Welfare Program

The ZuCan program helps participants create a plan to gain the skills and work experience they need to get a job and move up the career ladder. ZuCan participants will meet with a career coach “one-on-one” to clarify their career goals and outline the steps to reach those goals. These steps may include working with employers to gain work experience and/or going to school.

Like a scholarship or other employment programs, participants may receive a small cash stipend as long as they continue their program activities. These activities are designed to help participants gain the skills that employers are seeking, so they can get a job. Participants may also receive support services, such as childcare or money to pay a portion of transportation expenses. If participants stop completing their activities, the cash stipend ends along with all support services.

How can individuals join the ZuCan program?
If you or someone you know is interested in joining the ZuCan program, visit www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/, which is the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Automated Community Connection to Economic Self-Sufficiency (ACCESS) system. Simply complete the application and select to receive cash assistance. You may also select to receive food stamps in addition to the cash stipend. If you would like to participate in an easier program with less activities, you may select to receive food stamps only and not the cash assistance.

Who can join the ZuCan program?
Parents who have a child under the age of 19 living in the home while attending primary, junior or secondary education programs are able to join and receive ZuCan services. If a woman is pregnant in her third trimester and cannot work fulltime, the woman may also join the ZuCan program to begin outlining a career plan and start gaining skills to reach goals outlined in the career plan. Individuals who do not have a minor child living in the home may participate in less intensive activities while receiving food stamps.

Individuals interested in the program may go to the ACCESS website and click on the “Prescreening” icon, which offers a tool to find out if they are eligible. Simply enter the appropriate information, and the system will automatically indicate if the individuals are eligible to join the program and receive benefits.

What if an individual has a limitation preventing him or her from participating in activities 35 hours per week?
Our career coaches will help everyone who wants to participate. Even if an individual has a an issue that prevents him/her from working fulltime, our staff will work with the participant to review the situation, clarify goals, and outline the weekly activities the participant must complete to reach his/her goals. Do not hesitate to join ZuCan.

What happens after individuals complete an application on the ACCESS website?
Unless the applicant is caring for a disabled family member who lives in the home or is receiving cash assistance to care for a relative’s child, the applicant will be required to participate in the program immediately. The applicant will not receive a cash stipend until (s)he begins the program. After completing the online application through the ACCESS system, the applicant will be directed to watch a webinar, Introduction to the ZuCan Program. If the applicant decides to join the program, he/she will be directed to download and print the ZuCan Assessment Form, which includes a calendar of activities. The applicant will be required to start program activities by completing the steps outlined on the this calendar.

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