DPSS ePolicy

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

During the course of the Appraisal interview, participants can choose to be assigned to a Focus 360 activity. Participants also have the option of participating in educational activities such as Vocational Education (VOC/ED), Remedial Education (REM), High School Diploma (HSD) or an equivalent activity as their initial WtW activity, following Appraisal. Therefore, it is important to build rapport with the participant by discussing their interests and needs in order to discover the activities and services they want to attend that best meet their needs which will enable them to successfully participate in GAIN and lead to long-term, self-sustaining employment.

Not Applicable.

Orientation

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

Focus 360

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 the curriculum with the addition of life skills workshops to address obstacles participants might encounter when trying to attain and maintain 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. 

Flex Focus 360

Flex Focus 360 is a part-time concurrent activity which supplements a GAIN or Refugee Employment Program (REP) participant’s part-time employment, education, or activity. Flex Focus 360 is a four-week activity where participants are required to engage in at least ten hours per week. This activity is assigned when participants need ten hours per week or more to meet their participation requirement. Homeless participants may participate in Flex Focus 360 but are not required. The schedule for Flex Focus 360 is arranged around the participant’s current part-time activity.

Barriers

Barriers are personal issues that interfere with the participant’s ability to participate in the WtW Program. Barriers can be temporary or long-term. Participants who have a personal situation that will interfere with their participation are not required to participate in Orientation/Focus 360/Flex Focus 360 until their situation is stable.

Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)

The agency which has entered into a contract with the County to provide Job Readiness Services. 

Self-Sufficiency

A level at which GAIN or REP participants have the skills and ability to be economically independent and have obtained a steady source of income that removes the need for assistance programs such as CalWORKs.

1. Eligibility - A participant must be receiving cash aid on the CalWORKs case, unless they are an ineligible person under the Family Reunification Program (See GAIN Chapter 2000 Linkages for criteria).
   
2. Active WtW Program - The participant must have an active WtW Program (be registered in GAIN or REP).
3. Appraisal or Online CalWORKs Assessment Tool (OCAT) - The participant must have had an Appraisal or OCAT completed (See GAIN Chapter 500 Appraisal and OCAT).
4. CalWORKs Hourly Participation Requirement
   Assistance Unit (AU) Type: 
   
   • Single-parent or optional stepparent
     • Average Weekly Hours - 30 hours (or 20 hours if caring for child under 6)  
   • Two-parents* see note below
     • Average Weekly Hours - 35 hours 
   • Two-parents, one disabled
     • Average Weekly Hours - 30 hours (or 20 hours if caring for a child under 6)
   • Two-parents, one ineligible 
     • Average Weekly Hours - 30 hours (or 20 hours if caring for a child under 6)
   • Note: Includes 2-parent (2P) AUs with one parent exempt for reasons other than disability and 2P AUs with one parent sanctioned, and 2P AUs with one parent timed out of aid. 
5. Supportive Services - The participant’s transportation, ancillary, and child care needs are discussed and provided as appropriate (See GAIN Chapter 1200 Supportive Services).
6. Specialized Supportive Services (SSS) 
   • In the event that a participant informs the Focus 360 instructor of an SSS need, the instructor shall contact the SSS Liaison at the GAIN Region.
   • The SSS Liaison shall make arrangements for the Case-Carrying GAIN Services Worker (GSW) or Contracted Case Manager (CCM) to meet with the participant to make a referral to an SSS GSW who will arrange services. 
   • The co-located GSW at the Focus 360 site may also facilitate this request. For NE or NS speaking participants, if the SSS GSW does not speak the participant’s language, the Case-Carrying GSW will consult with the SSS GSW to assign to the appropriate services within one workday.
7. Compliance - GAIN/REP participants who miss three days of Focus 360 will be dropped. GAIN/REP participants can have no more than one absence during the first week of Focus 360 and no more than three absences total, throughout the activity. Upon returning to the Case-Carrying GSW, they will make the determination about whether Good Cause exists. If there is no Good Cause, the Case-Carrying GSW is to follow established non-compliance protocols (See GAIN Chapter 1300 Non-Compliance Good Cause).

Not Applicable.