No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutC05-120 Eagle County WORKS Program fAJ6-/20 -22- EAGLE COUNTY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES EAGLE COUNTY WORKS PROGRAM Policies - Adopted November 20, 2001; Amended April 2003, April 2004 and April 2005 by the Eagle County Board of County Commissioners Nothing in the Eagle County WORKS program shall be interpreted to create a legal entitlement in any participant to assistance or services provided pursuant to the Colorado WORKS program or the Eagle County WORKS program. I. Application and Assessment Process A. Ability to apply Applicants shall have the option of applying for any and all programs offered by Eagle County Health and Human Services. Applicants will be advised of various program options, benefits, services, eligibility requirements and client responsibilities at time of application. Applications will be available in ECHHS offices during normal working hours and by maiL B. Action on Applications Applicants will receive an appointment to process their application within five working days. If an emergency housing, food, childcare or medical need exists, applicants will be seen the same working day. All applications will be processed within 45 days. C.Assessment Applicants for WORKS will complete an assessment of job readiness within 30 days of application. This assessment will include a structured interview with an ECHHS case manager; an overview of employment readiness through identification of job skills and education, child care options, transportation, housing and other work support factors; and completion of other additional assessments of job readiness as may be indicated by the structured interview and overview of employment readiness. D. Participant Responsibilities Participants in the WORKS program are required to > give truthful and accurate information and to provide information on the factors that determine eligibility as required by State and County Program Regulations. > cooperate with child support enforcement efforts. > have current immunizations for their children and provide written proof. > participate in the job readiness assessment process. > participate in development and signing of Individual Responsibility Contract. > cooperate with training, education or work requirements. > report and document compliance with their Individual Responsibility Contract. > provide timely return oftheir Monthly Status Report (7th or 8th ofthe month). > notifY the agency in advance if they cannot keep appointments. > follow through with the IRC plan and referrals agreed upon. > request good cause exemptions in a timely fashion. > voice grievances in accordance with the County's dispute resolution process. EAGLE COUNTY WORKS PROGRAM POLICIES Adopted November 20,2001; Amended April 2003, April 2004 and April 2005 Page 3 B. Conditions for Authorizing Vendor Payments: 1. Statewide and County Diversion: Based on the Individual Responsibility Contract between the participant and Eagle County as approved by the County Director/designee. 2. Lump Sum payment: That portion of the Jump sum payment required to secure housing or employment will be identified in the Individual Responsibility Contract between the participant and Eagle County as approved by the County Director/designee. 3. At Participant's Request: When the participant requests in writing that vendor payments be made. C. Hardship Extensions: An assistance unit containing an individual who has received Federal TANF assistance in Colorado or another state as an adult for sixty (60) or more cumulative months shall not be eligible. for Colorado WORKS unless granted an extension by the county department due to hardship or domestic violence. Hardship extension will be accepted and processed pursuant to State regulations. Hardship is defined only as those criteria listed in State regulations. III. Individual Responsibility Contracts Individual Responsibility Contracts will be completed for all custodial parents of eligible children, persons over age 18, and for all persons under age 18 who have not completed high school and are not in school and who are recipients of basic cash assistance, statewide diversion grants and county diversion grants. Individual Responsibility Contracts will be developed in conjunction with the participant and other service providers. The expectations under the IRC will be in writing and will be acknowledged by signature of all parties to the IRC. The IRC will be effective upon review and approval by the Director or designee. For basic case assistance cases, refusal to participate in training, education, or work as evidenced by an affirmative statement by the participant or demonstrable evidence, may result in denial or termination of the basic cash assistance grant in its entirety as determined by the county for a minimum of one month. IV. Employment and Job Preparation Requirements All WORKS applicants, and custodial parents of eligible children, are expected to participate in work-related activities. Eagle County may exempt participants from sanction for non-participation in work related activities. This exemption does not stop the individual's federal requirement to enter a work related activity within 24 months. A. Fair and objective criteria for the determination of exception from work-related requirements: 1. Parent Ability to Work: The parent/caretaker has a disability that interferes with work activity. Objective Criteria: physician or mental health professional statement or receipt of SSI/OASDI. 