Providers are responsible for engaging customers in appropriate activities for the required number of hours starting at the point of initial contact. Providers are required to electronically submit weekly activity reports to the Department by the close of business on Tuesday of each week that covers the previous calendar week of Saturday through Friday. These reports are to contain verified documentation of each customer's activity, assigned hours, actual hours completed, location of assignment, information about any outreach, reconciliation activities, and signatures verifying accuracy of information.
When the Department refers a customer to the Provider, the Department will electronically provide forms 2151 (referral form) and the customers RSP (service plan). The customer's RSP must include the customer's activity and the required number of hours a customer is to participate in a work and training activity. If after review by the Provider it is determined the referred activity is not appropriate, the Provider must send the Department a 2151a requesting an updated RSP with an appropriate activity. Customers may be required to do all work and training hours in a core activity, or their hours may be divided between core and non-core. This will also be provided by the Department.
Core Activities
Employment - Employment that results in income which is earned
- Unsubsidized - income is not subsidized by TANF or any other public programs
- Subsidized - income is subsidized by TANF or any other public programs to offset some or all of the wages and costs of employment.
- Self-Employment - includes income from farming, sales, small business operation, domestic work and providing childcare.
Job Search/Job Readiness - is a structured search for a job. It includes counseling, job seeking skills training, and information provided in a group of individual setting. Group search includes exercises to help a person get and keep a job. Activities may also include Job Seeking Skills Workshops, Life Skills Workshops, and Job Club meetings.
Community Service - includes unpaid work that the client performs for the benefit of the community, such as for a school, church, government agency, or nonprofit organization. The client chooses and arranges their own placement, with input from the worker. Community Service builds the client's confidence and provides experience, skills, and references that will help the client get a job. For a customer to participate in this activity the Department must also send form 4044 to ensure the customer does not exceed the number of hours allowed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Work Experience - places the client in a supervised work assignment where the client receives no payment other than their assistance benefits. For a customer to participate in this activity the Department must also send form 4044 to ensure the customer does not exceed the number of hours allowed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Vocational Training - prepares the client for a specific type of work. The program usually results in the receipt of a Certificate of Achievement or Completion and/or prepares the client to obtain a license. Allow one hour of study time for each hour of class time when figuring participation hours.
Associate/Bachelor's Degree Program - prepares the client for a specific type of work. Allow one hour of study time for each hour of class time when figuring participation hours.
High School / GED program for teen parents - an education program for teen parents age 19 or younger who have not completed secondary school or received their GED. This education program includes enrollment in a secondary school, a course of study leading to a GED, or basic remedial education. Participation in distance learning can be counted to the extent that the distance-learning program is directly related to the completion of secondary school or receipt of their GED. Count one hour of study time for each hour of class attendance.
High School Equivalency / GED program for adults - adult client (age 20 years or older) that do not currently have a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate may participate, to obtain his/her GED. Count one hour of study time for each hour of class attendance.
Non-Core Activities
Job Skills Training - is training or education for job skills required by an employer to provide an individual with the ability to obtain employment or to advance or adapt to the changing demands of the workplace.
The training may be customized training for a specific employer or specific employment. It may also include training that develops or enhances a client's skills in the area of writing, reading, math, oral or written business communication, computer skills or new industry technology.
Job retention services which are provided to clients recently employed may be counted as Job Skills Training if time spent in services is in addition to paid employment hours. Services provided for the first 90 days of employment include training on job-related issues, job-coaching and counseling, and follow-up with employers to address problems on the job.
Participation in distance learning can be counted to the extent that the distance-learning program is directly related to the job or occupation.
Allow one hour of study time for every hour of classroom time.
Education Directly Related to Employment - includes two components basic and remedial education to achieve a literacy level of at least grade level 9.0; and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes (not included as part of another educational program, such as Vocational Training). Allow one hour of study time for each hour of class time.
