Does the CalWORKs WTW program actually help find jobs if you have no work experience or diploma?

tbh it completely depends on what county and even which worker u get. my first wtw coordinator was useless and just made me do job search activities that went nowhere. but I switched workers after moving to a different part of the county and the new lady was super helpful, got me into a GED program that counted for my hours and then helped me land an office assistant job. definitely push to get ur GED first if u can!!

The Welfare to Work program can be extremely beneficial if you utilize all the resources they offer. Each county administers the program slightly differently, but they all have to provide certain core services. Since you don't have a high school diploma, you should absolutely be eligible for education as part of your WTW plan. Make sure to clearly communicate this goal during your orientation and assessment. Typically, they'll have you complete: 1. Orientation (general program overview) 2. Assessment (education level, skills, barriers to employment) 3. Development of your Welfare to Work plan Your WTW plan should include activities that lead to self-sufficiency based on your specific situation. For someone without a diploma, this often includes: - Adult education/GED preparation - Job readiness training - Vocational training for in-demand careers You can also receive supportive services like: - Childcare assistance while participating - Transportation allowance - Money for work-related expenses (clothes, tools, etc.) Be proactive and clear about your educational goals from the beginning. The program is designed to help participants become self-sufficient in the long term, not just place them in any available job.

I went through the WTW program back in 2024 with no work history or diploma. In my experience, it was actually really helpful, but you have to advocate for yourself. When you go to orientation, make sure you clearly tell them you want to get your GED/diploma first. They should approve this as part of your WTW plan. The program helped me get my GED in about 6 months while counting those hours toward my WTW participation. Then they helped me get into a medical assistant training program. The whole thing took about a year, but now I have a full-time job with benefits making $24/hour. They also provided childcare assistance the entire time I was in the program, even during study hours, which was honestly the biggest help. And they gave me money for transportation and some work clothes when I started interviewing. The key is being specific about what you want. If you just go with whatever they suggest, you might end up in a random job placement that doesn't lead anywhere.

I had THE WORST experience with WTW!!! My worker kept pushing me to take minimum wage jobs at fast food places even though I told her I wanted to get my GED first. She said I had to meet participation hours immediately and couldn't wait. After 3 months of applying to jobs nobody would hire me for (because duh, no experience), they threatened to sanction me and cut my cash aid!!! The whole system is designed to TRAP you in poverty, not help you escape it! Don't believe their lies about education and training - they just want to check their boxes and show they got people "participating" even if it leads nowhere!!

When I enrolled in WTW last year, the most important thing I learned was that you need to connect with your caseworker QUICKLY before they assign you a generic plan. Call them as soon as you get any paperwork about WTW. If they're not responsive, try calling the main CalWORKs line. BTW, if you're having trouble reaching anyone at your county office, check out this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual worker without waiting on hold for hours. I used it after trying for days to reach my worker with no luck. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE After I finally connected with my worker, I was able to explain that I needed education first, and they approved my GED program as my WTW activity. Just be persistent and don't wait for them to contact you!

Thank you all for the responses! I'm definitely going to be proactive and call my worker tomorrow to bring up the GED option before my orientation. Does anyone know if they'll accept online GED prep classes? With my kids' schedules it would be much easier than in-person classes.

am in the program right now got my ged in 4 months and now doing cna training. they pay for everything and the childcare benefit is HUGE. my tip is get to know the job counselors at the career center not just ur regular worker, they know all the good programs and can help u get in

just make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing!!! my worker told me verbal my GED program was approved then tried to sanction me 2 months later saying i never got official approval. had to file for a fair hearing and everything. such a headache.

I'm in a similar situation - no diploma and feeling really anxious about starting WTW. Reading everyone's experiences here is both encouraging and scary! It sounds like the key is being upfront about wanting education first and not letting them push you into just any job. I'm definitely going to ask about GED programs during my orientation. Has anyone had experience with specific counties that are particularly good or bad with the program? I'm in Riverside County if that helps.

I'm in a very similar boat - no work experience, no diploma, and really nervous about what to expect from WTW. Reading through everyone's responses here has been so helpful! It sounds like the program can actually be great if you get the right worker and are clear about your goals from the start. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about calling my worker ASAP to discuss getting my GED as part of my WTW plan before orientation. The stories about people successfully getting their education first and then moving into good jobs with benefits are really encouraging. One question - for those who did GED programs through WTW, did you have to meet the full 32 hour participation requirement right away, or did they ease you into it? I'm worried about balancing study time with the hour requirements, especially while managing kids at home. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making me feel way less anxious about the whole process!

I'm in a really similar situation and this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I don't have a diploma or any real work experience either, and I was terrified that WTW would just force me into dead-end minimum wage jobs. But seeing that so many people successfully got their GED first and then moved into actual career training is giving me hope. I'm definitely taking everyone's advice about being proactive and calling my worker before orientation to specifically discuss education options. The tip about getting everything in writing is super important too - I don't want to deal with any confusion down the line about what was approved. For those who mentioned childcare assistance, how far in advance do you need to arrange that? I have a 3-year-old and I'm worried about gaps in coverage when I start classes or training. Also, did anyone do vocational training after getting their GED? I'm really interested in medical assistant or dental assistant programs if they're available through WTW. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's making this whole process seem way less scary and more like an actual opportunity to build a better future!

I'm in almost the exact same situation as you - no work history, no diploma, and really anxious about starting WTW! Reading through all these responses has been so reassuring though. It sounds like the program can actually be really helpful if you advocate for yourself from the beginning. Based on what everyone's shared, here's what I'm planning to do (maybe it'll help you too): 1. Call my worker ASAP before orientation to specifically discuss getting my GED as part of my WTW plan 2. Be super clear that I want education first, not just any random job placement 3. Ask about childcare assistance and get that approved early 4. Get everything in writing so there's no confusion later 5. Ask about what vocational training programs they have after GED completion The success stories here are really encouraging - people getting their GED in 4-6 months, then moving into actual career training programs, and ending up in jobs with decent pay and benefits. That's exactly what I'm hoping for instead of being stuck in minimum wage jobs forever. Definitely don't wait for them to contact you - be proactive and call tomorrow! We can do this!