2. Pregnancy: The single caretaker is pregnant - for a period not to exceed 12 weeks that can extend from the ninth month of pregnancy through the 3rd month of infant care. Objective Criteria: verification of pregnancy status and request by the parent to provide care & bonding. EAGLE COUNTY WORKS PROGRAM POLICIES Adopted November 20, 2001; Amended April 2003, April 2004 and April 2005 Page 5 V. Other Assistance A. Cash Additional cash assistance may be provided to a WORKS' client to support employment and job training goals outlined in the client's Individual Responsibility Contract. Additional cash assistance may be one-time or ongoing assistance. 1. One - time cash assistance: One time cash assistance may be equivalent to no more than three months' basic cash assistance level. One time cash assistance may be authorized for the following: > employment related transportation expenses > employment required tools, equipment or clothing. > glasses or other prosthetic devices necessary for employment and not covered under Medicaid or Vocational Rehabilitation Services. > relocation assistance with a firm job offer that will result in self-sufficiency and termination of WORKS benefits. > housing or utility deposits or installation of phone service. > emergency assistance for shelter, childcare and food. 2. Ongoing additional cash assistance: Ongoing additional cash assistance may be equivalent to no more than the monthly basic cash assistance grant. Ongoing additional cash assistance above that of the basic cash assistance grant may be provided to assist with the following: - transportation expenses to participate in employment, training or job preparation. - training, work supplies and equipment not otherwise covered by WIA. - personal care items and services needed for entering work related activities. - other work-related expenses specified in the IRC and approved by the County. 4. Additional cash assistance for kinship placement of children: Non-parent caretakers within the 5th degree of relationship to the children who have been the subject of an open and active child welfare case that resulted in guardianship with the non-parent relative caretaker may receive ongoing cash assistance in an amount not to exceed the usual family foster care reimbursement of Eagle County. B. Other Services Eagle County Health and Human Services will connect WORKS participants with other community services which support self-sufficiency goals and will use WORKS funds to purchase these services through vendor payments when they are not available under Medicaid or in the community without additional cost to the family or the agency. Purchased Services may be provided in a total amount not to exceed the equivalent of six months basic cash assistance grant. EAGLE COUNTY WORKS PROGRAM POLICIES Adopted November 20,2001; Amended April 2003, April 2004 and April 2005 Page 7 2. Purchased Services - throughout the time of WORKS eligibility and for six months after achieving self-sufficiency (termination of cash assistance payments). D. Restrictions on Other Assistance 1. Cash Assistance: Must be categorically eligible under the Colorado WORKS program. Additional or transitional needs must be documented and included in the Individual Responsibility Contract between the participant and Eagle County as reviewed and approved by the County. Services: Service needs for WORKS participants must be documented and included in the Individual Responsibility Contract between the participant and Eagle County and approved by the County Director or designee. Service needs for Title IV A-EA families must be documented in an application for services and approved by the County Director or designee. All services except for services related to training and employment will be available to client families on a VOLUNTARY basis. Eligibility and appropriateness for services will be determined by ECHHS in conjunction with service vendors. . VI. Statewide Diversion A. Criteria for receipt of a statewide diversion grant 1. The family is NOT in need of long-term cash assistance as determined by: a. Client statement b. Verification of employment and other income that will be sufficient to assure long-term self-sufficiency. Determination of self-sufficiency will compare total monthly income to total monthly expenses for shelter, food, transportation, medical needs and personal items as identified by the client. 2. The family, at time of application, meets the eligibility criteria for the Colorado WORKS program. 3. The amount of diversion payment, up to the equivalent of six month's basic cash assistance under WORKS, is sufficient to divert the family from assistance and assure long-term self-sufficiency. B. Method of Payment Vendor payments or direct payments to participants will be utilized for statewide and county diversion grants. C. Limits on reapplication Applicants for Statewide Diversion grants will agree in writing to NOT apply for basic cash assistance or diversion grants for a period of 12 months. EAGLE COUNTY WORKS PROGRAM POLICIES Adopted November 20,2001; Amended April 2003, April 2004 and April 2005 Page 9 Purchased Services will parallel the Title IV-A Emenlencv Assistance and Familv Preservation 1luidelines and may include the following: Services to help families gain employment > Adult literacy and English as a Second language > Adult Basic Education or General Equivalent Diploma > Pre-employment skills and Job coaching > Transportation or translation Services to help families achieve independence > Legal services for domestic relations and landlord/tenant