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Letter to the editor: CalWORKs clear-up
Regarding “Counselors: here to advise,” Opinion, May 18
We appreciate your coverage of the CalWORKs budget cuts workshop recently presented by attorney Vanessa Lee, of Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County. I am writing to provide a few clarifications and corrections to the article.
1) CalWORKs is the state of California public assistance benefits system, administered by each county’s welfare department. The significant financial benefits cuts described in the workshop are those the legislature imposed on public assistance recipients’ monthly grants as well as the newly-imposed 48-month limits (reduced from 60 months) of adult lifetime CalWORKs eligibility. “Clock-stoppers” and “time extenders,” which may be available to some recipients, were highlighted.
2) The statewide community college CalWORKs programs, including the GAIN/CalWORKs program at Pierce College, are funded by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Our purpose is to assist students who are participating in the welfare-to-work process through a variety of supportive services, including case management, advocacy, work-study, counseling, job preparation, forms certification, book and supply grants, child care and workshops. To qualify for our program, a student must be receiving CalWORKs for herself or himself, have at least one child under age 18 and have, or be in the process of developing, a county welfareto-work plan which includes education.
Understandably, the state CalWORKs public benefits program and the community colleges CalWORKs student programs are sometimes confused with each other. The college programs are not directly affected by the changes to the state CalWORKs welfare system, though like all other segments of higher education, our funding depends on the final state budget.
3) The article states that “child care for children will be discontinued.” Most child care will continue; however, as a cost-cutting measure, child care for 11 and 12 year olds has been eliminated by the legislature.
4) We welcome all students who may be eligible for our services to contact us Monday-Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We are located on the 2nd floor of the Student Services building. Our phone number is 818-719-6400. We are happy to provide more information regarding the “clock-stoppers” and “time-extenders” Ms. Lee highlighted in her presentation.
Again, we appreciate the coverage the ROUND-UP provided. “Stay in school” definitely is the message; education is a powerful tool for workforce preparedness and financial self-sufficiency.
Finally, please note the correct spelling of my last name.
