| A revised contract between the Division
of Family Services (DFS) and the Division of Workforce Development (DWD)
was entered into on May 1, 2000. Revisions have been made to memorandum
IM-35 2000 dated February 24, 2000, regarding registration with Missouri
Works. There have been no changes regarding the Workforce Linkage
Workshops. This memorandum replaces information found in IM-35.
ASSESSMENTS FOR SKILL TRAINING AND WORK
READINESS
Where and when possible, DWD staff will
be encouraged to participate in an Info Session conducted by DFS staff
for Temporary Assistance applicants/recipients. Participation will
be coordinated locally and is optional. In some locations, DWD is
able to offer space for Info Sessions and other meetings with DFS.
Referrals may be made to DWD staff for
career exploration and assessments in counties within Service Delivery
Area 7 only. Assessment services in all other areas of the state
are covered under the assessment contract with the Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education. The cost per assessment shall not exceed
$350 per Temporary Assistance recipient, including all costs associated
with the assessment, such as personnel costs, cost of the assessment instruments
and a report to the referring DFS case manager regarding the results of
the assessment.
JOB READINESS ASSISTANCE - WORKFORCE
LINKAGE WORKSHOPS
Based on the Temporary Assistance populations
in Missouri, the Workforce Linkage Workshops, currently administered by
DWD will be expanded to the following locations:
| St. Louis Co. |
St. Charles |
Joplin |
| Columbia |
Caruthersville |
Jefferson City |
| Potosi |
East Prairie |
New Madrid |
In locations where DWD does not have an
existing office, DFS and DWD staff will coordinate locally for an appropriate
location within the community.
DFS will refer Temporary Assistance applicants/recipients
to a Workforce Linkage Workshop on an as needed basis. Temporary
Assistance applicants/recipients may participate in the locations listed
above as well as in workshops located in:
| Arnold |
Cape Girardeau |
Camdenton |
| Kennett |
Park Hills |
Poplar Bluff |
| Sikeston |
Springfield |
St. Joseph |
| St. Louis Central |
West Plains |
Washington |
Individuals may participate in one or more
of the workshops based on need. Each workshop has a maximum capacity
of 15-20 participants. A listing of the times and locations for the
Workforce Linkage Workshops in each area should be obtained from local
DWD staff.
Temporary Assistance applicants/recipients
will be given priority for participation in the workshops. The expanded
workshops are open to all Missouri residents in need of this service.
The workshops will provide hands-on experience with Missouri WORKS!, Missouri's
computer job matching system and America's Job Bank.
The Workforce Linkage Workshops include
the following modules and topics:
Module One - Career Exploration
-
Establish short term and long term Career
goals
-
Determine skills and abilities including transferable
skills
-
Occupational information for Career Choice
-
Labor Market information for Career Choice
-
Available Educational and Training Resources
-
Problem solving exercise
-
Develop an Employability Plan to achieve the
Career Choice jointly with the participant and DFS Self-Sufficiency Case
Manager to be included with the Self-Sufficiency Plan.
Module Two - Networking
-
Identify and learn to use different mediums
a Job Seeker can use in their Job Search
-
Complete an interest inventory to determine
what type of job an individual may want and what the job entails
-
How to effectively network
-
How to use Missouri WORKS!
-
Identify what skills the Classified Ads are
really asking for
-
Effective initial telephone contact with potential
employers
Module Three - Applications and Resumes
How to effectively complete an application
(including
the analysis of critical questions)
-
How to deal with potential "problem area"
questions on an application
-
How to state strengths tailored to the employment
being sought
-
Different types of resumes and when each one
should be used
-
How to compose effective cover letters and
thank you letters
-
Produce a professional resume for the individual
Module Four - Interviewing
-
How to make a positive "First Impression"
in an interview
-
How to deal with fears associated with the
job interview process
-
The importance of appropriate attire
-
The impact of body language
-
Addressing tough questions
-
The effect of positive conduct during the
interview
-
Video taped "mock" interviews to enable a
Job Seeker to become prepared for actual interview situations
Module Five - Career Advancement and Enhancement
-
What employers expect of employees
-
Workplace ethics (including punctuality, attendance,
workplace attire, appropriate behavior toward co-workers and supervisors)
-
Problem solving methods to enable workers
to resolve workplace issues and still retain employment
-
Information on ways to use employment to achieve
a higher skill level and/or create a stepping stone to a future goal
-
How to balance work and family
The Employability Plan and Self-Sufficiency
Plan should work together to support the participant's success to self
sufficiency. It is the responsibility of each county and their DWD
representative to devise a plan.
JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE - REFERRALS TO
EMPLOYMENT, JOB DEVELOPMENT
The DFS will refer all mandatory Temporary
Assistance applicants/recipients to DWD unless the person is unavailable
for work as they are engaged with a case manager. It is not necessary
to refer an individual who is not ready for employment. DFS will
complete an IM-311 referral form on each individual being referred to the
local DWD office. Each DFS county office will be assigned a local
DWD office for coordination and provision of services.
