Title
Receive an oral report from the Department of Social Services (DSS) on the CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) Welfare-to-Work and Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act’s (WIOA) Adult and Dislocated Worker programs.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Receive an oral report from the Department of Social Services (DSS) on the CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) Welfare-to-Work and Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act’s (WIOA) Adult and Dislocated Worker programs.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Monterey County Department of Social Services has developed a holistic and integrated approach to meeting the needs of CalWORKs and WIOA program participants seeking employment and to increase their educational, vocational, and/or economic success.
CWES Program
The CWES Program provides a variety of support services to assist eligible CalWORKs recipients become self-sufficient and get off public assistance. During the past 10 years, the CWES program has adopted a holistic approach in meeting the needs of participants and their families that includes; housing assistance; mental health, domestic abuse, and substance abuse counseling; learning disability assessment and tutoring; legal barriers, and credit repair. Additionally, DSS has invested over nine million in contracts during the past year alone, and partnered with over 22 local non-profits, community colleges, and/or service providers to provide an integrated service delivery model to address economic, social, educational, and mental health barriers to employment.
WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs
The WIOA Program (formally Office of Employment Training) was transferred to the Department of Social Services from the Economic Development Department in October of 2017. This included the Youth, Adult, and Dislocated Programs. Effective July of 2018, the Youth program was awarded to Turning Point, and subsequently ResCare, leaving only the Adult and Dislocated Programs with DSS for the contract year 2018/2019. Since October 2017, DSS has made substantial progress in meeting contract mandates and serving the needs of dislocated workers, unemployed, and/or underemployed adult community.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
No other agency was involved in development of this report.
FINANCING:
There is no impact to the County General Fund from this report.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The oral report will provide information on two of Monterey County’s Department of Social Services programs that help address employment needs in a holistic manner for families on public assistance who are some of the County’s most vulnerable families.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
X Health & Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Diana Jimenez, Deputy Director, x3320
Approved by: Henry Espinosa, Acting Director, x4430
Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation
Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board