11 the welfare transition program work activity definitions 2008

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The Welfare Transition Program The Welfare Transition Program

Work Activity DefinitionsWork Activity Definitions

20082008

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Brief HistoryBrief History Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity

Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996

Changed welfare from an entitlement into a work program

12 work activity categories were named

The work activity categories provided by the federal government under this Act did not have definitions

states determined what services and activities would be allowed under each category

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Brief HistoryBrief History Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996

States were required to engage a certain percentage of families receiving cash assistance in work activities to continue receiving full benefits

States were also required to stop or reduce cash assistance benefits if the head of household refused to comply with the work program

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Brief HistoryBrief History In 2006, the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA)

reauthorized Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant and legislative provisions

Directed Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish regulations

HHS was instructed to define work activities to ensure equal measurement of participation across states

The states were not being compared equally based on the differences in the work activity definitions

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The Deficit Reduction ActThe Deficit Reduction Act

Interim Final Rule

Required each state to develop work activities consistent with definitions based on the federal definitions of the work activity categories

Required each state to submit a work verification plan

Required the state’s interim plan to be approved and implemented by September 30, 2007

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The Deficit Reduction ActThe Deficit Reduction Act Final Rule

Took comments submitted by different states after the Interim Final Rule was published and

Clarified elements of the Interim Final Rule

Changed elements of the Interim Final Rule

Required states to update their plans by September 1, 2008

Florida’s updated work verification plan has been submitted to HHS

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Work ActivitiesWork Activities

Need Work!

FAIRPAY!

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Work Activity CategoriesWork Activity Categories There are 12 work activity categories They are broken up into

Core work activity categories

Core plus work activity categories

Core activities may stand alone and do not require another activity to count towards participation

Core plus activities must be accompanied by a minimum number of hours of participation in a core activity to count towards participation

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Work Activity CategoriesWork Activity Categories Twelve work activity categoriesTwelve work activity categories

Unsubsidized EmploymentUnsubsidized Employment Subsidized Private Sector EmploymentSubsidized Private Sector Employment Subsidized Public Sector EmploymentSubsidized Public Sector Employment Work ExperienceWork Experience Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceJob Search and Job Readiness Assistance Community Service ProgramsCommunity Service Programs Vocational Educational TrainingVocational Educational Training On-the-Job TrainingOn-the-Job Training Providing ChildcareProviding Childcare Education Directly Related to EmploymentEducation Directly Related to Employment Job Skills Training Directly Related to EmploymentJob Skills Training Directly Related to Employment Satisfactory Attendance in a Secondary Education ProgramSatisfactory Attendance in a Secondary Education Program

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Work Activity CategoriesWork Activity Categories Core Activities

Unsubsidized Employment Subsidized Private Sector Employment Subsidized Public Sector Employment Work Experience Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance Community Service Programs Vocational Educational Training On-the-Job Training Providing Childcare

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Work Activity CategoriesWork Activity Categories

Core plus activities

Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment

Education Directly Related to Employment

The participant cannot receive credit for hours in this activity if (s)he has a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED)

Satisfactory Attendance at a Secondary School or in a Course of Study Leading to a GED

The participant cannot receive credit for hours in this activity if they have a high school diploma or a GED

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Work Activity Categories-Cheat SheetWork Activity Categories-Cheat Sheet Core activities

Unsubsidized Employment Subsidized Private Sector Employment Subsidized Public Sector Employment Work Experience Job Search and Job Readiness

Assistance Community Service Programs Vocational Educational Training On-the-Job Training Providing Childcare

Core plus activities




Core activities for a teen 19 and younger that does not have a high school diploma or an equivalency




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What Counts?What Counts? To be included in the numerator of the all-family

participation rate,

Single parent families with a child under six must complete at least 86.6 (87) hours in a core activity or combination of core activities

Single parent families with a child six or older must complete at least 129.9 (130) hours in countable work activities, and 87 hours must be in a core activity or combination of core activities

At least one of the parents in a two-parent family with two work-eligible parents must complete at least 130 hours in countable work activities, and 87 hours must be in a core activity or combination of core activities

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What Counts?What Counts? To be included in the numerator of the two-parent

family participation rate, the hours are based on the receipt of federally funded subsidized childcare If the family receives federally funded subsidized

childcare, the family must participate at least 238.15 (238) hours per month combined in countable work activities, and 216.5 (217) of those hours must be in a core or combination of core activities

If the family does not receive federally funded subsidized childcare, the family must participate at least 151.55 (152) hours per month combined in countable work activities, and 130 of those hours must be in a core or combination of core activities

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Frequently Asked Question

What if one of the parents in a two-parent family is disabled or has a medical limitation that lasts longer than 30 days?

