A. Each TANF recipient who
is mandated to participate, or volunteers to participate, in the ASPIRE-TANF
Program will complete an Assessment which will be part of the evaluation to
determine the services required to meet the employment goal that is mutually
agreed upon by ASPIRE-TANF staff and the participant. As a part of the
orientation process for TANF and ASPIRE, all participants must be given the
opportunity to apply for any education, training and employment and support
services at the office of the program serving the area in which the individual
lives.
At orientation, each participant shall receive a complete
list of all support services and education, training and employment services
available under the ASPIRE-TANF program. A written copy of each Family Contract
Amendment must be given to the participant (including subsequent Family
Contract Amendments), together with a complete list of all support services and
education, training and employment services available under the program, and
notice of the participant's right to request a fair hearing.
A participant may request a new Family Contract Amendment at
any time. If the participant's request is denied, the participant must be
notified in writing of the reason for the denial and must be given notice of
the right to a fair hearing. The services provided by ASPIRE-TANF are those
that will lead to sustainable employment, and possible penalties for failing to
comply with ASPIRE-TANF Program rules must be explained (verbally and in
writing) to participants. The final determination as to the content of the
Family Contract Amendment will be decided by ASPIRE-TANF staff utilizing the
Assessment process and, to the maximum extent possible, the preferences of the
participant.
Services requested will be approved or denied by ASPIRE-TANF
within thirty (30) days of request based on the availability of, and funding
for, the services, and/or whether it is necessary to complete the Family
Contract Amendment. Reasons for denial will be indicated on the notice to the
participant together with appropriate citations from ASPIRE-TANF rules. A
participant who disagrees with the denial has a right to a fair hearing.
B. During the Assessment process,
information about the participant will be gathered that will include but will
not necessarily be limited to:
1.
Family Structure - including numbers and ages of children, other
dependents (in and out of household), and significant other (in and out of
household).
2.
Work
History - Both paid and unpaid.
3.
Education Grade Completed -
including types of courses and institutions attended.
4.
Financial Status - including
source(s) of income, expenditures and projected need.
5.
Physical and Mental Health
Status - of the participant and family members.
6.
Environmental Support Systems
- including the housing situation, child care arrangements and
transportation.
7.
Personal
and Employment related goals and interests - the participant's stated
personal and employment goals, if known.
8.
ASPIRE-TANF Services Necessary to
Obtain Sustainable, Paid Private and Public Employment
9.
Barriers to Employment -
including physical and mental health issues; domestic violence indicators;
substance abuse; and other barriers that need to be overcome to move towards
self-support. If Good Cause for non-participation is found during the
Assessment process, it will be documented in the participant's case record.
Review of Good Cause circumstances will occur at least every three (3) months
or according to timelines established by supporting documentation, whichever
comes first.
C.
PROCEDURES
1. During the
Assessment, information obtained from the ASPIRE-TANF participant, during
interview(s) and from other sources will be expanded upon. In addition, the
following information will be discussed and obtained:
a. The participant's reaction to employment
experiences, if any.
b. The
participant's reaction to educational experiences.
c. Whether there is an emotional and
environmental support system and whether it is adequate.
d. Community and family resources available
to the participant.
e. The
participant's behavioral patterns and whether they are functional.
f. The participant's life management skills
(e.g. parenting skills, budgeting, health care, etc.). Community referrals will
be made as needed where resources are reasonably available.
g. The participant's decision-making
skills.
h. Substance abuse issues
as appropriate. Referrals for evaluation may be made.
i. The participant's motivation level and
whether goals are achievable, and whether the goals and interests will lead to
employment or self-employment.
j.
Achievement level (knowledge, skills and abilities).
k. Aptitude level.
l. ASPIRE-TANF will provide all applicants
for assistance with information both orally and in writing of the availability
of services for victims of domestic violence and of the Good Cause
determination for victims of domestic violence. If an applicant requests a Good
Cause determination, ASPIRE-TANF will promptly determine whether the applicant
qualifies for Good Cause. An individual may not be required to participate in
any TANF activity including orientation until the Good Cause determination is
made. When a determination of Good Cause is made, the ASPIRE-TANF program may
contact the individual and offer domestic violence victim services or other
appropriate services on a voluntary basis.
2. The Assessment for teen participants will
contain additional elements to those described in Section 3.II.C., as follows:
a.
Family Planning - A
description of the parent's knowledge about, and plan for, preventing an
unwanted pregnancy.
b.
Health
Care - A description of the current health care the parent is utilizing
for the family.
c.
Pregnancy - A description of the dynamics around the conception
and birth of the child, and the initial parenting ability of the parent.
d.
Paternity - A
description of the relationship between the parent, the child and the child's
other parent, and the parent's feelings about this. This includes whether
paternity has actually been established, whether any child support is being
paid, whether the other parent has visitation rights and whether those rights
are exercised.
e.
Parents - A description of the relationship the teen parent has
with his or her family, and what influences the teen's family has on the
current situation.
3.
Methods of obtaining specific data are dependent on the availability of
information. Any existing information will be used for the Assessment before
consideration is given to additional testing. The ASPIRE-TANF unit will make
the final determination of the method or methods to be used, which are
described as follows:
a.
Achievement
Level
1. Achievement test results from
any organization or agency, public or private (e.g. school records).
2. Work history with task analysis.
3. Grade Point Average from a post-secondary
institution.
4. Achievement test
normed for the appropriate population.
b.
Aptitude Level
1. Aptitude test results from any
organization or agency, public or private (e.g. school records).
2. Work history with task analysis.
3. Grade Point Average from a post-secondary
institution.
4. Aptitude tests
normed for the appropriate population.
c.
Interest Level
1. Participant's stated interest.
2. Work history and educational history
consistent with stated goal.
3.
Interest test results from another organization or agency (e.g., school
records).
4.
Interest tests normed for the appropriate population.
5. A vocational evaluation will follow the
Assessment at the point that the participant is ready to establish an
employment goal. The vocational evaluation will include:
(a) an analysis of the employment goal as it
relates to the financial needs of the participant following
employment;
(b) a determination of
how the training relates to a participant's vocational interests and
occupational aptitudes based on any combination of the following: volunteer
work, work history, informational interviews or field training;
(c) a determination as to whether there is a
reasonable expectation of employment upon completion of training; and
(d) estimated employment and training costs
to ASPIRE-TANF.
6.
Assessment and vocational evaluation may be held either one-on-one with the
participant or in groups. Assessment in groups will be followed by a one-on-one
meeting to discuss data gathered and issues raised in the group
setting.
