County Offers Back To Work Programs

This information is provided by Hillsborough County:

Hillsborough County’s Social Services Division has a new focus on long-term self-sufficiency for residents, and has funded several back-to-work programs through its Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds to help residents in that goal.

The four programs are below:

• Adult Education Financial Assistance – County will pay for eligible residents to take the TABE testing used at the beginning of the GED process, attend GED prep classes, take the GED test, and attend English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes. The resident’s case manager will determine which of these services are required to complete a GED, based upon the resident’s TABE score.

• Hospitality Training – County will pay for residents interested in a career in hotel guest services to attend a nine-week training program provided by Hillsborough Community College. Residents must be able to attend the entire day-time training program. Following the completion of the program, students will receive follow-up assistance in gaining a job.

• Employment Training Financial Assistance – County will provide financial assistance, as deemed necessary, to residents for employment-related training that will lead to employment upon completion.  The resident’s case manager will determine the type of training, length of term and costs that are eligible for assistance.

• After-School Care Financial Assistance – County will pay for after-school care for the school-age children of limited number of eligible residents to allow them to maintain their work schedule. Child-care must be provided by a licensed childcare provider, and resident must provide proof and cost of child care services provided.

These programs have a limited number of openings and are first-come, first served. Funding is currently only available through September 30. Depending on the success of these programs, they may be re-funded next fiscal year.

To be eligible, residents must have a household income that is 125 percent below the federal poverty guidelines.  For example, this means less than $13,962.50 for a single person or less than $28,812.50 for a family of four. The complete chart that shows the income limits for all household sizes is on the Social Services webpage. Proof of income must be provided for all household members for the past 12 months.

Residents that participate in these programs also must be willing to meet with a County Social Services case manager at their local Neighborhood Service Center to create a plan for obtaining self-sufficiency and to discuss their progress.

In addition when applying for these programs, residents must provide picture identification, Social Service cards for all members of the household, documentation of U.S. citizenship or proof of legal resident status, and two proofs of Hillsborough County residency.

For more information and to find if they are eligible for these programs, residents should visit or contact their nearest County Neighborhood Service Center and speak with a case manager.  Spanish-speaking case managers are available at the Centers.

The Centers are located at:

Lee Davis Center

3402 N. 22nd St.

Tampa, FL 33605

Phone: 813-272-5220

Plant City Center

307 N. Michigan

Plant City, FL 33563

Phone: 813-757-3871

SouthShore Center

201 14th Ave. SE

Ruskin, FL 33570

Phone: 813-671-7648

University Community Resource Center

13605 N. 22nd St.

Tampa, FL 33613

Phone: 813-975-2153

West Tampa Center

2103 N. Rome Ave.

Tampa, FL 33607

Phone: 813-272-5074 

Midtown Center

2410 Tampa St.

Tampa, FL 33602

Phone: 813-276-2976