Employment and Training Services

The Employment and Training Branch of Social Services in the Department of Health & Human Services administers an array of education, employment and vocational training programs for Marin county residents. These services in Marin are provided in three programs:

• CalWORKs Employment Services
• General Assistance Employment Program
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program/Marin Employment Connection

CalWORKs Employment Services
120 North Redwood Drive - East Wing
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 473-3350  Fax (415) 473-3355
Office Hours:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

CalWORKs (California Work Opportunities and Responsibility for Kids) Employment Services provides comprehensive case management services to recipients of TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families). These services are spelled out for an individual in a Welfare-to-Work plan and may include vocational assessment, mental health, substance abuse or domestic abuse evaluations as needed. Vocational training, educational activities and support services are provided to support these activities. The goal of the program is to facilitate clients reaching family self-sufficiency. Cal-Learn is the portion of the program that supports pregnant and parenting teens.

CalWORKs Employment Services assists recipients of TANF to reduce or eliminate their need for cash assistance through the provision of employment and training services which lead to permanent employment. CalWORKs Employment Services is located at 120 North Redwood Drive in San Rafael. You may apply for participation in this program by asking your TANF Eligibility Worker for a referral or by calling (415) 473-3350 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

General Assistance Employment Program
120 North Redwood Drive - West Wing,
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 473-3480  Fax (415) 473-3555
Office Hours:
8:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Operated with County General Fund (80%) and Food Stamps Employment and training (FSET) (20%) dollars. The Public Assistance Branch provides re-employment of first-time employment services to job ready indigent residents who are not eligible for other types of public assistance. Services include job-seeking skills training and job placement. Participants with some degree of medically verified incapacity are provided with psychiatric and medical assessments to determine the degree of their employability, and job placement services are tailored to their needs. Advocacy assistance is also provided to identify other forms of non-County assistance for which recipients may be eligible, and to assist them in the application process.

To apply for General Assistance, which, if you are found eligible, provides cash aid to assist you until you are able to attain self-sufficiency, you must apply in person, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Your eligibility will be based on a number of factors, such as your income, property, assets and ability to be employed. The office is located at 120 North Redwood Drive in San Rafael. For further information phone 473-3480.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program/Marin Employment Connection (MEC)

Marin Employment Connection (MEC)
120 North Redwood Drive - East Wing
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 473-3300   Fax (415) 473-3333
Office Hours:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program is a federal/state/local partnership utilizing federal Department of Labor dollars. Services are offered at three levels. Core services - job search assistance and labor market information - are available to all persons and are provided through the Marin Employment Connection's Career Resource Center. There are no eligibility requirements for core services. For dislocated workers or under or unemployed persons who meet eligibility requirements there is the possibility of more in-depth job assistance and training funds. Youth services are available to youth (ages 14 to 22) who are considered high risk.

The Marin Employment Connection (www.marinemployment.org) is a network of community agencies and educational institutions, which work collaboratively to provide employment and training services to both job/training seekers and employers.

Additionally, the Board of Supervisors appoints a Workforce Investment Board a group of 29 volunteers who approve public policy process for the MEC, advise the Board of Supervisors on matters related to employment, training and workforce issues and propose and recommend strategies for service delivery for WIA funds.

MEC is a public and private partnership operated by the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services and the Workforce Investment Board of Marin County. This WIA Title I financially-assisted activity or program is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer/program. Auxilliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.