CalWORKs

Chaffey College can help you reach your academic and professional goals through the CalWORKs program, which serves families receiving various forms of public assistance. We help eligible students gain self-sufficiency through specialized counseling, subsidized employment, mentoring, advocacy and personal/professional development. You can reach your full potential through education and employment with our help.

Keep an eye on our CalWORKs calendar for important events.

 

Contact

Appointments: (909) 652-6045

 

What is CalWORKs?

The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program was established under Assembly Bill 1542 in response to federal welfare reform to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF.) CalWORKs provides temporary cash aid assistance to families with dependent children in order to help meet basic needs. It also helps parents complete training programs to help families become self-sufficient.

The CalWORKs program at Chaffey College assists students who receive cash aid and are required to participate in Welfare-to-Work/GAIN. Students must be either enrolled, or plan to enroll in an academic program at Chaffey College and must be receiving cash aid for themselves as well as for their children. We provide educational planning services to students and collaborate with the San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance Department (TAD), Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), and Riverside County DPSS to help students meet their Welfare-to-Work/GAIN requirements. Students meet with a counselor for completion of required documents (Individual Education Plans, training verifications for child care approval, attendance and progress reports, etc.) as well as for regular progress checks.

Types of Appointments Available

Students have the option to meet with a counselor in-person (requirements apply), via video, or by telephone. Please read the following important information for each type of appointment.

In-Person Appointment

(Rancho, Chino and Fontana)

• Students who attend an on-campus Counseling Appointment are highly encouraged to wear a district-approved face coverings (3-ply surgical, K-95, or N-95 masks).
• No Guests will be permitted into the in-Person Counseling session. Students seeking a meeting with a Counselor and would like to bring a guest should reschedule for a phone or video appointment.
• By scheduling this appointment, you agree that you are not experiencing any cold/flu like symptoms and are certifying that if any symptoms arise that you will reschedule your Counseling appointment to a phone or video appointment.

Online Video Appointment

Be prepared for the appointment as you would for an in-person appointment on campus.

• Be in a quiet and private place.
• Find a location where you will be able to communicate with the counselor effectively.  For your safety, driving during the appointment will not be allowed.
• No interruptions: do not answer phone calls, texts or surf the web during the appointment. Give your full attention to the counselor.
• Have the proper technology setup including your webcam and microphone. Use Chrome or Firefox as your browser.

Telephone Appointment

Be prepared for the appointment as you would for an in-person appointment on campus.

• A counselor will call the number you provided on the intake form within the first five minutes of your scheduled appointment time.
• You will receive an incoming call from a private number. If your phone is set to block calls from unknown or private numbers, please remove the block prior to your counseling appointment so that the call will go through.
• It will be helpful for you to have access to the internet during our counseling appointment, as we will be discussing online resources during the call.

Expectations for all appointments  

Appointments and interactions with Counselors are intended for educational purposes only. To ensure that we are engaging in a safe, secure and respectful atmosphere with students, a counselor can end any counseling session at their professional discretion if a student is being disrespectful, inappropriate or does not have proper online etiquette for video, phone, in-person or chat sessions.  

Scheduling a Counseling Appointment

Counseling appointments are scheduled in ConexEd. If you have a student account via Canvas, you can sign in by selecting the Canvas Icon or the Chaffey Login Portal. If you do not have an account, you can create a guest account by clicking on guest and creating an account.

When making an appointment be sure to select the correct meeting location desired. For In-person locations there are three locations available: Rancho, Chino, and Fontana campus. Reference chart above for important information for each type of appointment you are scheduling.

Important: Please use your student panther account as mentioned above to sign in when making an appointment via ConexEd (Avoid using your account linked to your personal email).  This will ensure easy check-ins for in-person appointments and that all notes are in one place for you.

Schedule appointment with a CalWorks Counselor

 

Who is Eligible?

• Parents who receive cash aid for themselves as well as their dependent children (CalWORKs/TANF) and who have or are developing a Welfare-to-Work (WTW) Plan with their employment specialist (proof of benefits must be on file each semester).
  • Apply for CalWORKs benefits at: https://benefitscal.com/
• Be in good standing with the county Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) or Department of Public Social Services (DPSS)
• Self-Initiated Participants (SIPs)
• Exempt volunteer CalWORKs recipients
• Exempt CalWORKs recipients
• Be enrolled at Chaffey College
• Be in good academic standing with the college
• Single or two-parent households who are meeting county Welfare-to-Work requirements

 

Who is Not Eligible?

