Family Services (FS) Program

FS is introduced to clients at Orientation, Appraisal, in between activities, during Welfare-to-Work (WTW) participation, exemption reviews, and as part of the noncompliance process. It is offered as a service to CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) clients and/or an eligible member of the Assistance Unit (AU), including Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) Common Case (Family Maintenance and Family Reunification) clients. The purpose of FS is to help the client stabilize any family situation, issue, problem or barrier to employment that is adversely affecting the client's ability to participate in WTW.

Family Services Policy

FS is a multi-disciplinary approach to WTW services, through intensive case management strategies designed to ensure a basic level of stability within a family.

The following applies to FS:

• Participation is voluntary.
• Requires completion of Family Services Program Request & Application (SCD 2417)
• Requires the development of a Family Service Plan (SCD 2392).
• May be provided at any point in the WTW flow process.
• Participation is not subject to the WTW hourly participation requirement as long as the client is complying with the FS plan.
• Appropriate support services are provided.
• Frequent and ongoing contact ranging from daily to weekly, depending on the client’s situation.
• The maximum length of the plan is twelve months, either as a stand-alone plan or as an integrated plan. Extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Failure to comply with and complete the FS plan without good cause results in termination of FS services; however, the termination is not subject to the noncompliance process. Instead, the participant is transitioned to WTW by being scheduled to sign a Welfare-To-Work Plan Activity Assignment (WTW 2).

Eligibility Criteria

With the exception of the CalWORKs Housing Support Program (CHSP) criteria, Family Services participants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be an active CWES registrant,
• Be a CalWORKs Family Reunification registrant,
• Be in Good Cause Status,
• Be Exempt,
• Agree to cure the WTW Sanction and sign a Plan to Meet Welfare-to-Work Rules and Get My Cash Aid Back (WTW 29), OR
• Be an active CWES registrant’s family member in the AU.

Types of FS

Services through FS include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Mental Health Counseling
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Individual/Family Counseling
• Domestic Violence Counseling
• CalWORKs Social Work Services
• At-Risk Youth and other Child Services
• At-Risk (OSH Prevention) Services
• Family Stabilization Housing Assistance
• CalWORKs Housing Support Program (CHSP)
• Parenting Classes/Workshops
• Stress Management
• Public Health Assistance
• SSI Application/Advocacy
• Emergency Needs (food, clothing, shelter)
• Legal Assistance/Counseling
• School Attendance/Truancy (young children and teens).

Note: For additional information and eligibility criteria on At-Risk Youth Services, Family Stabilization Housing Assistance and CalWORKs Housing Support Program, refer to the following: Family Services (FS) Youth Services, Family Services (FS) Homeless Prevention and Family Services (FS) Program CalWORKs Housing Support Program (CHSP).

Application

The client must complete the SCD 2417 for all FS requests. The application identifies the crisis to address, issues such as Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence and Housing. The SCD 2417 is used for all FS related issues, and for CHSP based on housing need.

Supporting documents such as rental agreements, W-9, eviction notices, etc. need to be attached at the point of the initial referral.