DWD staff will contact the Temporary Assistance
applicant/recipient, complete the necessary forms and register the individual
into Missouri Works. DFS staff will provide the applicant/recipient
a copy of the Applicant Registration form for the individual to complete
prior to going to the local DWD office or they may complete it at the local
DWD office. A supply of the Applicant Registration forms will be
supplied by DWD to each DFS office for this purpose.
When using the IM-311 DFS will supply,
at a minimum, the individual's name, Social Security Number, address and
telephone number, if known. This referral to DWD is for the purpose
of registering an individual into Missouri Works. It is not
mandatory that the individual be entered into the JOBS system as being
in component 07 - Job Search. They may be participating in another
work activity prior to DWD contacting them with a job match.
Registration into Missouri Works provides
the participant:
-
An automatic resume
-
Attachment to the labor market
-
A profile for an employer to access
-
Job matching daily
A DWD staff person will identify the appropriate
DOT codes and register the individual for a job match into the DWD system
(Missouri Works). All Temporary Assistance individuals referred will
be screened monthly against the DWD job bank for matches until a full-time
unsubsidized job is obtained. A notice of job opportunity will be
sent to the Temporary Assistance individual by DWD staff with a copy of
the match sent to DFS. DFS staff will notify the local DWD office
when employment is obtained. Temporary Assistance applicants/recipients
may be referred to a local DWD office to access other federally funded
job search services.
If while working with the individual DWD
staff discover a barrier that would prevent the person from accessing employment,
DWD staff will refer the individual back to DFS for necessary supportive
services. Once DFS has resolved the issues preventing access to employment,
the individual will be sent back to the local DWD office to continue the
employment registration process.
DWD staff will document three attempts
to engage the client in the work registration process. If a client
fails to keep one of the three scheduled appointments or fails to cooperate
with the DWD staff after registration, the DWD staff person will provide
written notification within seven (7) calendar days to the referring DFS
case manager of any potential non-compliance issue(s). This will
assist DFS staff in taking appropriate action. DWD staff will provide
a copy of the case notes screen or an IM-311 to transmit the data to DFS
staff. Written notification will be provided on the following non-compliance
issues:
-
Failure to report for a job interview that
is arranged by DWD staff;
-
Failure to make a bona fide application for
employment without good cause;
-
Failure to accept a bona fide offer of full
time employment, defined as earnings greater than or equal to the Federal
Minimum Wage (or 80% of the Federal Minimum Wage if the Federal wage is
not applicable) and either working a minimum of 30 hours per week or receiving
weekly earnings of at least the Federal Minimum Wage multiplied by 30 hours,
without good cause;
-
Employer feedback to DWD that could negatively
affect the DFS/DWD relationship with that employer, and any future job
referrals with this employer. This feedback includes, but is not
limited to, client attitude, dress, appearance for an interview, late arrival
for an interview, failure to report for an interview, or failure
to cooperate with the interviewer's requests and questions.
Good cause reasons for failing to make application
for or accepting a bona fide offer of employment include:
-
The wage does not meet or exceed the Federal
Minimum Wage law. If the Federal Minimum Wage law is not applicable,
the wage can not be substantially less than the wage normally paid for
similar work in that labor market.
-
The daily and weekly hours of work exceed
those customary to the occupation.
-
The employment or offer of employment requires
travel to and from the place of employment and the participant's home in
excess of a total of two hours round trip time, inclusive of the time necessary
to transport family members to a school or place providing child care,
or when walking is the only available means of transportation, the round
trip is more than four miles.
-
The position is vacant due to a strike, lockout,
or other bona fide labor dispute.
-
The individual would be required to work for
an employer contrary to the conditions of his existing membership in the
union governing that occupation.
-
The employment or offer of employment is in
violation of applicable federal, state and local health and safety standards.
-
The individual is not physically able to engage
in such employment.
A placement at or below the poverty rate for
the household's family size does not inactivate an applicant's registration.
Job matching and job referral will continue to be done for the individual.
Screening for employed individuals will continue for 12 months following
initial employment or until employment above the poverty level is obtained.
CO-LOCATION
Co-location needs should be examined locally
to determine appropriateness and need. If you need assistance in planning
or need clarification regarding co-location, you may contact:
Division of Family Services
Attn: Income Maintenance
P.O. Box 88
Jefferson City, Missouri
65103-0088
(573) 751-9488
OUTCOME MEASURES
The following DWD outcomes will be measured:
-
Number of unduplicated individuals actively
receiving services through the contract
-
Number of individuals who successfully enter
and complete skill training as a result of an assessment
-
Number of individuals who obtain full time
unsubsidized employment
-
Number of individuals who obtain employment
upon completion of a WLW
-
Number of individuals who increase earnings
as a result of completion of a WLW
-
Average wage at placement
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