Toxcina King
California’s Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) and Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) are programs available at Pierce College to assist students in receiving funds for child care, books and supplies, uniforms and tools, work-study opportunities and employment information.CalWORKs is a job-training program that provides welfare-to-work services to students who receive Temporary Aide for Needy Families (formally AFDC). GAIN is the initiative from the Family Support Act that supported the former AFDC. The County of Los Angeles uses the established GAIN process to implement CalWORKs.At the state level, the Health and Human Services Agency oversees both the eligibility and employment components of GAIN/CalWORKs. The program contributes to most community colleges by providing adult basic education, English as a Second Language, vocational training, counseling, career education, work study, job development and other services. “The GAIN/CalWORKs program provides support for students receiving public assistance, to help them acquire the skills to be successful in the workplace and to become financially self-sufficient,” said Abbey Klein, Director of the GAIN/CalWORKs on-campus program. To qualify for the GAIN/CalWORKs program, students must be currently enrolled at Pierce, referred to Pierce by their GAIN/CalWORKs office or receiving public assistance. Once accepted, they are required to participate in 32 hours (single adult) or 35 hours combined (two adults) of work and education activity each week. “Personally, I have such great admiration and respect for our students’ abilities to juggle learning, studying, working and caring for their families,” Klein said. “They are eager and committed.” The on-campus GAIN/CalWORKs office is currently located in a trailer next to the field house by the stadium. However, within the next two weeks the office will be relocated to the new Village behind the men’s gym.