Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to frequently asked questions regarding our career services.

What does CareerSource Polk do?

CareerSource Polk is a non-profit organization that works to connect the employers and job seekers of Polk County. Our services are provided at no cost and we assist entry-level to professional job seekers gain the skills they need to find employment while coordinating with local employers to ensure they can find, hire, and train their workforce.

 

Is CareerSource Polk the same as Unemployment Office?

Although CareerSource Polk is not the unemployment office, we can connect you to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Reemployment Assistance Office (formerly the unemployment compensation office) to file a claim. Reemployment Assistance provides temporary wage benefits to qualified individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own. Learn more here.

 

Is CareerSource Polk the same as The Department of Children and Families (DCF)?

No. However, we partner with DCF to manage the work requirement of the Temporary Cash Assistance Program.

 

How do I get a voucher for free childcare?

Childcare Assistance is a support service of the Welfare Transition Program. This program’s participants are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and are required to complete mandatory activities. CSP partners with the Early Learning Coalition to provide subsidized childcare to these participants. Read more about TCA here. If you find that the TCA program would benefit your family, you would need to apply for benefits with DCF, then once approved you would be able to work with CareerSource Polk on obtaining a childcare voucher.

 

What happened to Polk Works?

Led by Workforce Florida, the statewide workforce investment board, Polk Works, along with its 23 regional board counterparts, responded to the 2012 Regional Workforce Boards Accountability Act, which was passed by the Florida Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott that called for a unified brand of all regions. The new brand, CareerSource Polk, is a result of extensive market research and input from local leaders, employers, job seekers, workforce professionals and community partners throughout Florida. Our name may have changed, but the team, locations, programs, and services that you have come to rely on are still here. We will continue to provide you the tools you need to reach your employment goals.

 

Can you help me pay for college or training?

Possibly! You might have heard about the WIOA program. Workers who are either unemployed or working in low-wage jobs may be eligible for tuition assistance up to $7,500 including instructional costs, books, materials, fees (such as application costs, registration, and laboratory fees) and academic support services. The primary focus is on the attainment of certificates or degrees of value in the labor market leading to a job in high demand occupations, and emerging industries. Read more about that here.

 

I’m applying for a job with the Polk County Sherriff’s Office and they told me I need to take the TABE at CareerSource Polk. What should I do?

The Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) is given at our career centers in Lakeland and Winter Haven. The test takes approximately four hours to complete and must be scheduled in advance. In order to schedule your TABE test, you must first be registered on Employ Florida Marketplace and have an active resume posted. To schedule your test, call us at 863-508-1100 and let the operator know you need to take the TABE test. If you have taken the TABE with us in the past year and have a passing score, you do not need to take the test again.

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