DPSS ePolicy

Conversion of existing policy and/or form(s).

The Los Angeles County Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) Program in collaboration with Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) designed Focus 360 to promote career development by focusing on improving personal skills alongside developing professional skills that both necessary in a work environment. This approach recognizes that participants may have personal barriers that may hinder their employment success. Therefore, it is important to focus on removing these barriers which will improve their opportunities to secure and maintain employment.

Focus 360 is a four-week employment preparation program that assist participants with job preparation, job search, training programs, life skills and financial literacy workshops with the goal of securing and maintaining employment. This activity provides a seamless transition between Orientation and Focus 360, which is followed by a Vocational Assessment in the fourth week for those who have not attained employment. Homeless participants may participate in Focus 360 to reap all the benefits offered by taking the job readiness program but are not required to do so. 

Participants who need to attend the Focus 360 activity, but not Orientation, are assigned to Focus 360 to start on the second day (Tuesday) of the first week.

Track A/Track B

During Orientation, the Focus 360 facilitator will determine who will participate in Track A (“Advanced Prep” participants) for job ready participants and Track B for new participants. The Focus 360 facilitator will assess and identify participants who will be referred to Track A, by providing them an Advanced Preparation Referral form. Participants who are not selected will be identified as Track B participants.

Track A serves participants who are identified as “Advanced Prep” and can begin supervised Job Search activities in the Computer Lab. Some indicators that a participant is ready for Advanced Preparation are:

1. Has documents required for employment;
2. Has Eligibility Verification (I-9) form;
3. Dresses appropriately for Job Search;
4. Has a professional resume;
5. Demonstrates an urgency to obtain employment;
6. Communicates well and has work experience;
7. Able to complete online applications; and
8. Able to email and upload resumes.

Week 1

Track A

Participants will begin supervised Job Search activities during the first week in the Computer Lab.  During week one, the participants complete an individualized employment plan before starting their job search. Participants who completed Focus 360 and are attending the activity again may be referred to Track A participation if they meet the requirements and if they receive a referral from the Focus 360 facilitator.

Track B

Participants will follow the regular Focus 360 flow, which includes: interview techniques, dress for success, goal-setting, online application practice, resume completion, online data storage, money management skills, and soft skills leading to job retention and promotion. Participants will practice mock interviews, as well as work independently to practice and update computer skills.

Week 2 to 4

Track A

Participants engage in “Hot Jobs” Job Placement session(s) daily and one-on-one meetings with the facilitator to receive individualized Job Search support and guidance. Participants complete online applications and submit resumes electronically.

Participants meet in the classroom Computer Lab to create an individualized plan and focus on improving re-employment skills (e.g., customizing resume, practicing interviewing skills, as well as updating computer skills). Participants have daily one-on-one meetings with the facilitator to identify and maximize job readiness and potential job leads. Job Search documentation is monitored and reviewed daily.

Track B

During the second through fourth week of Focus 360, job search is focused on classroom activities combined with job search activities. The activities during these weeks are designed to teach GAIN/REP participants various job-finding skills to enable them to find work through their own efforts and enhance their chances of finding employment. On Friday of the third week, the facilitator provides a list of participants who have not found employment to DPSS staff co-located at a LACOE site. If participants have not found full-time employment by the fourth week, they are to attend VOC. The fourth week concentrates on finding full-time employment and on identifying an educational/training activity to be combined with part-time employment if full-time employment is not found.

Co-located GAIN Services Workers (GSWs)/Contracted Case Managers (CCMs) contact participants who do not attend their Focus 360 activity to help resolve problems and encourage their participation. Co-located GSWs/CCMs are part of a multidisciplinary team composed of Focus 360 facilitators, Vocational Assessors and Job Developers who are out-stationed at LACOE sites to work in partnership. The multidisciplinary team meets to discuss and review each participant’s case in order to begin developing a personalized employment plan prior to VOC. As a team, they also assist with identifying local employment opportunities and educational/training programs for participants.

The GN 6129 - Job Club Activity Assignment, is a contract that is completed by the participant in lieu of the WTW 2, Welfare-To-Work Plan Activity Assignment. However, participants who begin attending Orientation/Focus 360 must complete a WtW Plan within 90 days of CalWORKs case approval, per State requirements.

Participants must complete the fourth week of Focus 360 to successfully complete the class. 

GAIN is Los Angeles County’s WtW Program. Focus 360 is GAIN’s job readiness program.

Focus 360 Services

A GAIN activity which is four weeks in length for English, Spanish, and Non-English (NE) or Non-Spanish (NS) speaking participants. Focus 360 is an employment preparation program with job search strategies as the basic core of their curriculum with the addition of life skills workshops to address obstacles participants might encounter when trying to attain and hold onto employment. Focus 360 is offered either in-person or hybrid sessions:

In-Person Focus 360- Participants are required to attend the activity in-person for the whole four-week session.

Hybrid Focus 360- Participants are required to attend three days in-person and two days virtually per week.

Note: Orientation is the first day of Focus 360 and starts at 9:00 a.m. Focus 360 services starts on the second day at 8:30 a.m. and will continue with the 8:30 a.m. start time until the end of the activity.

Orientation

Orientation is the first day of Focus 360. Orientation is an all-day activity that starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m. It provides an overview of the GAIN Program and offers motivational training.

Job Placement

Employment secured and reported by the participant who completed the Focus 360 activity.  

Job Readiness and Work Preparation Segment

A program designed to provide enhanced WtW activities/services to Los Angeles County GAIN/REP participants.  The program consists of two major components:  1) A one-day Orientation classroom activity, which includes a motivation segment; and 2) A four-week Focus 360 activity, which includes a Job Search segment for English, Spanish, NE/NS speaking, and REP participants.

Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)

The agency (contractor) which provides Focus 360 activities as approved by DPSS to Los Angeles County GAIN participants.  

Advanced Preparation Participant

Participants assigned to Focus 360 who demonstrate “Advanced Preparation”, via specific indicators, can bypass the regular Focus 360 flow and begin supervised Job Search activities in the Computer Lab during week one of Focus 360.

Hot Jobs

Job placement sessions which include a variable range of job leads to be reviewed by LACOE staff and participants together.

See Requirements section in Chapter 700 - Assignment Interview for Focus 360.

LACOE has been given limited access to the CalSAWS system to report the outcome of the participant’s Job Search Services assignment. LACOE must update CalSAWS within one workday. LACOE is not required to send a GN 6007 unless the participant found a job or declared a need for Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health, or Domestic Violence services.

For GSW actions in response to contractor reported outcomes, see Verification Documents section in Chapter 710 Orientation.