MANUAL REVISION #3: 0285.005.20, 0285.005.20.05, 0280.020.05, 0280.020.07, 0285.000.00

All the activities that DWD have offered in our previous contract are still available:

• Registration with Missouri Works
• Job Search Activities
• Job Search Training Workshops
• Participation Feedback

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 all participants referred to DWD.  Participation will be coordinated locally and is optional.  In some locations, DWD may offer space for Info Sessions and other meetings with DFS.

MANDATORY PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS

The following Temporary Assistance individuals will be referred to the Division of Workforce Development (DWD) by DFS for services offered in the DWD contract: 

• mandatory Temporary Assistance applicants/recipients, and/or

• Temporary Assistance recipients who are exempted or excluded by DFS staff but volunteer for Job Search Training.

The contract with DWD does not change what services DWD offers DFS participants.  However, the process has changed how DFS will refer participants to DWD. 

APPLICANTS

DFS staff may verbally direct Temporary Assistance applicants to register for employment with DWD while the application for assistance is pending.  DWD staff will prepare and enter an application into the job matching system (Missouri Works) for all individuals who contact a local office seeking assistance in finding employment and/or seeking job readiness services.  The county may choose to continue the IM-311 process with applicants, if coordinated with the local DWD staff.

RECIPIENTS

DFS will electronically refer all mandatory Temporary Assistance recipients to DWD, just as they do food stamp recipients, using new codes in IMU5.  The electronic transmission will include the client's name; Social Security Number; client's address and telephone number (if known).  The electronic referral can only be used the first time a recipient enters their four weeks of job search.  All other referrals are made manually using form IM-311, Referral and Transmittal.

A call-in list for DWD is prepared for each DWD office.  Local DWD staff will use the call-in list in an attempt to engage the Temporary Assistance participant referrals for work registration
and enrollment.  DWD staff must call in all Temporary Assistance referrals appearing on the list.

DWD staff will schedule appointment dates, times, and locations for each client from the list.  A notification letter will be mailed the following business day.  Call-in notification must be initiated by DWD no less than 14 days and no more than 21 days prior to the scheduled appointment date to allow sufficient time for mail delivery.  Notification of the participant's failure to respond to the call-in attempt will be electronically forwarded by DWD to DFS within seven (7) calendar days of the scheduled appointment date.  County DFS staff will receive a system-generated notice to use in determining necessary action with the participant.  DWD will no longer determine failure to cooperate.  The case manager will make this determination.

Each DFS county office will be assigned a local DWD office for coordination and provision of services for all individuals. 

SYSTEM CHANGE TO ENABLE ELECTRONIC TRANSMITTALS

Case managers will change field 13P1 in IMU5 when a decision is made to refer a participant to DWD, using one of two new codes.  The existing codes are:

M - Mandatory
E - Exempt
V - Volunteer
T - Teen

D - Mandatory Referred to DWD
W - Volunteer Referred to DWD

The new IMU5 codes (D or W) will add the participant to the call-in list for DWD.  These codes are now on the Component Code Sheet on the Intranet.

NOTE:  The electronic referral is not available at this time.  Staff will be advised when the system is in place.  All other policies and procedures may be implemented.  Continue to use the Referral & Transmittal form, IM-311, to refer participants to DWD until further notice.

JOB SEARCH ACTIVITIES

Temporary Assistance participants referred to DWD are required to participate in one four-week segment of personal employer visits monitored at the end of the fourth week.  Temporary Assistance participants may be referred to DWD for two additional weeks of work search participation during the remainder of the contract year.  This second referral will be made by the DFS case manager with an IM-311 referral form.

The work search segments will consist of a combination of activities incorporating classroom instruction and supervised Job Search efforts.  Attendance and participation in all scheduled activities of the Job Search Training may be counted on a day for day basis as a part of the participant's Job Search.

DWD staff will provide the following during the Job Search period:

• Perform supervised Job Search activities.  Provide access to and technical assistance for use of Missouri WORKS!  Prepare participant for on-site employer contacts.

• Prepare individual participants for job interviews obtained through Job Search activities.

• Discuss job interview with participants to enhance interviewing strengths and correct weaknesses.

• DWD staff may provide less intensive services to individuals who are working part-time and are still subject to work requirements.

• Perform interim evaluation of the participant's Job Search component and program compliance at the end of the first four weeks.  A final evaluation will be done when the participant leaves the program.

JOB SEARCH TRAINING WORKSHOPS

DWD staff will provide the following during the Job Search Training workshops:

• labor exchange information, 
• registration,
• program participation requirements;
• assessment of the participant's past work experience,
• aptitudes,
• interests and,
• capabilities to determine the participant's employability.

PARTICIPATION FEEDBACK

DWD will advise DFS staff within seven (7) calendar days of the following non-participation actions:

• failure to attend an orientation or respond to call-in letter
• failure to complete job club
• failure to complete job search
• failure to report to job interviews
• failure to accept an offer of employment

• completed the activities required when referred
• entered employment

Participants, who failed to comply with program requirements and are now ready to comply, will be referred to DWD via the IM-311 with an explanation in comment section.  A copy of the IM-311 will be given to the participant and two copies will be mailed to DWD.  DWD will then allow the participant to enroll in or complete the activity.  DWD will notify the local DFS office of compliance/non-compliance by returning one copy of the IM-311 within 10 days of the date of receipt.

OTHER SERVICES DWD WILL PROVIDE

DWD worker will also act as a resource to provide local labor market trends including demand occupations, declining industries, new industries, etc.

DWD worker and DFS staff will strive to work together as a team to attain the same goal of assisting participants to obtain employment.  This includes sharing of information relevant to individual case problems in an effort to ensure smooth service delivery to participants and to ensure retention of employment.

DWD staff will also perform outreach, basic employment assessment, orientation and presentations. 

Scheduled services may be provided in each county based on need.  Quarterly schedules for providing services by DWD to DFS county offices should be developed by DFS local management staff and DWD local management staff.  These schedules should be reviewed each quarter to determine continued, expanded, or decreased need for the DFS site services.  Each quarter the schedule should be adjusted based on the review. 

Success of these programs will be determined by the collaboration between DWD and DFS.  Staff is encouraged to make referrals to DWD when it is the appropriate time for a participant to do job readiness training and job search to utilize their services.  This is a decision made by the case manager and participant at any point in time.

Discuss any concerns or issues regarding this contract with the Welfare Reform Coordinator in your area who will work with Central office to resolve.

• Review this memorandum with all appropriate staff.

• Implement these procedures immediately.

• File the attached manual pages in the Temporary Assistance/Case Management Manual.

• Use the system to make referrals to the Division of Workforce Development (DWD) as instructed when advised that the system is in place.

• Collaborate with the DWD staff to share orientations and workshops to promote awareness of services.

• Use the new codes D and W added to the Component Code Sheet found on the Intranet.