MEMORANDUM
2004 Memorandums
IM-66      06/29/04
SUBJECT:
DIVISION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (DWD) POLICY
DISCUSSION:

Family Support Division (FSD) and the Division of Workforce Development (DWD) are engaged in a joint process to serve applicants and recipients of Temporary Assistance. The primary goal of this collaboration is to assist these individuals to obtain and maintain gainful employment. With the transfer of responsibility for the employment and training activities from FSD to DWD, certain policies and procedures have been modified. The purpose of this memorandum is to share with FSD staff the differences between DWD and FSD case management policy and to review which agency case manages certain cases.

The DWD Temporary Assistance Case Management program has been renamed the Career Assistance Program (CAP). Effective February 4, 2004, some CAP policies and procedures were revised and provided to DWD/Sub-contractors. Once DWD's policy is available on-line, an Internet link will be added to the FSD Intranet.

DWD CASE MANAGEMENT POLICIES THAT MAY DIFFER FROM FSD POLICIES

The following is a brief summary of DWD policy:

  • Temporary Assistance applicants and recipients are required to have an in person interview with the DWD or their sub-contractors to enroll into the CAP program and begin case management services. This contact is in addition to the visit they make to FSD to apply for Temporary Assistance benefits. Individuals are notified of this requirement through a series of call-in letters. This creates a unique dynamic because DWD is requiring an additional visit for which the individual may not perceive a tangible benefit. DWD/FSD must work together to help the individual understand the importance of responding to call-in letters.
  • For either an applicant or a recipient, a successful job search consists of 10 contacts per week, 6 of which must be in person.
  • While a Temporary Assistance application is pending, applicants are paid Transportation Reimbursement Expenses (TRE) only if the applicant activity (job search or job readiness) is completed successfully within the 30-day application period or before the application is either approved or rejected. While the application is pending the individual may receive a one-time payment of $25.00, if needed.
  • Work Related Expense (WRE) payments are not authorized for the Temporary Assistance application phase.
  • During the application period, when employment is obtained and the income results in rejection of the application, DWD does NOT provide 90 days of supportive services.
  • DWD/sub-contractors have the option to request documentation of attendance at activities before authorizing TRE. However, they may not deny TRE when the documentation isn't received timely.
  • Individuals with Domestic Violence issues authorized to receive a TRE payment by check will have the check mailed from DWD Central Office to an address provided by the recipient to DWD.
  • TRE payments are direct deposited to a recipient bank account only for those individuals authorized for direct deposit prior to the conversion. No new direct deposit requests are honored at this time. TRE payments are posted to an individual's EBT account for everyone who has an EBT account. If the individual doesn't have EBT or direct deposit, he/she receives TRE payments by paper check.
  • If both parents in a two-parent household are authorized TRE, both payments are posted to the head of that household's EBT card.
  • Supportive service payments (TRE, WRE) are paid on a bi-weekly basis. There is no provision to make 'emergency' payments outside the regular payment schedule.
  • Community Work Experience/Alternative Work Experience (CWEP/AWEP) placements are re-evaluated at a minimum of every 90 days, with extensions of an additional 90 day increments as appropriate.
  • DWD/sub-contractor staff “recommends” sanction as appropriate only when the prescribed conciliation process is complete.

WHICH AGENCY CASE MANAGES AN INDIVIDUAL

FSD will retain case management for Temporary Assistance recipients (prior or subsequent to DWD referral as appropriate) who are:

  • Permanently Mentally or Physically Disabled
  • Age 60 and over
  • Caring for an adult or child in the home with a disability
  • Caring for a child under the age of 12 months
  • Teen parents under age 18 and attending school
  • In the third trimester of pregnancy
  • Temporarily disabled
  • Not employment and training ready due to the domestic violence situation
  • Active in Children's Services and are determined not employment and training ready by the Children's Service division
  • Working to overcome multiple barriers
  • Receiving Temporary Assistance benefits under an extension beyond 60 months and are not employment and training ready
  • Refugees

DWD has responsibility for all Temporary Assistance recipients who are mandatory and determined to be employment and training ready and exempt volunteers. This includes individuals who are:

  • Sanctioned for non-compliance with work activities
  • Unable to find childcare or transportation but are otherwise employment and training ready
  • Caring for a child under 12 months of age, but volunteer to participate
  • Permanently Mentally and Physically Disabled but volunteer to participate
  • Age 60 and over but volunteer to participate
  • Caring for an adult or child with a disability in the home but volunteer to participate
  • Teen parents under age 18 not attending school
  • Temporarily waived from participation (after referral) by reason of temporary disability, domestic violence issues or certain other reasons, for a period not exceeding 12 months.
  • Receiving Temporary Assistance benefits under an extension beyond 60 months and are employment and training ready.

Policy definition of employment and training ready is:

An applicant/recipient of Temporary Assistance who is assessed by FSD as a mandatory work participant is ready to begin a work-related activity, prepare for work, or is ready to begin a job. Exempt volunteers may also be referred.
NECESSARY ACTION:
  • Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
CSW