DPSS Annual Report 24_25 FLIP v16_compressed

Self-Sufficiency Division

CalWORKs

Riverside County Closes Federal Fiscal Year 2024 with CalWORKs Participation Gains

Riverside County closed the federal fis cal year 2024 with a 66.7 percent All Families Work Participation Rate and a 65.6 percent Two Parent rate, reflecting steady engagement in required work ac tivities across the CalWORKs program. CalWORKs, or California Work Oppor tunity and Responsibility to Kids, is the state’s public assistance program that provides cash aid, housing, food and services to low‑income families with children. CalWORKs is funded through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant and adminis tered by counties across the state. Parents also receive access to employ ment services through Welfare to Work, including job search support, training, education, childcare, transportation and other tools that help them prepare for and secure work. Counties may also connect families with housing resources, mental health services, substance use

treatment and domestic abuse support based on individual needs.

mine continued need. The program’s structure reflects the shift from an en titlement model to a work-centered approach, with an emphasis on helping parents achieve lasting economic inde pendence. The federal All Families Rate measures participation among all CalWORKs households with a work-eligible adult, while the Two Parent rate focuses only on households with two work-eligible parents. California calculates these rates each month by reviewing a representa tive sample of CalWORKs cases fund ed by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The reviews show how fami lies are participating in assigned activ ities and help ensure that services are supporting progress toward self-suffi ciency. The participation rate is a core accountability measure. In federal fiscal year 2024, Riverside County reviewed more than 1,445 cases as part of the statewide process.

CalWORKs is designed to promote family stability and long‑term self‑suf ficiency by pairing financial assistance with employment-focused services. Eligibility is based on income, residency and family circumstances, and families participate in regular reviews to deter CalWORKs is designed to promote family stability and long‑term self‑sufficiency by pairing financial assistance with employment-focused services.

Work Participation

All Families Rate Two Parent Rate

80

66.7 65.7

64.3

70

61.9

59.5 60.3 59.1

56.7

56.8

60

53.5

53.1 52.9 53.8

51.2

46.4

44.0

50

40.9 42.8

38.5

38.4

40

30

20

10

2015

2016 2017

2018 2019 2020 2021

2022 2023 2024

74

Riverside County Department of Public Social Services | Annual Report 2024 - 2025