Due to a water line break in a Newton line that serves the Government Center, the facility will be without water today, February 13, and the Radio Station Rd. entrance will be blocked.  As a result, the Government Center will be closed to the public, and employees are being asked not to work in the facility. This does not impact the Justice Center or Animal Shelter.

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  4. Family Support Services
  5. Work First

Contact Information

  • Karen Harrington, Director
  • (828) 695-5600
  • Main Location:3030 11th Ave Dr SE Hickory, NC 28602

Work First

Work First Family Assistance

Work First Family Assistance is a short-term cash assistance program designed to assist families who care for minor children (birth through 17 years old) and meet a certain degree of kinship to the child. Persons applying for Work First must meet income limits and resource limits to be eligible for the program. Work First is an employment program with a strong emphasis on helping families become economically self-sufficient quickly. Parents participating in the Work First program must complete certain requirements monthly to receive Work First benefits (such as child support cooperation and work experience hours).

Caretakers who are raising a child who meets kinship requirements (for example: grandchild, niece, nephew) or have legal court custody of a child may be eligible to receive Work First as a payee for the child. Only the child’s income would be considered for this type of Work First assistance. Child support cooperation is also required.

For more information, contact our Work First Unit at (828) 695-5600.