Human Services - Help to Hire Program

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

Placer County Employment Services implemented the Help to Hire subsidized employment program on October 1, 2011. The program was launched in an effort to increase employment opportunities for CalWORKs recipients and help small business during the Great Recession. This partnership between Economic Development and Health and Human Services created a win/win scenario for both participants and businesses by creating jobs and easing the strain of the recession on the small business community. The program resulted in 26 hires in the first year and 35 hires in the second year. In February 2014, Placer County received additional funds to expand the existing program. The expansion created additional opportunities to place participants in public and private non-profit work assignments to build their skills and experience and included internships and training programs for new hires. The county contracted with The Community College Foundation as the employer of record and participants were paid minimum wage for a 6 month period. Participants concurrently looked for employment while attending workshops and recruiting events geared to helping them find unsubsidized employment. In 2014, Placer County’s Help to Hire Program reimbursed over $500,000 in wages to the local business community and helped 92 individuals in securing unsubsidized employment.