View
218
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
FAMILIES FIRST
Adult Education
A beginning………
Welcome to Adult Education!
Research shows that children do better when their parents
earn better wages.
Families First was designed to help participants develop working skills.
Skills that will help participants join the workforce and improve their
lives.
The Families First Program, which has a lifetime limit of 60 months,
offers participants many opportunities to invest in themselves
and their futures by making agreements and setting personal
goals and expectations.
These goals, expectations and agreements are recorded on a Personal Responsibility Plan.
A Personal Responsibility Plan is an agreement between a Families
First participant and the Department of Human Services.
Most Families First participants will choose some type of work activity or
training that will help them meet their goals.
The activity they choose will be included in their Personal
Responsibility Plan.
Congratulations for choosing Adult Education as a Personal Responsibility Plan activity!
Adult Education is an excellent career path to a good job, or a better job, for those already
working.
Participants who choose Adult Education, first take the Test for
Adult Basic Education (TABE) to identify their grade level in
Reading and Math.
Knowing the results of each individual’s TABE will help the
Adult Education teacher know the best way to help every class
member be successful.
A TABE score of 9th grade or above in both Reading and Math requires
20 hours a week in school on a Personal Responsibility Plan.
It also requires 20 hours a week in another work-related activity.
Work-related activities include:
EmploymentEmployment Career Services (ECS)
Community ServiceWork Experience
A TABE score below the 9th grade requires a participant to
attend Adult Education 20 hours per week.
There are no other work activity requirements, but participants
may do more if they want to. For example, they may get a
part-time job.
In Adult Education, the TABE will be offered every 90 days to
determine how students have progressed.
Students having difficulties in class should not just drop out.
Instead, they should talk to their teacher or caseworker about their
concerns. This will alert the teacher to give them individual
attention on problem areas.
Families First expects students to show progress within 6 or 9 months, depending on their original TABE
score.
If a student does not show progress within that time frame, one of the
following three options will be offered:
• A referral back to Adult Education for an additional 3 months of study
• A referral to Family Services Counseling
• An opportunity to change work activities
Participants who choose to return to Adult education and do not make progress within three months, will
be considered non-compliant.
To correct the non-compliance, participants will be given a final opportunity to show progress by
taking the TABE.
Participants who do not show progress will be able to renegotiate their Personal Responsibility Plan and enter another work activity.
Adult education will no longer be an option.
Participants may receive the following support services while
attending Adult Education:
• Child Care Assistance • Transportation Assistance • Limited Vehicle Repairs
• Vehicle Related Expenses such as vehicle registration, county taxes and driver’s license fees
• Dental Assistance• Optical Assistance
Participants, if qualified, may receive assistance in buying a
vehicle with an interest-free loan.
This program is called First Wheels.
When Families First participants go off the Families First Program, they
may receive some or all of the following Transitional help:
• 18 months of Medicaid for themselves and any eligible
children
• 18 months of Child Care based on income
• 12 months of Family Services Counseling
• 12 months of Employment Career Services for individuals leaving
Families First with earnings
• An interest-free loan for a First Wheels car
• 5 months of Transitional Food Stamps for individuals leaving
Families First because of earnings
Failure to comply with any agreement on the Personal Responsibility Plan may
result in a sanction.
The Rule
Participants must attend Adult Education at least 90% of the time or they may considered
non-compliant.
Participants who miss a class should contact their teacher as
soon as possible and explain the reason for the miss. The teacher may grant up to three misses per
month. If there are more than three misses, the teacher will inform the caseworker of the
non-compliance.
The caseworker may grant good cause for non-compliance when the individual presents a reason for his/her inability to comply and the caseworker determines that the reason is appropriate.
Two examples of good cause are:• There is proof that an individual
is/was sick or hospitalized;• There is proof that an individual is caring for a sick child or other
relative in the home.
At the first sanction, the whole family will lose Families First cash benefits until the participant complies for 2
weeks in an activity.
At the second and following sanctions, the whole family will lose Families
First cash benefits for 3 months.
After 3 months, the sanctioned participant must attend a work activity for 2 weeks before Families First cash
benefits can be restarted.
To succeed in Adult Education, remember to:
• Attend class regularly;
• Make an effort to do well; and
• Report any problems early.
Many of our participants go on to find good jobs and lead
successful lives! Adult Education is a good choice!
Good luck in your studies!
Enjoy Adult Education!
You are taking the first step to a better future.
Recommended