1. Opportunity Starts Today! WOA/Choices Orientation
Workforce Solutions Brazos Valley
3991 East 29th Street Bryan, Texas

2. Equal Opportunity Statement
“The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) as a recipient of Federal financial assistance
is prohibited from discriminating against any individual in the United States,
on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation and belief.”
File a written complaint of alleged discriminatory acts within 180 calendar days from the date of alleged act. Complaints must be submitted to:
TWC, 101 East 15th Street, Room 242-T, Austin, Texas 78778

3. Choices What is it? Why am I here?

4. CHOICES Operates under a work first service model
Assists with transition from TANF to Work
through participation in work-related
activities
One or both adults in a two parent household are responsible

6. Benefits of Employment
Guaranteed Income and possible benefits
Positive Impact on your children
Better Lifestyle
Independence and Self-Sufficiency
Securing a place in a productive society
Positive Self-image
Positive Role model

7. Annual Wage and Benefit Scenarios 2017

8. Hourly Wage and Benefit Scenarios 2017

9. TANF is Temporary Government assistance is temporary
Texans are responsible for the support of themselves and their families
Employment is the goal

10. Time Limits Federal - 5 year limit Lifetime freeze-out
State - 12, 24, or 36 months limit
Dependent on recent work history and education level based on TABE testing scores that will determine your program duration.
5 year freeze-out

11. Applicant vs Participant
Applicant – has applied for benefits, but has not yet been certified; however, can choose to participate – no participation requirements
Participant – has applied for benefits, certified and required or chosen to participate in the Choices Program

12. What Can We Offer Today? Support Services for Applicants Child Care
Transportation, i.e., trolley passes/gas assistance
Assistance with work-related expenses
Other job related expenses, i.e., food handler’s license
Services are available based on need, funding and eligibility
Don’t wait until you are certified, ask a Career Navigator about these services !!

13. One Time or Ongoing One Time TANF=$1,000.00 Ongoing TANF
For short term crisis (Customers receiving OTTANF are not eligible to participate in Choices or receive TANF assistance for the 12 months following receipt of OTTANF)
Ongoing TANF
Choices Participation required
Participants Requirements – Required to participate certain number of hours a week
Good Cause – any reasons for why you feel you can not participate should be taken to HHSC.

14. Conditional Applicants
Someone who left TANF in a sanctioned status and is reapplying for assistance
Demonstrate 4 consecutive weeks of cooperation in order to receive TANF benefits

15. Exempt Participants Exempt individuals may voluntarily
participate in employment services at any time
Exempt individuals are eligible for the same services as non-exempt individuals
Exempt individuals are not subject to sanction
**Participate in Choices activities through employment while meeting participation requirements and earn $50 a week for 12 weeks

16. Support Services for Participants
Child Care
Transportation, i.e., trolley passes/gas assistance
Assistance with work-related expenses
Other job related expenses, i.e., food handler’s license

17. Choices Participation
Active participation:
Work
Training
Job search
Subsidized employment
Work experience
On-the-job training
Support Services are available to participants who are actively looking for work or who become employed

18. Non-Participation Results in immediate sanction
This discontinues all of the family’s TANF cash benefits, Adult Medicaid benefits and support services

19. Concurrent Sanctions
Under federal requirements, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who fail to cooperate with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work requirements must be treated as is they failed to cooperate with SNAP Employment and Training requirements, unless otherwise exempt.
When a SNAP recipient fails to cooperate with a Choices work requirement, staff must impose a SNAP E & T sanction, unless the individual is exempt for participation in SNAP E &T.

20. SNAP E & T Sanction
Sanction will be imposed within 10 calendar days from notice of noncooperation, unless the household is pended for additional verification to qualify for an exemption.
Prior to imposing a sanction, staff must:
- Verify if individual received SNAP during month of non-compliance
HHSC will also verify other possible reasons for exemption from sanction prior to imposing the sanction.

21. Reinstatement of TANF/SNAP Benefits
Procedure for TANF Reinstatement
Participant must demonstrate one full month of cooperation before benefits are reinstated.
PLEASE NOTE: Participant will go one month without TANF Benefits and Adult Medicaid
Procedure for SNAP Reinstatement
. Individuals sanctioned for noncooperation with any SNAP work requirement must serve their minimum penalty period – 6 months, unless becoming exempt.

22. You Are Not In This Alone

23. Labor Market Information
Provides local, regional, state and national workforce characteristics and statistics,
such as, area profiles, unemployment rates, workers vs jobs, top paying industries, top paying occupations
For example Brazos County
March Unemployment Rate – 3.2%
LMI provides local, regional, state and national workforce characteristics and statistics. Such as, area profiles, unemployment rates, workers vs jobs, top paying industries, top paying occupations.

24. Emerging Occupations
Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (25,000-60,000 yr)
Automotive Service Technicians (30,000-55,000 yr)
Licensed Vocational Nurses/Registered Nurses (28,811-60,000 yr)
Customer Service Representative (24,000-36,000 yr)

25. Enhanced Services Trade Adjustment Act (TAA)
Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Trade Adjustment Act (TAA)
Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act-Youth
SNAP - Employment & Training
Veterans Employment and Training
Choices
Rapid Reemployment Services

26. Businesses/Employers
Your One-Stop
Serves two customers
The Job Seeker
And
Businesses/Employers

27. Resource Room Tools……. Copy machines Fax machines Phones Computers
Labor Market Information (LMI)
The Resource Room is open Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM. Workforce Development Specialists located in the Resource Room are available to assist with job search.

28. Accessible Equipment TTY’s (Tele-Typing Device) Screen-Reader Software
ASL Interpreters
Local career centers must receive a 24 hour notice for ASL interpreters

29. Our Role
To assist employers by connecting them to a trained and qualified workforce
To motivate and assist you in your job search and or career path
Assess your skills
Determine your interests
Develop jobs

30. Your Role To be a willing, hopeful and excited participant
To accept change
To acknowledge that it will be as easy or hard as you decide to make it
To look forward to a new chapter in your life and the lives of your children
To be ready to work

31. Job Search/Employment Services

32. Job Readiness and Job Placement
Workshops
Employment applications
Prepare for interviews
Resume development
Job Matching
Job development
Paid and unpaid work experience
On-the-job-training
Workshops are held throughout the week. A schedule of all workshops is provided and available in the Resource Room.

33. Ask Us About Job Opportunities in WorkinTexas.com

34. Employment Services for Choices
Job readiness activities:
Self-esteem building
Job search skills
Labor Market Information
Employment goal setting
Resume writing
Interviewing Techniques
Workplace Expectations
Job retention skills
Don’t wait to be certified. Begin your Job Search NOW !

35. Choices Post-Employment Strategies
Extended or ongoing case management
Child care, transportation and work-related expenses
Job search and Job Placement
Mentoring
Additional career planning and counseling

37. Workforce Solutions Brazos Valley
Contact Info: Ericka Butler – Career Coach Ext Nicolee Hubley – Career Coach Ext Deidra Simmons – Program Manager Ext Thank You!
Workforce Solutions Brazos Valley

38. What Happens Next ?? Equal Opportunity Employer/Program
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities
Deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired customers may contact
Relay Texas (800) ,  TDD (800) Voice, TTY (979)
A Proud Partner of the American Job Center Network