1. Title IV-E Stipend Obligation full-time students
Overview of the Employment Obligation Process
Job Search
Job Search Reporting
Securing Employment
Verifying Employment
Special Circumstances
CalSWEC Petitions & Appeals Processes
Changing Employment
Time off
Monetary Obligation
Q&A

2. Overview of the Employment Obligation Process
Secure employment with a California Public Child Welfare agency or tribal social service agency that serves child welfare recipients within 6 months of your graduation date
Within these first 6 months you are required to search only within 75 miles of your home address
Must apply to every open position (and participate in all tests and interviews) at a level appropriate to a new worker in Child Welfare, and accept the first position offered to you
If unable to secure employment within 6 months and within a 75- mile radius, you must extend your search statewide for 6 months

3. Overview continued…
If you are still unable to secure employment within these 12 months after graduation, you must then request a waiver and provide satisfactory documentation of a comprehensive employment search, in order to receive permission to seek employment in a nonprofit agency serving IV-E clients (see Petitions and Appeals Process section)
If approved, you will receive an additional 6 months to search for employment.
After graduation you must report your job search status using the Title IV-E Graduate Employment Search Form once monthly until you secure employment (see Job Search Reporting section)
To demonstrate an adequate search, you must have had applied to all available jobs at a level appropriate to a new worker in Child Welfare in your 75-mile radius (or statewide)
You must render one year of continuous and satisfactory full-time employment for each year of stipend support

4. Outline of Employment Search Requirements
Within six (6) months of graduation
Within six (6) to twelve (12) months of graduation
Within twelve (12) to eighteen (18) months of graduation
Must return to work at agency (if employee) OR
Search for qualifying work within a 75 mile radius of Student’s home
Search for employment within the state of California.
If, within 12 months, Student does not secure employment within the state, Student may apply for a waiver to search for employment in a non-profit agency within the state.
If waiver is granted to search for employment at non-profit agencies, Student may have up to 6 months to do this search.
If Student does not secure employment during this time, Student may apply for a waiver of employment obligation requirements at 18 months after graduation.

5. Job search after graduation…
Remember, YOU are responsible for finding qualifying employment. We encourage you to look for job postings and check your resources regularly.
We continue to assist you with your job search by sending weekly s, listing qualifying employment, consisting of Merit and non-Merit jobs.
CalSWEC’s central office will send information about counties that are hiring, and we will forward this to you via .
CalSWEC also has an employment section on their Facebook page at or follow on Twitter at
Merit System Services (MSS)
MSS will provide information for their 30 affiliated counties about which counties are hiring and any other important information.
Check for listings on county websites that are not affiliated with MSS.
Chico State Career Center
Contact Ken Naas for help with resumes and interview tips or

6. Job search reporting…
You report to us monthly regarding your job search status by updating and ing a Graduate Employment Search Form
the completed and updated form on the first business day of each month (starting the first month after graduation.)
You must keep and submit all documents pertaining to your job search
Confirming s
Appointment cards
County letters or any other documentation
We report to CalSWEC regarding your job search
CalSWEC requires us to rate your job search according to your proven effort (“Substantial Efforts”, “Adequate Search”, or “Needs Improvement”)
All forms and documents can be found at our IV-E "Links and Forms" section of our website:

7. Employment Search Form

8. Be thorough in your reporting!
County or Agency: Enter name of county or agency you applied to
Merit System County? Y/N?: Answer Y or N if it is or isn’t a MSS county
Classification: Enter position or job title applied for
Application Date: Enter due date for application and date application was submitted
Agency Contact Info: Enter name of contact person at agency, their phone number, and address
Response from County: If response received, summarize the correspondence from the county, including correspondence through , response card, letter in mail, notification of testing date, location, and time. If no response received, you will follow up and report the outcome of that follow up in the Comments/Explanation box.
(These are the types of documentation that you will need to submit when you submit your monthly Graduate Employment Search Form.)
Test Score: Enter test score, if available
Place on list: If name was placed on list, enter placement number
Notice from county: Enter how the county notified you regarding interview date, include the time and location
First interview date: Enter date of interview
Second interview date: Enter date of second interview
Job offer? Y/N: Enter Y or N
Hire date: If hired, enter hire date
Comments/Explanation: Add any relevant comments/explanation here
Plan for Follow Up: Explain your plan is to follow up with this application

9. Securing Employment…
Report to us if you have been offered a position and you secure employment
Let us know when your start date is
Once you have secured employment, you must complete an Employment Verification Form ASAP
This form will serve as a consent for release of information so we can communicate with your HR about your employment status.
You complete Part A
Your HR completes Part B and keeps a copy in their file
Mail the original back to the IV-E office
We check your employment status directly with your HR every 6 months until your employment obligation is complete.