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AnswerAnswer If one of the parents in a two-parent family is unable to

participate in a work activity for the minimum required hours due to a medical limitation, the two-parent family will be removed from the denominator of the two-parent participation rate

The limitation has to be documented by a physician licensed under Florida Statutes Chapter 458 or 459

An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.

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AnswerAnswer The information must be recorded in the The information must be recorded in the

One-Stop Service Tracking (OSST) system’s One-Stop Service Tracking (OSST) system’s Alternative Plan screenAlternative Plan screen

Medical deferralMedical deferral

Alcohol, drug, mental health deferralAlcohol, drug, mental health deferral

Or the information must be recorded on the Or the information must be recorded on the Department of Children and Families’ data Department of Children and Families’ data entry systementry system

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What Counts for Teens?What Counts for Teens? Teens without a diploma or GED and under 20

are included in the numerator of the participation rate if they are a Single parent family and

Satisfactorily attend a GED or diploma program each week

Participate in 20 hours a week in Education Directly Related to Employment

Two-parent family and Both satisfactorily attend a GED or diploma program each

week

Both participate in 20 hours a week in Education Directly Related to Employment

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Work Activity DefinitionsWork Activity Definitions

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Unsubsidized EmploymentUnsubsidized Employment

Is a full or part-time job in the public or private sector

Wages are paid by the employer and are not subsidized by any public program

Included in this definition are

Employers who receive tax subsidies for hiring lower income individuals

Individuals who are self-employed

Labor in exchange for services (“in-kind” work)

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Unsubsidized EmploymentUnsubsidized Employment Hours spent in unsubsidized employment Hours spent in unsubsidized employment

are assumed to be supervised based on are assumed to be supervised based on wageswages

Documentation verifying employment must Documentation verifying employment must include include

wages at hire wages at hire

hours at hire hours at hire

start date start date

employer’s nameemployer’s name

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Unsubsidized Employment-Unsubsidized Employment-Self EmploymentSelf Employment

The individual is both the employee and employer

May include “in-kind” (work for services rendered, rent, etc.) work

Countable hours are determined by

Dividing the individual’s documented income (gross income less business expenses) by the higher of the Florida or federal minimum wage

Program staff cannot take a participant’s statement regarding hours and pay when recording self-employment

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Unsubsidized Employment-Unsubsidized Employment-Self EmploymentSelf Employment

Self-Employment

Documentation of income and expenses from may include

Receipts for services

Copy of a check or money order

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Subsidized Employment Subsidized Employment

The employer receives a subsidy to offset wages and/or costs of employing an individual

Public or private funds

Private subsidized employment means the subsidy comes from a private entity or program

Public subsidized employment means the subsidy comes from a public entity or program

Such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant

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Subsidized EmploymentSubsidized Employment

Types of subsidized employment includeTypes of subsidized employment include

Work supplementationWork supplementation

Incentive paymentsIncentive payments

Supported work for individuals with Supported work for individuals with disabilitiesdisabilities

Work study (public only)Work study (public only)

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Subsidized Employment Subsidized Employment Rule changeRule change

Interim Final Rule Interim Final Rule The employer would be The employer would be requiredrequired to keep the to keep the

participant as a regular employee without participant as a regular employee without the subsidythe subsidy

Final RuleFinal Rule Retaining the participant is no longer a Retaining the participant is no longer a

federal requirementfederal requirement

It is the Florida’s preference that the It is the Florida’s preference that the individual be retained once the subsidy endsindividual be retained once the subsidy ends

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Subsidized EmploymentSubsidized Employment Supervision is assumed based on

documentation of pay for all subsidized employment

Acceptable forms of documentation may include Pay stub

Time sheet

TALX or the Work Number

Copy of a check or money order

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On-the-Job Training (OJT)On-the-Job Training (OJT) Is training provided to a paid employee

while (s)he is working full-time

The employer or an educational institution provides training to the participant to gain skills for job position

