CalWORKs
The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Program at College of the Desert provides intentional and intensive support services and resources to parenting and/or expecting parenting students who are CalWORKs recipients. Our program works in collaboration with the Riverside County Department of Social Services (DPSS) and GAIN to offer support services that will assist students with navigating and successful completion of their educational and career goals. The primary purpose of the CalWORKs program is to prepare and equip our students with the necessary tools to becoming self-sufficient and successful. We aim to increase employability of CalWORKs students through achievement of higher education and work-study experiences in order to transition from public assistance to sustained economic self-sufficiency.
Our program provides individualized academic, career, and transfer counseling from dedicated counselors in order to identify a clear path to the student’s educational goal and create a student educational plan to guide students on their path. We utilize a case management model, which ensures that we are intentional at connecting our students to resources and providing equitable services designed to increase their success and assist with reaching their goals.
The CalWORKs program is dedicated to providing the following essential support services and resources to its students:
- Priority registration
- Work study opportunities
- Assistance with job placement
- Transportation assistance
- Meal cards
- Educational supplies
- Individualized counseling services
- Assistance with meeting County compliance requirements
- Referrals to campus and community resources
- Textbook assistance
- CalWORKs grants (dependent on funding for the year)
*Support services and resources are not limited to this list. Availability for some may vary semester to semester.
For more information, please visit the College of the Desert CalWORKs webpage and/or email us at calworksinfo@collegeofthedesert.edu or call us at 760.862.1343. We are located on the second floor of the Cravens Student Services Center.
