Whatcom Community College
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Education for parents receiving Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF)
WorkFirst eligibility
You must be:
- A parent of a child 18 years or younger, pregnant, or other qualifying family member.
- Currently receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), cash assistance from DSHS.
- Approved for education or training and referred by your DSHS WorkFirst Program Specialist (case manager).
Educational programs available
Basic education
- Improve fundamental skills for work-related purposes.
- Strengthen math & English skills.
- High school equivalency/GED
- Adult high school completion
- Career exploration
Job skills training
- Prep classes for professional-technical certificates
- Upgrade job skills
- Computer training
- Nursing Assistant (selective entry)
Vocational education (certificates)
- Accounting & finance
- Business administration
- Computer information systems
- Criminal justice
- Early childhood education
- Hospitality tourism
- Massage practitioner (selective entry)
- Medical assisting (selective entry)
- Office administration
- Patient care navigation & coordination
WorkFirst only covers prep classes for degrees listed below. These programs are selective entry.
- Nursing
- Physical therapist assistant
- Visual communications
Next steps
- Contact your DSHS WorkFirst Program Specialist (case manager) to ask if you are eligible to be referred to WCC's WorkFirst program.
- Develop a plan with your case manager.
- Contact the WorkFirst staff at Whatcom.
- Apply for TANF or call 877.5010.2233.