Training hours and hours on the job are paid

The employer or educational institution receives a subsidy

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On-the-Job Training On-the-Job Training Rule change

Interim Final Rule

The employer would be required to keep the participant as a regular employee without the subsidy

Final Rule

Retaining the participant once the subsidy has ended is no longer a federal requirement

It is Florida’s preference that the individual be retained once the subsidy ends, but there may be programs where the focus is paid training while preparing for work with another employer

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On-the-Job TrainingOn-the-Job Training

The difference The difference between Subsidized between Subsidized Public and Public and Subsidized Private Subsidized Private Employment is the Employment is the focus of the activityfocus of the activity

OJT is paid training OJT is paid training while working full-while working full-timetime

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On-the-Job TrainingOn-the-Job Training Contracts developed for TANF funded OJT

programs must include

Job title of the participant

Goals of training and employment

Skills required to learn for the job position

Reasons for immediate termination

OJT begin and end dates

Parties responsible for supervising progress and documenting participation

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Work ExperienceWork Experience

Is defined as structured work in exchange for public benefits It is engagement with an employer for

individuals who are not able to gain employment and lack work experience

Must provide an opportunity to gain General employability skills

Work habits necessary for obtaining employment

Training

Specific job knowledge

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Prior to placement

Work experience providers must be evaluated to match the participant

With a position that is related to his/her goals

With an employer who has related needs

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Work Experience must be

Intensely supervised

Designated by a contract or agreement

Work Experience may be performed with

A public or private not-for-profit entity

A public or private for-profit entity

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Work ExperienceWork Experience Displacement

Employers must notify their employees of their rights

To report and dispute displacement from employment as a result of Work Experience or Community Service participant

How to report acts of displacement

An employer cannot fire a paid employee to fill the position with a Work Experience participant

Cannot fail to fill an open position to use a Work Experience participant

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Work ExperienceWork Experience The contract with the participant’s worksite

employer must include Party(ies) responsible for supervising the participant on

a daily basis

Party(ies) responsible for signing time sheets/documentation of completed hours

The contract with the participant’s worksite employer should include Job title

Clear job description

The connection between the worksite and the participant’s goals

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Work experience contracts must also include Performance benchmarks

What will the participant be required to achieve prior to completion?

What skills the participant must gain during the Work Experience?

What are the expectations of the employer?

Goals

Time limits

Outcomes

Work Experience

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Hours assigned for the month Cannot be greater than the calculation

Cash assistance amount for the month + Food Stamp allotment for the month/ the higher of the two minimum wages (Florida or federal)

Hours the participant is required to complete each week must be included in the Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP) Must be agreed on by the participant and

program staff

Should be written in the steps-to-self-sufficiency


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Work ExperienceWork Experience As of October 2, 2008, the Job Participation Rate (JPR)

screen will require program staff to calculate the maximum number of hours the family may be assigned at a worksite during the month before entering actual hours of participation

The hours actually assigned each week should be included on the IRP

The participant and program staff are demonstrating that the number of hours that must be completed each week at the worksite are a part of the plan to move the family forward

Hours assigned must be entered on the activity screen Hours assigned to a worksite must be reviewed and

updated monthly Update the steps to self-sufficiency Update case notes Update the Skill Development screen

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Community Service ProgramsCommunity Service Programs

Are structured programs at not-for-profit organizations

Projects must serve a useful community purpose in one of the following fields

Health, social services, environmental protection, education, urban and rural redevelopment, welfare, recreation, public facilities, public safety and childcare

Must be designed to improve employability and help the participant reach his/her employment goals

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Community ServiceCommunity Service Displacement

Employers must notify their employees of their rights

To report and dispute displacement from employment

How to report acts of displacement

Cannot fire a paid employee to fill the position with a Community Service participant

Cannot fail to fill an open position to use a Community Service participant

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Community ServiceCommunity Service The contract regarding the participant’s worksite

must include Party(ies) responsible for supervising the participant on

a daily basis

Party(ies) responsible for signing time sheets/documentation of completed hours

The contract with the participant’s worksite employer should include Job title Clear job description The connection between the worksite and the

participant’s goals

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Community Service contracts should also include Performance benchmarks

What will the participant be required to achieve prior to completion?

What skills should the participant gain during the Community Service?

