MANUAL TRANSMITTAL

 

Arkansas Department of Workforce Services

Division of Employment Assistance

Policy Directive                                                                               Issuance Number: TEA PD 08-03

Transitional Employment Assistance Manual                        Issuance Date: 10/07/08

From:  Cindy Varner                                                                        Expiration Date: Until Superseded

 Assistant Director for Employment Assistance 

Subj:  Amended Arkansas Work Verification Plan 2008

 

Summary of Changes

 

Effective October 1, 2008, changes were approved for the Arkansas Amended Work Verification Plan, this directive replaces the Arkansas Work Verification Plan dated September 2007.

 

The Following is a summary of changes and revisions to the Arkansas Work Verification Plan.The changes are effective October 1, 2008, however educational participation will not be retroactive.  Anyone enrolled in vocational education , job skills related to employment, education related to employment and secondary school prior to the October 1, 2008 date will not change unless there has been a new Employment Plan completed for the client.

 

Arkansas Work Verification Plan

List of Revisions and Changes

 

  1. Cover Page – September 2007 replaced with September 2008

Table of Content page numbers changed.

 

  1. Introduction and Purpose of Plan consists of cosmetic changes including the removal of the word “interim” and new dates.

 

Arkansas certifies that the Arkansas Work Verification Plan dated September 24, 2008 includes all information required by the regulations at 45 CFR 261.62 (b) and accurately reflects the provisions under which Arkansas will be operating effective October 1, 2008.   (Added)

 

  1. Pages 6 & 7 – All previous entries of 4.33 have been replaced with 4.334.

 

  1. Page 9 – All previous entries of 4.33 have been replaced with 4.334. 

 

Work Experience Training Definition – The word “training” is removed throughout this passage.

 

Work Experience Definition – Paragraph Two – The following sentence has been added at the end of this paragraph: If a participant were involved in substance abuse, mental health, or rehabilitation services which include work experience activities for a portion of the treatment, then these activities would qualify for work experience participation.

 

  1. Page 10 – Paragraph 1, Sentence 3 – The word “Trainer” has been replaced with the word “Supervisor”. 

 

Work Experience Training Definition – The word “training” is removed throughout this passage.

 

  1. Page 12 – Paragraph 8, Sentence 4 – Previous entry of 4.33 has been replaced with 4.334.

 

  1. Page 13 – Paragraph 2 Sentence 2 – Revised to read: Such treatment or therapy must be determined to be necessary and documented by a qualified medical or mental health professional or treatment provider. 

 

Paragraph 5 – Job Search and Job Readiness activities are limited to no more than four consecutive weeks. (Deleted)

 

  1. Page 15 – Final Paragraph – Revised to read:  Arkansas will use the following criteria to determine and to establish the necessity of treatment or therapy. 

 

  1. Page 15 – The Screening Process Section, Paragraph 2 - Sentence 3 is revised:  The client will be asked to sign a TEA Employment Barrier Screening Consent Statement.

 

  1. Pages 15 & 16 – The entire section “Describe how the State ensures that no more than six total weeks…” has been revised to read: 

 

Arkansas will ensure that no more than six total weeks and four consecutive weeks dependent upon work eligible individual’s category during the preceding 12-month period of job search and job readiness assistance are reported. For purposes of the six week limit, a week equals twenty hours for a work eligible individual who is a single custodial parent with a child under the age of six and thirty hours for all other work eligible individuals. For the purposes of counting the four consecutive weeks, a week means seven consecutive days. Arkansas will utilize a manual process whereby case managers will track weeks in which verified hours of participation are reported for each participant in the preceding 12-month period.  (Added)

 

If a participant has any verified hours of participation for job search and job readiness assistance during that seven-day period, a count of one week is added to the table for that customer. This continues for each week in the preceding 12-month period.

 

  1. Page 16 - Community Service Definition, Paragraph 1 has been revised to read:

 

Community service is limited to projects that serve a useful community purpose and those that are designed to improve the employability of recipients and must be supervised on an ongoing basis no less frequently than daily.

 

  1. Page 17 – The response to the question “If the State permits self-initiated community service positions…” has been revised to read:

 

Arkansas will allow self-initiated community service positions, which must be pre-approved by the DWS case manager to ensure that the community service is in line with the participant’s employment plan.

 

  1. Pages 17 & 19– Vocational Education Training Definition has been revised to read:

Vocational educational training (not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual) is defined as organized educational programs that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations requiring training.  Vocational Education does include organized educational programs that lead to a baccalaureate or advanced degrees.

 

Vocational Education training must be provided by education or training organizations such as: vocational-technical schools, community colleges, postsecondary institutions, proprietary schools, non-profit organizations, and secondary schools that offer vocational education.

 

Distance learning is allowed when provided by an accredited program recognized by the Arkansas Department of Education and/or Higher Education.  Distance learning programs should have a mechanism for providing reports that document progress and time spent by an individual accessing the online distance-learning program.  This documentation will be provided to the case manager no less then biweekly. 

 

Vocational Education does include English as a Second Language (ESL) if this is a necessary and regular part of the work activity.

