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: Employment Employment Career Services (ECS) Community Service Work 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.