JobLink | ALEXANDRIA WORKS

Alexandria Works Teams!

Alexandria Works Teams! is the result of the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW) program created in 1996 under the Governor’s initiative to address Welfare Reform.  VIEW is an employment program designed with emphasis on work first in conjunction with education and training when it may enhance the participant’s ability to become self-sufficient.  It is designed to assist customers who receive temporary assistance to overcome social and employment barriers.  Every participant is required to seek employment.  To support the state’s plan for Welfare Reform and address the needs of the immediate area, the City of Alexandria created Alexandria Works! in 1998.  The program goals are to offer Alexandrians living in poverty the opportunity to:

>> Twenty-four (24) months of eligibility for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) to parents with children in the home
>> Allow families living in poverty to contribute materially to their own self-sufficiency
>> Job counseling, job search and job readiness training
>> Supportive services – transportation, daycare, outreach (i.e. mental health, utility assistance, mentoring, substance abuse)
>> Establish accountability and expectations of recipients for public assistance
>> Obtain work skills necessary for self-sufficiency
>> Community Work Experience Program (CWEP)

CWEP is a component of VIEW that ensures participants are in a work activity by the 95th day of referral from the Eligibility Worker.  CWEP was awarded to the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau to place participants in worksite placements in one (1) month or less from the time of the CWEP interview.

Food Stamp Employment and Training Program (FSET)
FSET is a multi-component employment and training program that provides job search training, education, training and work experience to non-public assistance food stamp recipients.  The Eligibility Worker determines if the food stamp registrant is mandatory to participate in the FSET program.  The program’s goal is to provide recipients with opportunities that will lead to paid employment and decrease dependency on assistance programs.

Bridges to Practice
Bridges to Practice is a research-based program designed to provide services to TANF adults with learning disabilities.  The goal is to place adults with learning disabilities into jobs that lead to self-sufficiency.  Follow-up services such as job coaching and employment accommodations are provided to customers.

All eligibility requirement procedures start at the Department of Human Services (DHS) located on 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue; Alexandria, Virginia 22314.  Applicants may walk into DHS to schedule an appointment with an Intake Worker to apply for TANF.

After the eligibility referral process has been completed, please bring the following documents to Alexandria Works! located at 2026 Eisenhower Avenue:

1. Valid Photo Identification
2. Birth Certificate(s) of Child(ren)
3. Verification of Rent/Utilities
4. Social Security Card
5. Verification of Residency
6. Verification of Income
7. Bank Statements

The process takes approximately forty-five (45) days once the eligibility application has been completed.  Upon approval, the customer is assigned to an AlexandriaWorks! team to start the process of job-readiness.

Recipients who are currently receiving TANF can still be referred to the VIEW program as a mandatory registrant or on a volunteer basis.

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