 

Supervised and Unsupervised Study Time

 

Unsupervised participation in educational and training activities (vocational education, job skills related to employment, education related to employment and secondary school), homework time or study time may be reported as participation in educational and training activities. As well as, monitored study sessions may be included and reported as participation in educational and training activities provided the education or training provider is able to verify attendance and participation by participants. The total homework time counted for participation cannot exceed the hours required or advised by the vocational education provider. Sufficient documentation must be provided to the case manager for this participation to be included in the work activity hours. One hour of unsupervised study time will be counted for every credit hour the individual is enrolled and participating. (Added)

 

  1. Page 18 – The response to question “Describe the methods of daily supervision for each unpaid work activity” has been revised to read:

 

The staff of the vocational education provider provides daily supervision to participants when the participant is involved in classroom participation that requires physical presence.  Vocational Education provider will also be responsible for providing reports showing individual involvement with online participation.

 

  1. Page 19 – Supervised and Unsupervised Study Time passage has been revised to read:

 

Supervised and Unsupervised Study Time

 

Unsupervised participation in educational and training activities (vocational education, job skills related to employment, education related to employment and secondary school), homework time or study time may be reported as participation in educational and training activities. As well as, monitored study sessions may be included and reported as participation in educational and training activities provided the education or training provider is able to verify attendance and participation by participants. The total homework time counted for participation cannot exceed the hours required or advised by the vocational education provider. Sufficient documentation must be provided to the case manager for this participation to be included in the work activity hours. One hour of unsupervised study time will be counted for every credit hour the individual is enrolled and participating. (Added)

 

  1. Page 19 – Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment Definition, Paragraph 2, Sentence 2 – Revised to read:

 

This definition includes all actual hours spent in class as well as supervised and unsupervised time spent performing other activities required for the approved training program.

 

Supervised and Unsupervised Study Time

 

Unsupervised participation in educational and training activities (vocational education, job skills related to employment, education related to employment and secondary school), homework time or study time may be reported as participation in educational and training activities. As well as, monitored study sessions may be included and reported as participation in educational and training activities provided the education or training provider is able to verify attendance and participation by participants. The total homework time counted for participation cannot exceed the hours required or advised by the vocational education provider. Sufficient documentation must be provided to the case manager for this participation to be included in the work activity hours. One hour of unsupervised study time will be counted for every credit hour the individual is enrolled and participating. (Added)

 

  1. Page 20 – Education Directly Related to Employment Definition, Paragraph 1 – Revised to read:

 

This activity is defined as an educational program that is related to a specific occupation, job, or job offer. This includes courses designed to provide the knowledge and skills for specific occupations or work settings and includes English for Speakers of Other Languages and Basic Education. When it is a prerequisite for employment by an employer, this activity may include education leading to a GED or a high school equivalency diploma.  Supervised and unsupervised time spent in study halls is included in the definition. 

 

Distance learning programs will be counted if the education provider can provide reports verifying participation as well as documentation that this training is required for a specific occupation.

 

Supervised and Unsupervised Study Time

 

Unsupervised participation in educational and training activities (vocational education, job skills related to employment, education related to employment and secondary school), homework time or study time may be reported as participation in educational and training activities. As well as, monitored study sessions may be included and reported as participation in educational and training activities provided the education or training provider is able to verify attendance and participation by participants. The total homework time counted for participation cannot exceed the hours required or advised by the vocational education provider. Sufficient documentation must be provided to the case manager for this participation to be included in the work activity hours. One hour of unsupervised study time will be counted for every credit hour the individual is enrolled and participating. (Added)

 

  1. Page 20 – Response to question “Describe how the State verifies the actual hours of participation for the activity…” has been revised to read:

 

Verification of hours spent in this activity is accomplished via the participant’s Participant Time Card/Progress Report, signed by both the education provider and the participant.  Distance learning program providers will provide reports verifying participant’s actual time in distance learning activity. This weekly attendance record will be maintained in the participant’s file.

 

  1. Page 24 –  “Other Excused Absences” definition revised to read:

 

Other Excused Absences

 

In addition to being credited as participating on the holidays listed above, participants engaged in any unpaid work activity, up to 2 days per month of missed participation — with a limitation of 80 hours in a year not more then 16 hours per month — can be counted toward the participation rate for “excused absences”. 

 

  1. Page 24 – III. Work Eligible Individual – 1. Identification and Verification Section has been revised to read:

 

Arkansas utilizes its data systems to identify work-eligible individuals as defined in Section 261.2 of the Final Rule. We will identify the following as work-eligible individuals:

 

§                     All adults receiving TANF assistance

§                     Minor parent head of household receiving TANF assistance

§                     Non-recipient parents who are not:

      • a minor parent who is not a head-of-household (or a spouse of head-of-household)
      • an individual ineligible due to immigration status
      • a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
      • a recipient of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits (Added)

 

 

Inquiries to: Renee Green, TEA Unit, 683-1356, renee.green@arkansas.gov

                        Cristina Roberts, TEA Unit, 683-5344, cristina.roberts@arkansas.gov

                        Derwin Taylor, TEA Unit, 683-1353, derwin.taylor@arkansas.gov

Lorie Williams, TEA Unit, 682-8256, lorie.williams@arkansas.gov

[contact for eligibility issues only]