Tax Preparation Training and Work Experience Program

About the Program

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

Year: 2010

The County of San Bernardino Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) recruited California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Work Experience (WEX) customers to complete basic tax returns for low-income individuals. All participants completing tax returns were paid through Welfare-to-Work (WTW) subsidized employment for their participation in the Tax Preparation Training and Work Experience Program. This activity assisted customers to not only meet their monthly Work Participation Rate (WPR), but it also gave them the opportunity to receive valuable work experience. Participating WEX customers were provided formal Internal Revenue Service training, the job skills necessary to obtain unsubsidized employment, and the opportunity to build self-esteem. By utilizing WEX customers rather than staff volunteers, the county was able to provide tax preparation services to a much larger number of CalWORKs and other low-income families, which benefited the families and stimulated the local economy. Thirty-seven CalWORKs WEX customers participated in this program from January 26, 2009 to April 15, 2009. This program was provided countywide in 11 TAD district offices to make services available to the largest number of low-income families possible.