Q1. What are my options for college education with First-to-Work?
Q2. My work exemption will end in two months. I want to go to school. How do I participate in Bridge to Hope?
Q3. How many hours do I need to work?
Q4. I want to go to school as part of my UFUE or First-to-Work requirements. What do I do?
Q5. What are “core” hours?
Q6. How does the 20-hour FTW Post-Secondary Education Option work?

Q1. What are my options for college education with First-to-Work?

Students enrolled in college may include education and classroom hours as part of their First-to-Work “work requirements.” Check these charts for more details.

Q2. My work exemption will end in two months. I want to go to school. How do I participate in Bridge to Hope?

To receive childcare, and transportation assistance from First-to-Work, you have to be a FTW client fulfilling all work requirements. Understanding your exemption from work is important and too complicated to be answered in a FAQ. Call the UH System-wide Coordinator Teresa Bill at 956-8059 to discuss your options and the UH academic calendar. See the Back to College Resource Page.

Q3. How many hours do I need to work?

The number of hours and what activities count towards fulfilling the First-to-Work requirements varies depending on a number of factors. Check these charts for more details.

Q4. I want to go to school as part of my UFUE or First-to-Work requirements. What do I do?

If you are already enrolled when you are referred to UFUE or First-to-Work, inform your case manager when you meet to discuss work requirements. See How Many Hours do I Need to Work? to review the options.

To prepare for a discussion with your case manager, you may also call either the BTH System-wide Coordinator (956-8059) or a Bridge to Hope contact at the school you are interested in attending.

If you are not yet enrolled at a University of Hawai’i campus, click on Back to College resources page for general info about applying to UH campuses and Financial Aid. Once you have done some research and decided which campus /program you are interested in you may want to to call the Bridge-to-Hope Coordinator to plan for a discussion in with your FTW case manager. You will need to discuss your education plans with your case manager. To participate in the FTW education plan, you must be in compliance with all FTW rules. Assessment tests are also administered by FTW to determine your skills and readiness for college.

Q5. What are “core” hours?
“Core” hours are the first 20 hours of your work requirement. Paid employment and supervised volunteer work are always “core.” Classroom hours and unsupervised study hall are only counted as “core” activities during the 12 months of Vocational Education (VET). Otherwise, paid or volunteer work are counted towards the “core 20” and classroom hours counted for “non-core” hours 21-32.

Q6. How does the 20-hour FTW Post-Secondary Education Option work?
This reduced work option is available only if VET is not available and Job Skills Training is not successful. Student client must consult with case manager. The BTH Coordinator (bthinfo@hawaii.edu) can assist in planning your discussion with your case manager.

Disclaimer: These pages are intended to be informative and answer basic questions about UH Bridge to Hope and the First-to-Work Education Policy. However, only First-to-Work can definitively interpret their program policies. It is always good to maintain communication with your case manager(s).