DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style.

The Transitional Subsidized Employment (TSE) Program is offered through Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN)/Refugee Employment Program (REP) and it provides an opportunity for participants to learn new skills and attain work experience in a subsidized employment assignment while earning a wage and transitioning into unsubsidized employment. The TSE Program consists of the following activities: Paid Work Experience (PWE), Specialized Work Experience (SWE), and On-the-Job Training (OJT). TSE assignments are up to 12 months in duration; however, the duration is subject to change based on available funding in a given fiscal year.

Participants are assigned to PWE/SWE or OJT for a total of 20/30/35 hours per week based on their required CalWORKs hourly participation requirements. Participants may volunteer to participate in a TSE activity for up to 40 hours per week; however, participants are required to complete an affidavit indicating their desire to participate additional hours beyond their required CalWORKs hourly participant requirements. Participants cannot be placed in non-compliance or be sanctioned unless their hours fall below their participation hours without good cause. 

The services for PWE/SWE and OJT are arranged by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB), which in turn subcontracts with America's Job Centers of California (AJCCs), located throughout Los Angeles County. SBWIB enters into non-financial contracts with PWE/SWE employers and financial reimbursement contracts with OJT employers to provide worksites for these activities. 

TSE Paths

The TSE Program has three potential paths. One path is regular TSE, where the TSE participants can be assigned to PWE/SWE, or OJT and work with AJCCs for placement in a worksite at any public (including county departments), non-profit, or private for-profit employer that fits with their interests, skills, and work experience. The PWE, SWE, and OJT activity types in CalSAWS may have General Population, Homeless Population, or Limited English Proficiency Population activity number selected to identify the appropriate population being serviced under regular TSE. The providers for regular TSE are AJCCs.

A second path is available for TSE participants who are assigned to PWE/SWE to become Customer Service Assistants (CSAs). They are placed by the GAIN Regions to work at a Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) office. The PWE and SWE activity type in CalSAWS have Customer Service Assistant as an activity number to distinguish the population being serviced under the CSA path. The providers are the respective GAIN Regions except for Regions II and VII which place CSAs through AJCCs, following the regular TSE process. For policy on participants placed as CSAs, see policy Chapter 965 - Customer Service Assistants. 

The third path is the  Enhanced Transitional Subsidized Employment (E-TSE) Program. The participants assigned to this path are CalWORKs homeless participants assigned to PWE/SWE/OJT and placed by Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) at public, non-profit, or private for-profit employer. The PWE, SWE, and OJT activity types in CalSAWS have Countywide Homeless Initiative as an activity number to identify the population being serviced under E-TSE. The providers for E-TSE are CBOs. For homeless participants, see policy Chapter 1950 - Homeless and Transitional Subsidized Employment. 

The goal of the TSE Program is to provide CalWORKs participants with temporary subsidized employment opportunities to assist them with a successful transition to unsubsidized employment. Under TSE, participants earn a subsidized wage higher than County minimum wage while they work alongside an organization's salaried employees to learn new skills and appropriate work behaviors. Participants enhance or learn new soft skills that help them build self-confidence, good work habits, and establish a recent work history which positively contributes to a successful transition to unsubsidized employment.

OJT

Subsidized employment in which a participant receives job skills training while working for a private for-profit employer. The employer receives partial reimbursement from the County through SBWIB for wages paid to the participant during the OJT assignment. The goal of OJT is for the employer to hire the participant as a regular employee after the subsidy period. Under OJT, the County pays 100 percent of the wage costs for the first seven months of the assignment with SBWIB as the employer of record. Thereafter, the employer pays the participant's wages, Worker's Compensation, and Federal Insurance Contributions Act for the remaining months, and is reimbursed 60 percent of each participant's wage, not to exceed a $26 per hour wage. However, the subsidy period is subject to change based on funding and/or policy changes.

PWE

Subsidized employment at a public, government, or non-profit organization in which the salary and all employee costs are funded by DPSS with SBWIB being the employer of record.

SWE

SWE is comparable to PWE, except SWE is specifically designated for participants who are receiving Specialized Supportive Services (SSS) and may need flexibility in their participation hours. Like PWE, SWE is subsidized employment at a public, government, or non-profit organization in which the salary and all employee costs are funded by DPSS with SBWIB as the employer of record. 

CSA

CSAs are TSE participants in a PWE/SWE activity who are assigned to work at a DPSS office. The CSA title is a functional title used to distinguish that they work in a DPSS office. GAIN Regions, (except Regions II and VII) are Regional WorkSource Centers. They act as AJCCs to place CSAs at DPSS worksites. Regions II and VII refer CSAs to an AJCC for placement at a DPSS office.

