families first adult education a beginning………. welcome to adult education!

FAMILIES FIRST

Adult Education

A beginning………

Welcome to Adult Education!

Research shows that children do better when their parents

earn better wages.

Families First was designed to help participants develop working skills.

Skills that will help participants join the workforce and improve their

lives.

The Families First Program, which has a lifetime limit of 60 months,

offers participants many opportunities to invest in themselves

and their futures by making agreements and setting personal

goals and expectations.

These goals, expectations and agreements are recorded on a Personal Responsibility Plan.

A Personal Responsibility Plan is an agreement between a Families

First participant and the Department of Human Services.

Most Families First participants will choose some type of work activity or

training that will help them meet their goals.

The activity they choose will be included in their Personal

Responsibility Plan.

Congratulations for choosing Adult Education as a Personal Responsibility Plan activity!

Adult Education is an excellent career path to a good job, or a better job, for those already

working.

Participants who choose Adult Education, first take the Test for

Adult Basic Education (TABE) to identify their grade level in

Reading and Math.

Knowing the results of each individual’s TABE will help the

Adult Education teacher know the best way to help every class

member be successful.

A TABE score of 9th grade or above in both Reading and Math requires

20 hours a week in school on a Personal Responsibility Plan.

It also requires 20 hours a week in another work-related activity.

Work-related activities include:

EmploymentEmployment Career Services (ECS)

Community ServiceWork Experience

A TABE score below the 9th grade requires a participant to

attend Adult Education 20 hours per week.

There are no other work activity requirements, but participants

may do more if they want to. For example, they may get a

part-time job.

In Adult Education, the TABE will be offered every 90 days to

determine how students have progressed.

Students having difficulties in class should not just drop out.

Instead, they should talk to their teacher or caseworker about their

concerns. This will alert the teacher to give them individual

attention on problem areas.

Families First expects students to show progress within 6 or 9 months, depending on their original TABE

score.

If a student does not show progress within that time frame, one of the

following three options will be offered:

• A referral back to Adult Education for an additional 3 months of study

• A referral to Family Services Counseling

• An opportunity to change work activities

Participants who choose to return to Adult education and do not make progress within three months, will

be considered non-compliant.

To correct the non-compliance, participants will be given a final opportunity to show progress by

taking the TABE.

Participants who do not show progress will be able to renegotiate their Personal Responsibility Plan and enter another work activity.

Adult education will no longer be an option.

Participants may receive the following support services while

attending Adult Education:

• Child Care Assistance • Transportation Assistance • Limited Vehicle Repairs

• Vehicle Related Expenses such as vehicle registration, county taxes and driver’s license fees

• Dental Assistance• Optical Assistance

Participants, if qualified, may receive assistance in buying a

vehicle with an interest-free loan.

This program is called First Wheels.

When Families First participants go off the Families First Program, they

may receive some or all of the following Transitional help:

• 18 months of Medicaid for themselves and any eligible

children

• 18 months of Child Care based on income

• 12 months of Family Services Counseling

• 12 months of Employment Career Services for individuals leaving

Families First with earnings

• An interest-free loan for a First Wheels car

• 5 months of Transitional Food Stamps for individuals leaving

Families First because of earnings

Failure to comply with any agreement on the Personal Responsibility Plan may

result in a sanction.

The Rule

Participants must attend Adult Education at least 90% of the time or they may considered

non-compliant.

Participants who miss a class should contact their teacher as

soon as possible and explain the reason for the miss. The teacher may grant up to three misses per

month. If there are more than three misses, the teacher will inform the caseworker of the

non-compliance.

The caseworker may grant good cause for non-compliance when the individual presents a reason for his/her inability to comply and the caseworker determines that the reason is appropriate.

Two examples of good cause are:• There is proof that an individual

is/was sick or hospitalized;• There is proof that an individual is caring for a sick child or other

relative in the home.

At the first sanction, the whole family will lose Families First cash benefits until the participant complies for 2

weeks in an activity.

At the second and following sanctions, the whole family will lose Families

First cash benefits for 3 months.

After 3 months, the sanctioned participant must attend a work activity for 2 weeks before Families First cash

benefits can be restarted.

To succeed in Adult Education, remember to:

• Attend class regularly;

• Make an effort to do well; and

• Report any problems early.

Many of our participants go on to find good jobs and lead

successful lives! Adult Education is a good choice!

Good luck in your studies!

Enjoy Adult Education!

You are taking the first step to a better future.