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WORK EXPERIENCE COMPONENT: WORK ACTIVITY Description of the component. Provide a summary of the activities and services. Participation in Work Activity provides an individual with an opportunity to acquire the general skills, knowledge, and work habits necessary to obtain employment. The purpose of the work activity is to improve the employability of those who cannot find unsubsidized full-time employment. Work activities may be paid or unpaid, as appropriate, and consistent with other laws. A participant’s unpaid work activity hours must not exceed the household’s CalFresh monthly allotment divided by the state or local minimum wage, whichever is higher. Additional hours are permitted if the participant receives compensation at a rate at least equal to the state or local minimum wage, whichever is highest. Work activities can include entry-level skill building and work such as retail, landscaping, production, etc. Each provider can develop their work activity program with the intent to move the participant into regular unsubsidized employment. Services provided to the participant vary, but below are some examples of what the participant can receive: - San Diego County's partner, Solutions for Change, offers Employment Related Training (ERT), a program that provides hard and soft skill training to participants that are enrolled in the Solutions Academy. Soft skills gained include: • Teamwork, Communication, problem-solving skills, adaptability, work ethic, time management and conflict resolution. The goal of ERT is for participants to gain self-sufficiency skills, learn commitment, accountability, and a sense of ethics and structure. Each participant is made a site lead so they can work on their leadership skills, delegation, decision making, and integrity. The hard skills learned for front desk are directing calls, making copies, data entry, and professionalism. The hard skills learned for community engagement support are data entry, storytelling, public speaking, phone etiquette, computer skills and teamwork. The skills participants learn in the maintenance department is painting, basic plumbing, installing toilets/faucets, minor repairs, basic landscaping cleaning, sanitizing, carpet cleaning and use of common tools. This is possible by providing participants with responsibilities and work duties at ERT sites. At the end of the ERT phase at SFC, each participant is prepared for obstacles in the workplace. Additionally, they have the resources needed to obtain employment and break generational cycles of poverty and dependency. ERT is three months on average and includes five phases: • Intake – participants begin working with SFC and are assessed to identify what supports they will need. • New Beginnings 1 – participants receive training and work at defined work sites or in the administrative office). The majority of ERT is at SFCs main location on California Ave. as well as surrounding properties that SFC owns. Participants also go offsite to properties that are managed by SFC and outreach events. • New Beginnings 2 – participants continue to receive training while beginning to search for employment. • Solutions 1 – participants receive support for six months after employment to assist in their transition. Participants typically only spend 4 months in this program- during Solution 1 participants are typically out of the E&T program • Solutions 2 – participants receive more limited assistance as they have demonstrated that they can succeed and are ready to transition from SFC. The goal of the program is for all participants to be employed by the conclusion of New Beginnings 2. SFC’s 1/28/26, 11:04 AM State Plan CA FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-cafy26stateplan//index.html 124/286