What are the expectations of the employer?

Goals

Time limits

Outcomes

Community ServiceCommunity Service

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Community Service ProgramsCommunity Service Programs

Hours assigned

Cannot be greater for the month than the calculation allows

This applies to the whole family

Cash assistance for the month+ Food Stamp allotment for the month/ the highest of the federal or State minimum wage

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Community ServiceCommunity Service Hours the participant is

required to complete each week must be included in the Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP)

Must be agreed on by the participant and program staff

Should be written in the steps-to-self-sufficiency

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Frequently Asked QuestionFrequently Asked Question What if more than one parent in the family What if more than one parent in the family

is participating in a worksite activity? is participating in a worksite activity? What are the maximum number of hours What are the maximum number of hours that can be assigned to each parent? that can be assigned to each parent?

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AnswerAnswer The calculation is based on the family’s cash The calculation is based on the family’s cash

assistance amount and food stamp allotmentassistance amount and food stamp allotment

Hours assigned during the month for the Hours assigned during the month for the family family cannot be greater than the cannot be greater than the calculation allowscalculation allows

Cash assistance for the month+ food stamp Cash assistance for the month+ food stamp allotment for the month/ the highest of the allotment for the month/ the highest of the federal or State minimum wagefederal or State minimum wage

The amount must be shared by the family The amount must be shared by the family members participating in a worksite activitymembers participating in a worksite activity

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Job Search and Job Readiness Job Search and Job Readiness AssistanceAssistance

The act of seeking or obtaining employment, as well as learning how to find a job

Orientation to the world of work

Learning how to complete an application

Applying for jobs

Resume development

Interviewing skills

Learning about appropriate dress

Career planning

Soft skills (including job retention skills)

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May include Workshops

Classroom activities

Working with job developers

Job matching and receiving job referrals

Access to resource centers

Submitting applications and resumes

Completing follow-up calls

Attending interviews


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May include

Substance abuse treatment

Mental health treatment

Rehabilitative activities


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Question?Question? Does the medical professional have to sign

off on every hour in treatment?

No

Every hour must be verified by a responsible party

Depends on the activity

Meeting leader

Group therapy counselor

Other counselor

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Hours in treatment are recorded as job search hours

Remember, job search is a time-limited activity

In the Interim Final Rule, weeks of job search were limited to four consecutive or six cumulative weeks in a FFY

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In the Final Rule

Weeks of job search are limited to four consecutive weeks in a rolling 12 months

The total weeks that may be completed in a rolling 12 month period are being converted to hours

For a single parent with a child under the age of six years old, 120 hours is equivalent to six cumulative weeks in job search

For all other work eligible individuals, 180 hours is equivalent to six cumulative weeks in job search

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Clearly stated, participants may receive credit for participating in

Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance are limited to four consecutive weeks in a rolling 12 months

-OR-

120 hours in a rolling 12 months if the parent is a single parent with a child under the age of 6

180 hours in a rolling 12 months for all other families

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Supervision

HHS has stressed that Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance must by supervised by a responsible party

Career specialist

Contracted provider

Teacher or program administrator

Job development staff

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Credit for hours—Interim Final Rule

HHS stated that the State may not enter hours for credit on the JPR screen unless the hours in Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance are supervised daily and are documented hour for hour

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Job Search and Job ReadinessJob Search and Job ReadinessAssistanceAssistance

Credit for hours—Final Rule

HHS has provided clarification of Job Search/Job Readiness and supervision/documentation of job search hours

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Interim Final Rule

No hours by proxy

Rigid on what constituted a “week”

Daily supervision and documentation unclear

Final Rule No hours by proxy

Allows travel time to and from interviews to count as actual time

Not time from home to the first interview

Not time from the last interview to home

Allows weeks to be converted to hours (*120 or *180)

Daily supervision not intended to be in person contact, but a person responsible for the oversight of an individual’s participation

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Job Search and Job ReadinessJob Search and Job Readiness

Other changes

Transportation time may count as credit toward participation if participant is

Going from a job site (interview) to another job site

Going from the Career Center or provider’s site to a job site

Going from job site back to the Career Center

Travel time is not allowed from home to the first job site or from the last job site to the participant’s home

