• expansion of Missouri Employment and Training Program (METP),

• good cause determinations by Division of Workforce Development (DWD),

• expansion of the Missouri Jobs, Employment, and Training Program (MJET), and

• services provided by DWD to Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs).

Effective October 1, 2001, the contract with the Division of Workforce Development (DWD) is a joint contract serving both food stamp participants and Temporary Assistance participants.  Under the new contract, METP services are provided to food stamp participants in all counties. 

Good Cause Determination

DWD will no longer make a good cause determination when a participant who has been called in to participate in Job Search and Job Search Training fails to respond and is non-compliant with work registration requirements.  Those participants will receive a letter instructing the head of household to contact the caseworker.  A system-generated notice will be sent to the worker at the same time a conciliation letter is sent to the participant.  Do not instruct participants to contact DWD to determine good cause.

When a food stamp participant fails to comply with Direct Job Placement (DJP); Missouri Jobs, Employment, and Training (MJET); Adult Basic Education (ABE); Job Search (JS); or Job Search Training (JST), determine whether or not the participant:

• has good cause or

•  meets a work registration exemption.

Set a priority to re-evaluate the individual's work registration at the end of the good cause period. 

If an individual's good cause is expected to last more than 60 days, or the individual meets a work registration exemption or exclusion, enter the appropriate work registration exemption or exclusion code in field 37 of the FSU5.

Send an IM-80 to sanction individuals who:

• do not have good cause, 

• do not meet another work registration exemption, or 

• fail to contact the worker within the 10-day conciliation period. 

Note: Impose the sanction even though the individual may be inactive. 

Non-Compliance Cure/Referral to Job Search

Use the IM-311 to refer individuals who wish to cure non-compliance with their employment and training requirement by participating in Job Search and/or Job Search Training to DWD.  Distribute the IM-311 as follows:

• one to be given to the participant, 

• two copies to be sent to DWD, and

• one for the case record.

A copy of the IM-311 will be returned by DWD notifying the worker of compliance or non-compliance within 10 days of the date of the referral.  Ensure that the IM-311 is addressed to DWD to avoid confusion regarding who the participant must see once they reach the One-Stop.

Missouri Jobs, Employment, and Training (MJET) Program

The contract with the Southeast Missouri Workforce Investment Board is expanded and now serves Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Scott, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, and Washington Counties.  The Food Stamp Manual is revised to reflect the addition of counties being served by MJET.

Service Provided to ABAWDs

DFS no longer contracts with DWD to provide Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services to able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).  The Food Stamp Manual is updated to reflect this change.  Staff should continue to assign work registration code 98 to ABAWDs.

• Review this memorandum with necessary staff.

• Begin entering code 18 in FSU5 when it is determined a participant has good cause for non-compliance with employment and training.

• Immediately begin using the IM-311 to refer participants to DWD who wish to comply with METP requirements.