10. Verifying and tracking employment…
We will contact you and/or your employer during your obligation period to verify that you are fulfilling the work requirement (1 year of continuous full-time employment for every year of stipend support)
We submit information and updates about your employment status to CalSWEC
We calculate your obligation progress and project a completion date based on what your HR reports to us regarding your employment
If there are interruptions in your employment (unpaid medical leave, maternity leave, etc.) we recalculate your completion date accordingly

11. Special Circumstances…
What if …
I have a delay in completing the employment obligation? (medical leave, maternity leave, etc.)
I need an extension of time to complete the employment search?
I want to change jobs prior to completion of the employment obligation?
I want to permission to seek employment with a non- profit agency?

12. Petitions and Appeals
While CalSWEC and the CSU, Chico Title IV-E Program anticipate that you will be able to complete your program successfully and begin your career in child welfare services, challenges may arise due to personal circumstances or changes in the job market. The Petition and Appeal processes are designed to resolve these challenges. Read the Title IV-E Student Contract carefully. It provides the basic obligations the University program has to you and you have to the program. Because it is an agreement you sign, the Contract is the controlling document in any disagreement arising between you and the program.
If you choose to petition, please contact Melissa Cheatham at for complete instructions and petition documents.

13. CalSWEC Petition and Appeals Processes
For special circumstances that deviate from your contract and delay and/or hinder you from completing your employment obligation, you will follow the Petition and Appeals Processes. Request this form via from the IV-E office.
You will be given a due date to return the form.
Your Project Coordinator will review and come to a conclusion regarding your request
If you are not satisfied with the decision made by the Project Coordinator, you can use the CalSWEC Appeals Process and Form
CalSWEC’s decision on the Appeal is final
Please contact Melissa to initiate the petition process.
SAMPLE

14. You need to initiate the Petition Process when… Examples:
You need an extension of time to complete employment search
There is any delay in completing your employment obligation
switching from full-time to part-time employment
medical leave
maternity leave
You want a waiver of agency, CDSS, or tribal employment requirement and permission to seek a non-profit job
You want permission to accept a particular non-profit job
You want permission to change job prior to completion of employment period requirement
You want permission to modify or be relieved of any contractual obligation

15. Time off…
Vacation Time and Sick Time off are accrued through employment and can be used toward completing your employment obligation.
Unpaid Medical Leave or Maternity Leave or any other unpaid interruptions in your employment will not be counted toward your employment obligation. We will recalculate your completion date accordingly.
You also need to submit a Petition Form.
Keep us updated and stay in good communication with us!

16. Changing employment…
If you need/want to change employment (from one county to another county) before your obligation is complete, follow these steps:
Request a CalSWEC Petition Form from the IV-E office
Complete and return the Petition Form
Complete a new Employment Verification Form, signed by the county you are leaving, and mail to the IV-E office
Complete a new Employment Verification Form to your new employer and mail to the IV-E office

17. Monetary Obligation…
Should you have to go into monetary Obligation in lieu of employment obligation, for whatever reason, contact the IV-E office ASAP
See the Monetary Payback Agreement
Reasons you might enter monetary obligation:
No longer working
No longer working in a qualifying position
Voluntarily leaving a position
Declining a job offer
Other circumstances that don’t comply with your contract

18. Forms
All forms can be located here at our Title IV-E Forms and Links site: ml
Forms you will find on the site:
Graduate Employment Search Form
Employment Verification Form
And more…

19. Keep us in the loop! Communicate!
Keep us updated about
Changes in your employment status
Address change
Phone number change
change, etc.
, call, or stop by anytime!
If you’re having problems or have concerns regarding your employment that could affect your obligation, get in touch with the IV-E office ASAP
If at any time you are unsure of what form(s) you need or what the steps are, contact the IV-E office and we will walk you through the steps and make sure you have the right forms.
We are here to help and support you through the end of your monetary or employment obligation! 

20. Title IV-E Contacts Richard Davis rtdavis@csuchico.edu (530) 898-4261
Job Search, Employment Verification & Tracking
Monetary Repayment
Petitions and Appeals
(530)
Meka Klungtvet-Morano –
General concerns, issues, etc.
(530)
Chelsea Cornell–
(530)

21. Questions