ABOUT US

Welcome to the Los Angeles Valley College California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) and Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) program. We are an education and training program established for low-income and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) students so that they may become economically self-sufficient. Our goal is to provide an educational environment where the student may develop the needed vocational skills leading to meaningful employment. The program offers assistance with program planning, tuition, childcare, books, tutoring, paid work-study, internships, job placement, and community referrals.

Participants who successfully complete a sequence of college courses leading toward specific areas of employment will be issued a college Occupational Certificate. These certificates are designed for those participants who have a limited time to pursue their formal education and who wish to specialize in a particular area that is employment oriented. For example, many participants choose from the following majors:

• Accounting
• Associate Teacher, Preschool
• C/C++ (Computer Programming)
• Child Development, Teacher
• Nursing, Registered
• Office Systems and Word Processing Specialist
• Respiratory Therapist

Participants who qualify for the CalWORKs program must satisfy the following requirements:

• Attend classes, which lead to employment, such as Accounting, Administration of Justice, Child Development, Computer Science, Marketing, Nursing, and Office Administration
• Successfully complete an assessment process and interview
• Attend all required program meetings
• Commit to passing college-level coursework
• Improve math or reading skills as needed

With the passage of Senate Bill 1104 in 2003-2004, several of the key welfare-to-work requirements were changed. One key change was the elimination of the 18 to 24 month time limit on education and training. CalWORKs students are now able to participate in education and training activities, consistent with their plans, for up to 60 months. Eligible CalWORKs students participate in education and other work activities 32 hours a week for single parents or 35 hours a week total for two-parent households.