• Sanctioned CalWORKs students
• Sanctioned student policy: If a student has been sanctioned during a semester, services can be provided until the end of the semester; sanction must be cured by the end of the semester to continue services for the next semester.
• Parents who receive cash aid for their children only.
• Recipients of CalFresh only (food stamps), not cash aid
• “Timed-Out” of cash aid (reached the 40-month time limit and no longer eligible for cash aid)
• Individuals receiving SSI
• Tribal TANF

 

Steps to Becoming a Chaffey College CalWORKs Student

• Receive adult portion of cash aid for yourself as well as your dependent children
• Submit a free application for admission to Chaffey College by applying online, or connect virtually for Live Support.
• Apply for financial aid through the completion of a FAFSA application for the current academic year by applying online, or call (909) 652-6199 for assistance
• Complete the Chaffey College orientation and placement process for English and Math by scheduling an appointment online through the Chaffey College placement page or call (909) 652-6200 for assistance
• Schedule an appointment with a Chaffey College CalWORKs counselor to create your educational plan in person by visiting the Administration Building, Room 190 or by calling (909) 652-6045

 

Student Responsibilities

Each semester, you are required to:

• Provide verification of cash aid benefits in the form of a notice of action, passport to services, or verification of benefits
• Pay non-enrollment fees
• Schedule an appointment to meet with a Chaffey College CalWORKs counselor one month prior to the start of the term
• Complete a comprehensive educational plan with a Chaffey College CalWORKs counselor
• Register online through the portal within MyChaffeyVIEW or in person with the Admissions and Records Office at the Rancho, Chino, or Fontana campuses on or after your assigned registration date
• Obtain an Ancillary Book Request from your Chaffey College CalWORKs counselor to obtain county assistance with required textbooks for eligible classes
• Attend the first class meeting to avoid a potential drop by your instructor
• Maintain a total of 20/30/35 hours of academic and/or other approved activities based on your Welfare-To-Work/GAIN activity requirement
• Provide a copy of your Welfare-To-Work plan
• Attend at least one mid-term appointment with your Chaffey College CalWORKs counselor to review your progress
• Attend at least one personal/professional development workshop provided by the Chaffey College CalWORKs Program for Parents and/or other approved departments on campus
• Maintain satisfactory progress defined by 2.0 GPA or higher
• Notify your Chaffey College CalWORKs counselor before you make any changes to your classes or approved activities
• Ensure you activate your panther email and check it regularly for important program information
• Participate in a Chaffey College CalWORKs program for parents “welcome back” information session (fall semester)

 

As a student in the CalWORKs program, you have access to:

• Assistance with admissions, financial aid, scholarship applications, and other forms
• Priority registration
• Academic and personal counseling
• Textbook and parking assistance available through the county when your case is in compliance and education is approved as a Welfare-To-Work/GAIN activity
• Student centered service and assistance from CalWORKs program staff
• Program advocacy for supportive services from the county and community
• CalWORKs Work Study job placement opportunities and subsidized on-campus employment for eligible students
• Work readiness support
• Opportunities for support and peer networking
• Personal and professional development workshops
• Recognition events
• General school supplies
• Additional student resources throughout the semester

 

What is CalWORKs work study?

The Program provides valuable work experience with paid employment opportunities on campus that enable you to meet Welfare-To-Work/GAIN activity requirements while pursuing an educational program at Chaffey College.

 

What are the goals and benefits of CalWORKs Work Study?

Goals

• Provide you with work experience to increase your marketability upon completion of an educational program
• Provide you with an additional source of income within the requirements of the CalWORKs program

 

Benefits

Satisfy a portion of required CalWORKs hours

• Earn income through work study that does not affect CalWORKs cash aid
• Obtain paid work experience to develop skills related to your field of study
• Gain valuable on-the-job training
• Receive mentorship from CalWORKs work study and college staff

 

What are the eligibility requirements for CalWORKs work study?

You must be:

• A CalWORKs adult cash aid recipient in good standing with the county
• Enrolled at Chaffey College with an approved educational plan
• At least a second semester student at Chaffey College
• Enrolled in at least 6 units
• In good academic standing with a cumulative 2.0 GPA

 

In compliance with academic, conduct and performance standards required by the CalWORKs program for parents and Chaffey College

Additional Information

For additional information about CalWORKs work study, please contact the Chaffey College CalWORKs program for parents at (909) 652-6045, or visit the office located in the administration building, room 190.

We have three locations to serve you:

• Rancho Cucamonga Campus
  AD-190
  5885 Haven Avenue
  Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737

 

• Chino Campus
  Chino Main Building
  5897 College Park Avenue
  Chino, CA 91710
  By appointment only

 

• Fontana Campus
  16855 Merrill Avenue
  Fontana, CA 92335
  By appointment only