DPSS Annual Report 24_25 FLIP v16_compressed

Self-Sufficiency Division

CalWORKs

Programs Align to Help Job Seekers Gain Skills and Overcome Obstacles

Expanded Subsidized Employment Celebrates 10 Years of Partnership, Progress and Possibility Employment (ESE) is marking a decade of impact in Riverside County. Piloted in Fiscal Year 2013/14 and officially launched the following year, ESE has consistently opened doors to opportunity for resi dents facing barriers to work. More than 4,000 participants have gained paid ex perience and taken meaningful steps to ward long-term self-sufficiency through subsidized employment placements over the past decade. As ESE enters its 11th year, its purpose continues: helping Riverside County residents build skills, overcome obstacles, and transition into stable, unsubsidized employment. Expanded Subsidized so much,” Garcia said. She became comfortable operating office equip ment, assisting customers, scheduling appointments, uploading documents and participating in meetings. Most im portantly, Garcia said she gained confi dence to communicate with profession als in a workplace setting. Her commitment led to a Temporary Assignment Program position through ESE. In March 2025, she began a tem porary role in Lake Elsinore, where she quickly adapted to the responsibilities of an Office Assistant. That experience opened the door to the new permanent position she holds today, a starting point as Garcia continues building her profes sional career. “I am truly blessed and so thankful to ev eryone who has helped me on my jour ney,” Garcia said.

The Expanded Subsidized Employment (ESE) and Work Experience (WEX) pro grams are aligned in purpose, creating a pathway that helps Welfare-to-Work participants secure full-time employ ment and move toward independence from CalWORKs programs. Employment Services Counselors work directly with participants to identify strengths, set career goals, and connect them with opportunities that support long-term stability. Participants gain experience with lo cal employers through contracted ESE placements, while others take on tem porary roles within Riverside County departments. For individuals who need additional training or time to build con Yasmin Garcia now works as a perma nent Office Assistant II with Riverside University Health System—Behavioral Health, a role that once felt out of reach when she was working in warehousing at age 18 and later staying at home to raise two children. When she made the de cision to reenter the workforce, she set sights on a career that offered stability, growth and a clear path forward for her family. Garcia’s progress reflects the positive impact of the county’s Expanded Sub sidized Employment (ESE) and Work Experience (WEX) programs, which pro vide hands-on training, structured sup port and pathways into both public ser vice and private sector careers. Job Club, a mandatory five-day prepa ration course, marked a turning point. Covering job applications, resumes, in terview practice, local job openings and confidence building, the sessions helped

fidence before entering the workforce, the WEX program offers volunteer as signments, gaining valuable on-the-job training and essential professional skills.

394 Welfare-to-Work participants gain hands-on experience through WEX assignments 359 Expanded Subsidized Employment participants secure meaningful employment

Warehouses to Welfare-to-Work: Young Mom Builds New Future for Family Through Career Pathways

Garcia see her goals as attainable. “An interest I felt was far from my reach started coming closer,” she said. With guidance from her Employment Ser vices Counselor, she returned to school, volunteered and approached the hiring process with new clarity and purpose. WEX expanded her abilities further. “For someone with very little office experi ence, WEX gave me the chance to grow

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