Effective July 1, 1995, North Carolina's AFDC and JOBS Programs became the Work First Program. Work First represents a new way of providing public assistance and employment services by stressing personal responsibility and immediate employment to those seeking public assistance. The goal of Work First is to move adults into full-time employment, thereby reducing the need for government assistance.

All Work First Family Assistance families are expected to participate in appropriate activities in the Work First Employment Program. All active participants must be assessed and participate in 20 or 30 hours or more per week in work or a combination of work, work experience and/or education and training within 12 weeks of application approval or the Work First Family Assistance (formerly known as AFDC) review month. Program components include skills training, education below the post-secondary level, post-secondary education, job readiness, job search, work experience, on-the-job training, and self initiated education and training.

The Work First program allows for the provisions of supportive services to recipients to enhance their efforts to become employed. Supportive services may include child care, transportation, participation expenses and referrals to other services.

The Work First staff provides case management services that include developing a self-sufficient plan that provides opportunity and resources. The goal of Work First is to motivate and encourage parents to obtain employment. Collaborative and coordinating efforts with other agencies are part of the service to help individuals secure and maintain employment.

The Work First Family Assistance Program, is built upon the premise that all people have a responsibility to their families and community to work and to provide for their children. WFFA encourages self-sufficiency, responsibility, independence and employment. WFFA requires people to get a job, paid or unpaid in short term training, or both for at least 30 hours per week, within 12 weeks of receiving their first WFFA check, unless they are exempt.

WFFA provides financial assistance to families with children. To be eligible for assistance under this program, the children must be deprived of parental support or care because of the death of one or both parents, the continued absence of one or both parents from the home, or due to the physical or mental incapacity of a parent. In certain cases a pregnant woman who does not have any children, may also receive assistance. Families must meet certain income and reserve requirements.

In addition, all adult applicants & recipients must sign a Personal Responsibility Contract that details the requirements for receiving assistance.

WFFA is limited to two years for families who are actively participating in Work First Activities.

Benefits are capped. Children born after a family has been in WFFA longer than 10 months will be denied cash benefits.

Teen parents under age 18 must live at home and stay in school.

Families eligible for WFFA automatically receive Medicaid, which helps with the cost of medical expenses, and food stamps.

Through the Unemployed Parent Program, we can also provide financial and medical assistance to families in which both parents are in the home. The children must be deprived of parental support because the parent who is the principle wage earner is temporarily unemployed or under employed. Through this program, families are encouraged to stay together, even in times of trouble.