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ALISHA SERRANO: The CalWORKS program
for parents at Chaffey College is a specialized program
that serves parents who are receiving
cash aid from the county in being
successful in their education.
MICHELLE NEWSOME: What we do is we offer counseling services.
We help with paperwork to make sure
that students are staying in compliance with the county.
They have a certain number of hours per week
that they have to participate in activity.
And we help them ensure that they
are meeting the requirements of those hours
with their education.
ALISHA SERRANO: We provide a variety
of services in the community that
are designed to help parents who are
trying to succeed in school.
SPEAKER 1: Going to school and having
a family is very difficult. It takes a lot of support,
a lot of people working together collaboratively
to help one student to succeed.
But with the CalWORKS program, knowing
that your books are paid for, you get gas vouchers,
you get school supplies, as well as counseling and direction,
it really helps a person to avoid all the pitfalls.
ALISHA SERRANO: We have staff who
are familiar with the county's and the college's requirements
and can help our students successfully
navigate the college and the county requirements,
so that they can succeed and complete their program
at Chaffey College.
SPEAKER 2: I really like the fact
that they help you so much with preparing
your documents that you have to submit monthly to the CalWORKS
Department.
It just lifts off that weight from you
out of filling all those documents
and getting everything ready.
VICKIE PAPPAS: Our program offers a priority registration
for our college students, which means that they're
able to register earlier than a lot of students,
so they're able to get into the classes that they need
and complete their program in a quicker manner
than if they didn't have priority registration.
SPEAKER 3: They help me set up an educational plan.
I'm taking every class back-to-back
because sometimes they offer that class every other semester
or every two years.
And it's set me on a path towards my goal.
SPEAKER 1: I really enjoyed meeting face
to face with counselors who had a wealth of knowledge,
advising me and giving me information
to help me make the right choices and good decisions
while I was here attending school.
MICHELLE NEWSOME: Our door is always open to our students.
SABRINA SANCHEZ: We're there, whether it's
a question regarding school or class
or whether it's regarding something personal.
MICHELLE NEWSOME: I worked very hard to build that relationship
based on mutual trust and respect with the students.
SPEAKER 4: The counselors went above and beyond
besides academically helping me.
I felt that my counselor was my friend.
I'm sorry, I want to cry.
I have so much to say and I don't know how to say it.
Michelle, do you remember when I was
having problems with my mom?
It was so difficult to share that with anybody.
And you're the person that I came to share that with.
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MICHELLE NEWSOME: I'm so glad I could be there for you.
We share in the joys of our student's triumphs.
And we're there to support them through their struggles.
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SPEAKER 5: We have so many programs here.
We have great success centers.
We have tutors.
We have SI leaders which are Supplemental Instruction.
SPEAKER 3: And the teachers they got there and like amazing.
They explain the problem with you.
They're patient and they take their time.
I mean, I went in there not knowing the problems
and coming out of there, I got an A in my class.
SPEAKER 5: And it's also been very helpful
that Chaffey College helps us with day care.
And it's comforting to know that daycare is around the corner,
so I could go see my daughter anytime I want.
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VICKIE PAPPAS: Our CalWORKS work study program
is a program that assists students
with getting into an on-campus job that will work around
their school schedule.
SPEAKER 2: Which for me, that meant that I
was able to work on campus.
I didn't have to leave off campus
and the income that I made from my job here on campus
did not count against my CalWORKS benefits
because it was work study.
VICKIE PAPPAS: So it's an opportunity for them
to make some additional money to help support their family
while they are in school.
SPEAKER 4: I would recommend Chaffey College specifically
because, first, there is three campuses,
so that makes it really easy location wise,
whatever campus is closest to you.
SPEAKER 2: Just the CalWORKS stuff is just amazing.
SPEAKER 6: I'd walk into the office
and they knew me by name.
I felt at home.
SPEAKER 2: At the end of the day,
they really just become family.
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ALISHA SERRANO: Ultimately, the goals
of the CalWORKS program for parents at Chaffey College
is to help our students succeed.
We want to see them graduate from Chaffey,
to meet their goals, and transition from cash aid
to self-sufficiency.
SPEAKER 6: Two days after I passed my state boards,
I got offered a job.
And I've been working there full-time ever since.
One of the best feelings is when they called me in March
and they said you're no longer eligible for cash aid, which
is a really good feeling knowing that from here on out,
I'll be OK.
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