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Vocational Vocational EducationalEducational Training Training Prepares the participant for employment

in current or emerging occupations through organized training

Gives the participant knowledge and skills to perform a specific occupation

Must be State approved training in Florida’s vocational technical centers, community college, universities and proprietary schools

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Vocational Educational TrainingVocational Educational Training

Interim Final Rule

No baccalaureate or other advanced degrees

Allows the participant to receive credit for supervised study time towards hours of participation

Final Rule

Allows credit for baccalaureate or other advanced degrees for a duration of 12 months

Allows the participant to receive credit for one hour of unsupervised study time for every one hour of class time

Allows the participant to receive credit for supervised study time

Distance learning is allowed if hours of participation can be supervised and documented by a designated party

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Frequently Asked Question?Frequently Asked Question? So what does it include now?

Programs established for

Vocational institutions

Trades

Employers (customized training) organized by a vocational or educational institution

Certifications

Baccalaureate or other advanced degrees

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Frequently Asked Question?Frequently Asked Question?

Participants take longer than one year or 12 months to complete a baccalaureate. Can the participant receive credit (for participation rate purposes) if engaged longer than 12 months in an educational program that is coded as Vocational Educational Training?

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AnswerAnswer The participant may be engaged in the educational

training longer than 12 months, but the State will not receive credit if hours reported for participation purposes are coded as Vocational Educational Training for longer than 12 months

Program staff should review engagement by the institution

If the participant is in school activities for less than 30 hours a week, the participant may be engaged in a worksite activity, work study or employment in addition to hours at the institution

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Job Skills Training Directly Job Skills Training Directly Related to EmploymentRelated to Employment

Education or training to obtain skills required by an employer so the participant can

Advance

Adapt to the changing demands of the workplace

Obtain employment

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Job Skills Training Directly Job Skills Training Directly Related to EmploymentRelated to Employment

May include

Customized training for an employer

Or

General training that prepares an individual for employment with an employer

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Job Skills Training Directly Related to Job Skills Training Directly Related to EmploymentEmployment

This may include

English proficiency instruction or other language instruction, if necessary, to enable the participant to perform a specific job by an employer

Must be explicitly focused on skills needed for a job or combined in a training program

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Education Directly Related to Education Directly Related to EmploymentEmployment

Limited to participants who do not have a high school diploma or GED

Education directly related to a specific occupation, job or job offer

May include adult basic education, language instruction, or education leading to a GED when required by an employer

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Education Directly Related to Education Directly Related to EmploymentEmployment

On a case-by-case basis, RWBs may enroll individuals with high school credentials if the following are true

The high school credentials are from another country

Assessments indicate that the individual cannot function at high school levels according to United States standards

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Satisfactory Attendance at aSatisfactory Attendance at aSecondary SchoolSecondary School

Regular attendance at a secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence

Is limited to participants without a high school diploma or GED

Participants must attend classes regularly

Regular attendance is based on the educational institution’s definition of satisfactory attendance

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Satisfactory Attendance at a Satisfactory Attendance at a Secondary SchoolSecondary School

You may also enroll participants with high school credentials in this activity, if the following are true

The high school credentials are from another country

Assessments indicate that the individual cannot function at high school levels according to United States standards

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Satisfactory Attendance at aSatisfactory Attendance at aSecondary SchoolSecondary School

May include other literacy education if required to secure a high school diploma or a GED

May include adult basic education directly related to obtaining high school diploma or GED

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Providing Childcare ServicesProviding Childcare Services

Participant provides childcare for another WT program participant who is completing Community Service hours

This activity must be supervised

Evidence of supervision must be maintained by staff and retained in the case file

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The participant engaged in Community Service must maintain his/her own time sheet to document completed hours at a worksite and the number of hours a childcare provider was needed

The participant engaged in Community Service must sign off on the childcare provider’s time sheet, documenting the number of hours childcare was provided


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The participant assigned to the activity “Providing Childcare” cannot receive more credit hours than the number of hours completed by the participant assigned to Community Service

Does not include two-parent families watching their own children

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If you have any questions, comments, or

concerns, please contact the

Welfare Transition team through the

Agency for Workforce Innovation’s

call center at 1-866-352-2345

11 the welfare transition program work activity definitions 2008

Documents

work activitiesneed

work activity categoriesthey

work activity categoriesthere

work activities consistent

work verification planrequired

core activity

states interim plan

different states