Clients must be referred by the Philadelphia County Assistance Office to participate in these programs.

Programs:

• Single Point of Contact (SPOC Program) (Job-specific skills training)
• Work Plus (Services for individuals who have received TANF benefits for at least 60 months)
• Fatherhood Initiative (Assists custodial or non-custodial fathers, ages 18 or older, in the obtainment of education and training.)
• Pregnant & Parenting Youth (Serves youth between the ages of 18-22 who are either pregnant or parenting a child under the age of six.)

• In order to participate in PWDC programs funded by the Department of Public Welfare, your client must be referred by the Philadelphia County Assistance Office (PCAO).

• If your client has been on welfare for 2 years or more, she is required to participate in an approved activity, unless she has an exemption from the Department of Public Welfare. If she is not participating, she is at risk of losing her benefits.

• You should ask to see your client’s Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR) to make sure she is doing what she is required to do. If she does not have a copy of her AMR, or if she is not sure what her responsibilities are, advise her to contact her Career Development Unit (CDU) worker. If she does not know her worker, she can call the district office and they will connect her to her worker.

• For referral to a PWDC program, your client will receive a notice from the PCAO instructing her to come into the office for an orientation. Your client should respond to the notice immediately – if she cannot keep the appointment for a good reason, she should call the PCAO office to reschedule. Missing an appointment may affect her eligibility for benefits. (The PCAO offices will see clients after regular business hours if needed for good reason, by appointment.)

• During the orientation, PCAO will determine your client’s status and she/he will receive information on ALL of the programs for which she is eligible. The CDU worker may give her information or she may attend a presentation by a contracted provider. The client can choose which program is best for her from among the options presented.

• Once she selects a program, she will complete an AMR that describes the steps she will take to achieve self-sufficiency. The AMR will include information about the program as well as other steps she needs to take (for example have her children immunized, or enroll in parenting classes). The development of the AMR is important and you should make sure it does not conflict with her FSP. You may accompany her to the AMR session to make sure the plans are consistent. If the worker does not allow you to accompany your client, speak with the Assistant District Administrator.

• Your client will be informed in writing about the program location, the date and time when she will need to report there, the participation requirements, and any other pertinent information. If she cannot keep the appointment for a good reason, she should call to reschedule. Missing an appointment may affect her eligibility for benefits.

• Once she is enrolled, your client will be assigned to a case manager. This person will help her to get child care and transportation allowances, and will be her support during program participation. The case manager should give your client her full name and telephone number. Your client should receive an informational brochure about the program and the case manager should explain the program requirements in detail. Any questions or problems with the program should be directed to the case manager.