Children First is an employment and training program for Non-Custodial Parents (NCPs) who have a court-ordered support obligation. The goal of Children First is to help customers gain and retain employment while strengthening their relationship with their children.
CW Solutions, through sub-contracts, currently provides Children First services in Portage and Oneida counties. We transitioned Children First customers in Wood County to the more robust ELEVATE program.
Program Activities
Children First has the following activities available to help NCPs achieve their goals and comply with their court order:
Employment Search
- Targeted job leads with connected employers
- Assistance with Applications
- Resume Development
Job readiness Activities
- Budgeting Assistance
- Computer Basics
- Job Readiness Activities
- Parenting Classes
Education & Training
- Adult Basic Education
- GED/HSED
- Certifications
Work Experience
Program Requirements
Children First participants are first and foremost subject to the specific requirements in their court order. In order for a participant to satisfy Children First program requirements, they must complete one of the following within 12 months of enrollment:
If a Children First participant does not complete assigned activities for a given week (even if there is good cause), it cannot count as a completed week towards the 16 weeks of program engagement.
Support Services
The Children First program has limited funding to assist participants with their activities. A participant is eligible for up to $25 in transportation reimbursement (either gas cards or taxi tickets) per month. We work closely with community resources to help with other needs.
Children First participants who are receiving FoodShare assistance can co-enroll in the FoodShare Employment & Training (FSET) program which has significantly more resources to help with support services including additional transportation reimbursement assistance, interview clothing, uniforms and other job-related needs.
Program Staff
Supervisor: Nikki Holder l 715-216-9310 l This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Wood & Portage Counties
Troy Lee l 715-540-6676 l This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Oneida County
Ruthie Lesch l 715-490-1015 l This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.