Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 607 - ASPIRE-TANF PROGRAM RULES › Section 144-607-5 - WORK EVALUATION PROCESS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Summary
: This Section describes the parts of the
				  Work Evaluation, which is the period of time, not to exceed 90 days, during
				  which recipients complete the orientation process, complete an Assessment for
				  determination of ASPIRE-TANF services that are needed, are informed of their
				  rights and responsibilities, and amend the initial Family Contract.
It is during the Evaluation that a determination of
				  eligibility for the Parents as Scholars program is completed (It is important
				  to note that application for the PaS program can occur at any point during
				  participation in ASPIRE-TANF). See Section
				  16 for further information about the
				  PaS program.
I.
GENERAL
				PROVISIONS
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.