Q1. Does First-to-Work pay for Summer school?
Q2. My case manager denied my request. What can I do?
Q3. School has finished for the semester. How long do I have to find a job for the summer?

Q1. Does First-to-Work pay for Summer school?

• First-to-Work requires that students first apply for Financial Aid before requesting assistance with tuition or books. Beginning Summer 2010, federal Pell grants are available for a 3rd (summer) semester. Bridge to Hope students should apply for Summer Financial Aid with their campus FinAid office. Generally, Pell grants would be available to students who received a Pell grant for either the previous Fall or Spring semesters.
• NOTE: Campus-based Pell funds are only available for your home campus tuition (e.g. if you’re a KCC student, you cannot use a KCC Pell grant for classes at UHM Summer Session). Students should be aware that summer Pell grants do not cover the full cost of tuition and fees for summer semester.
• If a BTH student is denied FinAid for summer, (or you must enroll at other than your home campus) you may request assistance from First-to-Work. Downloand the Summer Session Memo from the downloads section for a sample letter and necessary materials. Your summer courses must fulfill your educational plan and advance your degree completion. You need to document the unavailability of financial aid. You must provide your FTW case manager with a complete request. BTH is still discussing with FTW whether supplemental funds will be available. Email the BTH Coordinator if you have questions.
  

Q2. My case manager denied my request. What can I do?

• BTH encourages participants to utilize the DHS/FTW “chain of command” when seeking assistance. See the document on Case Workers for more info. Ask your case manager why you are being denied. You may request to see the rule they applying. If you still disagree, you may ask to speak to the supervisor, who may not be immediately available. This may require a few phone calls. Be sure to leave your name, your case manager’s name, your contact info and your request. You can also contact BTH System-wide Coordinator Teresa Bill with your concern and assistance with your question. But give the supervisor and case manager time to address your request. It is your responsibility to keep a record of who you talked to, and when. Also, keep organized copies of all relevant paperwork and correspondence.

• If you are not enrolled fulltime, you will have 30 days from the date your status changes (end of finals week) to be fully compliant with FTW work rules. In general, FTW gives you 30 days to achieve program compliance through employment or volunteering. You are expected to participate in job search and should keep track of those hours. You may count them towards childcare reimbursement. When you are not using the 20-hour requirement, you may volunteer for 32 hours a week. Some parents volunteer with their children’s preschool as a way to meet work requirements and spend time with their children.

Disclaimer: These pages are intended to be informative and answer basic questions about U.H. 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).