CHILD CARE SERVICES

Child care is a support service for parents who work, attend school, or participate in job training. Those eligible for child care assistance include children under the age of 13, and whose parents are receiving or transitioning off public assistance, or who are receiving or needing protective services, or whose families are low-income. Please visit our Child Care page for further details.

CHOICES

The goal of the Choices program is to transition individuals who are receiving public assistance into the workforce. The Choices program assists individuals by:

  • Emphasizing the time limitations of welfare.
  • Facilitating the transition from welfare to work with job readiness, childcare, transportation, and other assistance.

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING
(SNAP E&T)

This Department of Agriculture program is designed to assist food stamp recipients in becoming employed and self-supporting. The SNAP E&T program assists with:

  • Work-based activities
    Work based activities are those activities offered through the Choices and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program E&T programs.  They include: Job Search Seminars (staff assisted Résumé Preparation, the latest information on employment search, application completion and, interviewing skills), job readiness, educational (GED preparation) occupational and vocational training.
  • Support Services
    Support services such as childcare assistance, transportation assistance, and work-related expenses may be available to eligible participants.
  • Career Specialists
    Career Specialists work closely with participants to identify and address special needs and barriers to gainful employment through the development of an individual employment plan.  Included in the plan is an assessment of educational strengths, vocational aptitudes and skills.   Career Specialists will assist participants in attaining established goals and help discover new goals of employment.

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT (WIA)

Workforce Solutions East Texas is committed in helping individuals find needed employment.  We offer services to a wide range of customers, from professionals to first time job seeker.  Many of our customers are unemployed or under employed due to the changing skills demand in the workforce.  The United States Congress passed the Workforce Investment Act in 1998 to address this national employment crises.

  • WIA Adult Program
    Adult customers are 18 years of age and older, who have barriers to employment. Eligibility criteria is based on family size and income.  Barriers may include lack of education, lack of child care, lack of transportation, and obsolete occupational skills.
  • WIA Dislocated Worker Program
    Dislocated Workers are 18 years of age and older, who are unemployed due to a large lay-off, plant closure or downsizing, that are caused by economic conditions in the area or industry.  Displaced homemakers or those laid-off because of NAFTA may also be eligible.
  • WIA Youth Program
    WIA Youth Program promotes and supports a workforce system that provides the opportunity for young people between the ages of 14 and 21, to achieve and sustain economic prosperity.  This program is service-oriented and directed toward helping youth in the Concho Valley to become productive members of the workforce.  Eligibility criteria is based on several factors.

EXPERIENCE WORK'S SENIOR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

This program, funded under Title V of the Older Americans Act as well as state and local grants, enables us to help thousands of low-income individuals, age 55 and older, throughout the United States.

Through this program, seniors benefit from training, counseling, and community service assignments at faith-based and community organizations in their communities, prior to transitioning into the workforce. 

Participants are placed at eligible host agencies (primarily at faith-based and community organizations) for which they are paid the minimum wage for an average of 20 hours per week.  A host agency is either a private nonprofit organization (other than a political party) that is tax exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1954, or a public agency operated by a unit of government.

Thirty-eight percent of Experience Work's participants found permanent jobs, notably as teachers' aides, emergency dispatchers, care providers, and clerical assistants.

Job Training Objectives

  • Gain job-related training designed to assist participants in performing their community service assignments and in finding employment.
  • Develop new skills and upgrade existing skills.
  • Understand safe work practices and healthful work environments.
  • Learn effective job search skills and develop good work habits.

Program Qualifications

  • Be 55 years of age or older, and a resident of the state of Texas.  
  • Annual family income must not be more than 125% of the established federal poverty income guidelines.
  • Be eligible to work in the United States.
  • Be currently unemployed.