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How does someone qualify for the Mature Worker Program?

All program participants must meet age, income, and residency requirements (live in one of the counties served by the Program) and be unemployed. To apply and find out if you are eligible, contact the office nearest you.

What does "low income" mean?

Your income must be below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. But not all income is counted, so it is best to contact the office to find out if you are eligible.

What is done after I apply to the program?

I. Eligibility Determination and Initial Assessment
II. Orientation/Intake
III. Individual Employment Plan
IV. Assignment to Train at a Host Agency
V. Evaluation/Monitoring
VI. Unsubsidized Employment
VII. Follow-Up
 

I. Initial Assessment and Eligibility Determination
This step consists of an interview with a case manager, completing an application, providing information about your background, work history, job interests and skills, documentation of family size and income, and determination of your willingness and ability to achieve the program goal of unsubsidized employment. Your eligibility will be reviewed by our staff before you can complete the application intake process, attend the program orientation, and be sent for an interview at a prospective training agency.

II. Orientation/Intake
Once your eligibility has been verified, you will receive a program orientation. Details about program policies and procedures will be explained and you will be given a participant handbook. It is important that you ask questions during this process so that you have a full understanding of the goals and expectations of the program before being assigned to a training host agency.

III. Individual Employment Plan (IEP)
The initial assessment provides the foundation for your IEP, which is a contract and step by step plan of your training activities. It serves as your personal roadmap to unsubsidized employment. It is created by you and your case manager, designed to specifically assist in meeting your job goals and the goals of the program. It may list the need for training that requires attendance in a classroom environment, self guided training or learning available through the program. Refusal to follow through with steps outlined and agreed upon in the IEP may be cause for program dismissal.

IV. Host Agency Training Assignment
Once the program orientation and IEP have been completed, participants are sent for an interview at an appropriate agency. The participant and host agency supervisor seek to make a successful match. The goal is for the training assignment to provide the skills identified in the assessment to make the participant more marketable in the field of employment interest and where they are most likely to succeed. Through training, you strengthen and build skills and behaviors needed to be successful in obtaining a job and keeping it. You will learn skills required for the training assignment position and will receive feedback from your site supervisor and assigned case manager throughout the program. The training site provides a realistic job environment to aid you in being successful after you leave the MWP.

V. Evaluation
You and the host agency will be monitored. The IEP is updated twice each year. You may be rotated from one host agency to another once you have mastered the skills in your training assignment. This enables you to continue receiving training to help you reach your employment goals.

VI. Unsubsidized Employment (UE)
UE is when you are hired off the program by an employer or your training site. Unsubsidized employment and increased self-sufficiency are the goals of the program.

VII. Follow-Up
An important component of the program is helping participants keep their jobs after they are hired off the program. Prior program participants are contacted for up to 15 months after job placement to see how they are doing. Resources may be recommended during that time to help participants with any barriers that may affect continued employment.

Will I be paid while being trained?

The program pays the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher, usually for 15- 20 hours a week.

How long may I remain in the Program?

Currently, the durational limit for participants is 48 months. While in the Program, a job seeker is in a training status. The goal of the MWP is for you to find employment off of the program.

Can I take training classes?

MWP may help you find Specialized Training depending on your employment goal. Specialized training may take place either a community college, vocational school, community service agency or at another location. Examples may include: computer training, customer service training, security guard training, home health aide training, commercial driver training, and other opportunities.

What if I need a job and I don't qualify for the MWP?

If you don't qualify, locate your nearest One-Stop Career Center online or call 1-800-US2-JOBS for help finding job leads, training and other services. In addition, if you are at least 50+ but under the age limit (55) or over income, you are encouraged to check with a local MWP office because staff are knowledgeable about the local community and can provide you with referrals to assist you with your job search.

What type of work would I do at a Host Agency?

Program participants serve as receptionists, computer operators, health care workers, drivers, maintenance workers, library aides, outreach workers and much more.