E-TSE Program

The E-TSE Program offers a flexible subsidized employment model that focuses on unique challenges faced by CalWORKs homeless participants  (i.e., grooming needs, personal care, laundry needs, job preparation, and coaching, etc.) when searching for employment. The program offers a flexible period in which homeless participants can learn/apply proper work habits in a supportive learning environment through an accommodating schedule that can start with 20 hours per week and transition to increased hours. E-TSE participants are placed by CBOs. 

WIOA

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was enacted on July 1, 2015. It mandates that AJCCs, partner with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/CalWORKs Programs. WIOA promotes collaboration and coordination across public agencies to assist CalWORKs participants with entering and progressing in the workforce through career pathways.

SBWIB

The entity contracted to provide employment and training services to CalWORKs participants referred for TSE. SBWIB is the employer of record during the participant subsidy period and is responsible for overseeing the performance by the AJCCs and for subcontracting with employers for TSE. As employer of record, SBWIB is responsible for payroll, worker's compensation, investigating allegations of misconduct, monitoring, etc. SBWIB also ensures there is a designation of 75 percent PWE/SWE and 25 percent OJT employers. 

AJCCs

Formerly known as One-Stop Career Centers/WorkSource Centers. With the implementation of WIOA, these centers became known as AJCCs. TSE participants are referred by the GAIN Regions to AJCCs located throughout Los Angeles County for placement into TSE jobs. AJCCs are subcontracted by SBWIB.

Job Ready

Participants who want to work and demonstrate an understanding of basic professional work behavior which includes but is not limited to arriving to work on time daily, reporting absences/tardiness to the employer, wearing workplace attire, speaking professional workplace language, abstaining from alcoholic drinks or substance use during work, following instructions, and getting along with others. Participants deemed not job-ready after being placed in the TSE assignment will be returned to their Case-Carrying GAIN Services Worker (CCGSW) for referral to another Welfare-to-Work (WtW) activity, consistent with their employment plan. 

Program District Assistants

Contracted staff of SBWIB, who function as a liaison between the GAIN Region and its corresponding AJCCs, to assist in achieving the monthly TSE referral/placement targets. PDAs may interview TSE participants to assess interest/qualification for TSE and explain the benefits of participating in the TSE Program.  They also coach participants on appropriate work behavior, attire, interviewing techniques , etc. They monitor the participant's progress and provide necessary support needed to obtain/retain employment. PDAs are expected to meet face-to-face with AJCCs to get accurate information and/or documents on the participant's status. They must build and maintain close relationships with the AJCCs so that the facilitation of referrals, documents, information needed, access to files, etc., is a smoother process. PDAs may also have other functions in the TSE Program, such as delivering participant professional workplace conduct/job preparation training, acting as a job coach, and/or providing job search assistance.

Blueprint Training

Blueprint Training is a paid (30-hour in-person/16-hour virtual) job readiness curriculum that TSE participants are required to attend prior to being placed at a worksite. It is offered as an accelerated job readiness curriculum to all TSE participants, regardless of work experience, to prepare them for successful entry into a PWE, SWE, or OJT activity. TSE participants are required to attend Blueprint Training within ten days of meeting with their assigned AJCC. The Blueprint Training curriculum covers topics such as building soft skills, conflict resolution techniques, and how to navigate common workplace-related challenges. 

Work Support Allowance

Work Support Allowance is a one-time stipend offered to former TSE participants that attain and provide proof of unsubsidized employment, that is held it for a minimum of 30 days. Former TSE participants who attain and provide proof of full-time (at least 30 hours per week) unsubsidized employment, are eligible to receive a one-time Work Support Allowance of $150. Former TSE participants who attain and provide proof of part-time (20-29 hours per week) unsubsidized employment, are eligible to receive a one-time Work Support Allowance of $100. SBWIB processes the request and issues the work support allowance through payroll, it is not a GAIN ancillary issuance. 

CBOs

Community-Based Organizations place homeless participants in subsidized employment assignments through the E-TSE Program. They assess the participant's overall situation, identify barriers to employment, and connect them to homeless resources, such as personal care needs, and other necessary resources to assist in their job readiness. 

TSE participation meets the mandatory CalWORKs hourly participation requirements. Participants may be assigned to TSE as a full-time activity or a concurrent activity, if appropriate. This will facilitate the maximum degree of flexibility possible. However, TSE participants should be able to work an average of at least 20 hours per week.

The TSE/E-TSE/CSA Referral Checklist is utilized to assess the participant's eligibility to participate in TSE. 

