR participants.  GROW participants have time-limited eligibility for GR, nine months in any 12- month period.  GROW satisfies Food Stamp work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD).  GROW ’s average placement rate from January through December 2008 was 31%, with an average of 1,150 participants placed in jobs each month. During the period of January through May 2009, the average placement rate was 20% with an average of approximately 1,000 placements per month.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 3  Orientation  Job Skills Preparation Class  Fastrak  Rapid Employment and Promotion  Self-Initiated Program  Education and Training  Short-Term Training  Literacy  Day Reporting Center  Intensive Case Management  One-Stop/WorkSource (Adult and Youth)  Supportive Services  Ancillary Expenses GROW ACTIVITIES/COMPONENTS

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 4 GROW COMPONENTS ORIENTATION First activity Provides an overview of the program. Explains GROW components, supportive services, time limits, benefits of employment.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 5 GROW COMPONENTS JOB SKILLS PREPARATION CLASS Three-week activity. First week provides workshops for job-readiness preparation including: resumé preparation, completion of job applications, “dress for success,” interviewing techniques, and others. Second and third week provide guided job searching activities to apply learned skills.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 6 GROW COMPONENTS FASTRAK Four-week customized Job Club for participants with more challenging barriers to employment: Chronically homeless Age 50+ Returning participants (who have completed the program in the past)

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 7 GROW COMPONENTS RAPID EMPLOYMENT AND PROMOTION Offers immediate assistance to GR employable applicants who are “job-ready” and willing to embark in job searching activities while the GR case is still pending. Must have: California Driver License or ID EDD Registration SSN

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 8 GROW COMPONENTS SELF-INITIATED PROGRAM Participants must be enrolled in a Self-Initiated Program prior to attending Orientation. The program must meet certain criteria: Able to complete within time limits Area of demand occupation 20 hours per week, or concurrent with other activity Must not have Bachelor’s degree or other vocational license/certificate Consistent with employment goal

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 9 GROW COMPONENTS EDUCATION/TRAINING GROW offers an extensive inventory of classes to choose from. Course must be completed within time limits. May need guidance from Vocational Assessor.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 10 GROW COMPONENTS SHORT-TERM TRAINING Courses that can be completed within sixty days. Some customized short-term training, including: Office Occupations Security Officer

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 11 GROW COMPONENTS LITERACY A literacy screening test is conducted during Orientation. Participants who cannot pass a literacy test may opt to enroll in literacy classes as their first GROW activity before they participate in other components.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 12 GROW COMPONENTS DAY REPORTING CENTER This component is managed by the Probation Department. GROW has created this component to enroll participants required to participate by court-order. This component offers job services along with other supportive services to assist probationers reintegrate into society and reach financial independence.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 13 GROW COMPONENTS INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT Participants who have already attended all other components, and those who are waiting for the start date of their assignment, are enrolled in Intensive Case Management. Individuals participate in job searching activities under the guidance of a GROW Job Developer.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 14 GROW COMPONENTS ONE STOP/WORKSOURCE GROW participants are referred to various WorkSource Centers throughout the County for enrollment in education/training courses and job opportunities. Currently, federal stimulus funding provides subsidized employment for the youth and adult individuals through referrals to the WorkSource Centers.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 15 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES Domestic Violence is offered through contracts with various agencies that provide services throughout the County. Mental Health is offered through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Mental Health (DMH). DMH provides clinical assessment for all GROW sites except Lancaster and treatment services countywide.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 16 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES Supportive Services in Lancaster GROW offers supportive services to the Lancaster population through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Public Health (DPH). These services consist of mental health clinical assessments and Domestic Violence services.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 17 ANCILLARY EXPENSES Transportation is provided as needed to comply with all GROW activities. Other expenses include: Tools Clothing/Shoes Uniforms Guard Card Haircuts/Showers Tattoo Removal Book/Supply/Fees

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 18 OTHER INFORMATION There has been an increase in the General Relief population from an average of 68,000 last year, to the present caseload of approximately 80,000. Employable participants account for 38% of this group (30,500), of whom 27% (over 8,000) are youth between the ages of

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 19 OTHER INFORMATION The GROW Program has been successful in placing an average of 25% of the GROW participants into employment, which translates into over 10,000 placements each year. During this economic recession the placement rates have decreased to 20%. However, the actual number of placements continues to be an average of 1,000 per month.

"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caring Service" 20 OTHER INFORMATION GROW proudly celebrates 10 years of successful services with over 100,000 placements of GR employable participants. Through effective and caring services, thousands of GR participants have been able to reach financial independence through the GROW Program.