Participation Requirements

To participate in TSE, the participant must meet the following requirements:

• Completion of Focus 360 (excluding In-house Job Search) in the last three years and remains unemployed. Exceptions can be made with GAIN Program's approval for job-ready participants or extenuating circumstances. 
• A Vocational Assessment is on file recommending TSE activities to attain an employment goal.
• The CalWORKs case is approved at the time of referral unless it is a Linkages Family Reunification mutual case.
• Sufficient time on their 60-Month Time Limit to complete the TSE activity. Timed-off participants volunteering for Post-Time Limited (PTL) services must complete the TSE activity during the PTL months, per PTL policy. Refer to GAIN chapter 2100 Post-Time Limit Services for additional information.  
• No current PWE/SWE/OJT activity open on CalSAWS.
• Two TSE assignments are allowed in a lifetime with at least one year gap in between TSE assignment completions.
• No evident pattern of recurring sanctions; and 
• Willingness and desire to work.

Note: Participants with homeless status on CalSAWS are not required to complete Focus 360. See policy Chapter 1950 Homeless and Transitional Subsidized Employment.

Live Scan

Participants in the TSE/E-TSE/CSA program who are placed at County Departments need to undergo a live scan through the County Department's Human Resources (HR) office before starting work at their assigned worksites. Once the live scan is cleared, the participants can commence their subsidized employment assignment at the worksite. If they are subsequently arrested or convicted, they must report this to their worksite supervisor and the corresponding AJCC/CBO/Region within 72 hours.  

For TSE worksites that are private employers, the worksite can request live scan clearance checks for participants referred to them for TSE/OJT assignments. The AJCC/CBO assigned to the participant will coordinate the live scan clearance process with the worksite and their affiliated vendor.

TSE liaisons inform TSE/E-TSE/CSA participants about the live scan requirement when reviewing the GN 6422 - TSE Assignment Checklist with the participant during the referral process.

Blueprint Training

Participants are required to engage in Blueprint Training before being placed at a worksite. Blueprint Training is a mandatory paid (30-hour in-person/16-hour virtual) work readiness program for TSE participants. Participants will learn soft skills, conflict resolution, and how to navigate other workplace-related challenges that will prepare them to be more successful in the workplace. Participants are referred to a Blueprint Training on their first meeting with their assigned AJCC. The participant must start Blueprint Training within ten days of their first meeting with the AJCC. Participants that successfully complete four days of Blueprint Training receive a Gold Certificate. Participants that successfully complete three days of Blueprint Training receive a Silver Certificate, and participants that complete two days of Blueprint Training receive a Bronze certificate of completion. Participants that attend one day or less will be deemed as having incomplete participation. SBWIB processes payment for Blueprint Training. Participants that do a second TSE assignment in a lifetime are required to attend Blueprint Training again as part of the placement process.

Mandatory Job Search

TSE participants are required to conduct job search for unsubsidized employment during the last three months of their PWE/SWE/OJT activity. Participants are allowed up to 16 hours per month of approved paid job search, under the supervision/coordination of the AJCC/CBO. GSWs/CCMs should also encourage the TSE participants to find employment and should share job opportunities  (especially County openings) to assist them with their job search.

The following forms are included in the TSE referral packet to the AJCC:

GN 6006 - Service Provider Referral is sent to the AJCC with the TSE referral packet. It requires the AJCC to verify the participant's worksite, start date, and work schedule. 

GN 6014 - Vocational Assessment Summary and Employment Plan is provided by the Assessor and provides information about the participant's skill set, literacy levels, and employment goals.

GN 45 - Important Notice to Transitional Subsidized Employment Participants, is a notice that cautions participants of the consequences of committing timesheet fraud.

ID/SSN - These documents are used to identify the participant. They are filed with the new hire paperwork, to get paid through the TSE Program.

GEN 111 - Employer Statement, is submitted along with copies of pay stubs or other employment verification documentation.

GN 6070 - Progress Report - Education/Training/Post-Employment Services/Work Experience and Community Services Program, is a quarterly report used to find out a participant's progress in the activity. Timesheets or check stubs are acceptable alternates to the GN 6070. 

GN 6422 - Transitional Subsidized Employment (TSE) Assignment Checklist, is used to inform the participant of the TSE Program and their responsibilities. This signed form is shared with the AJCC in the referral packet. 

GN 6007 – Notice of Change from the Service Provider, is used when the service provider is communicating with the TSE Liaison about an update on the TSE assignment (completion, drop, found unsubsidized employment, etc.).

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