issues > Financial and household management > Homemaker services for disabled adult caretakers or disabled children > Medical case management services > Child Support Enforcement services - custodial parent fee. Services to help strengthen family life > Parenting education and support and family mentoring > Family communication services > Substance Abuse treatment services > Domestic violence treatment Services to help youth achieve independence > Independent living services for youth between the ages of 16 and 18. > Day treatment services > Youth mentoring services > Youth sexual offender assessment and treatment. Eagle County may also provide grants to community agencies for programs that stabilize family life and promote self-sufficiency in accordance with the goals ofTANF. B. Method of Payment Vendor payments and direct payments to participants may be utilized for county diversion grants. C. Limits on reapplication Applicants for County Diversion grants will agree in writing to NOT apply for basic cash assistance or diversion grants for a period of 12 months. D. Good Cause: Families who have received an optional county diversion payment may apply for basic cash assistance or subsequent diversion payments prior to the end ofthe 12 month exclusionary period for good cause. (See Section Vill: sanctions & fraud) EAGLE COUNTY WORKS PROGRAM POLICIES Adopted November 20, 2001; Amended April 2003, April 2004 and April 2005 Page 11 2. Sanctionable Items Sanctions will be imposed in accordance with State rules for sanctions and disqualifications. Sanctionable items include: > Refusal or failure to fully participate in one or more training, education or work related activities as outlined in the IRC- 3 tier sanction > Failure to cooperate with Child Support Enforcement - 3 tier sanction > Failure to secure immunizations for children - 3-tier sanction. > Fraud - removal of caretaker from the grant for 12-month period for the first offense, 24 months for the second offense and lifetime for the third offense. > Misrepresentation of information to receive assistance in two states or two counties at the same time - ineligible for a period of 10 years. An appointment for conciliation will be provided in the first month after a client has not met the cumulative hourly requirements of work activity or failed to complete a sanctionable item as outlined in their IRe. The conciliation appointment allows the client to explain the mitigating circumstances that interfered with compliance on items within the Individual Responsibility Contract. If the client fails to appear for the conciliation appointment and/or the department determines good cause does not exist, the 3-tier sanction will be implemented. Notices of sanctions or termination of benefits will be provided certified return receipt requested mail. a. Three tier sanction for basic cash assistance First Sanction: 1 month or until cured Second sanction: 3 months or until cured Third sanction: 6 months or until cured 3. Reasons for good cause for not imposing sanctions or closing case for demonstrable evidence: > domestic violence > inability to obtain child care > incarceration. > jury duty. > time-limited family emergencies such as a death in the immediate family; illness in the immediate family, documented by a physician as requiring the care of the parent or caretaker; a family disaster such as a fire, flood or major crime victimization; eviction necessitating a search for housing; or other situations which are reviewed by the County Director as meeting the definition of a time-limited family emergency. 4. Process for establishing good cause: A participant may request conciliation or good cause exception .from the imposition of sanctions or case closure for demonstrable evidence at the conciliation appointment. A request for conciliation is a request to explain the mitigating circumstances that interfered with compliance on items within the Individual Responsibility Contract. A request for good cause exception must be accompanied by written documentation of domestic violence, inability to obtain child care, incarceration; jury duty; or family emergency or signed releases for the agency to obtain such written documentation of good cause. Verification of a family EAGLE COUNTY WORKS PROGRAM POLICIES Adopted November 20,2001; Amended April 2003, April 2004 and April 2005 Page 13 D. County Diversion Grants The County Diversion program is a one-time authorized service plan. Sanctions, other than the agreement to not reapply for 12 months, will not be imposed. Participants who misrepresent their need, income, resources and situation will be prosecuted for fraud. Families who have received an optional county diversion payment may apply for basic cash assistance or subsequent diversion payments prior to the end of the 12-month exclusionary period for the following good cause: Parent Ability to Work: Layoff due to reduction in force; or the parent/caretaker has a disability that interferes with work activity. Objective Criteria: physician or mental health professional statement or receipt of SSIIOASDI. Pregnancy: when the single caretaker is pregnant - for a period not to exceed 12 weeks that can extend from the ninth month of pregnancy through the 3rd month of infant care. Objective Criteria: verification of pregnancy status and request by the parent to provide care & bonding. Disabled Child Needing Care: The parent/caretaker is required in the home on a full-time basis. Objective Criteria: physician statement or certification by a Community Centered Board. Lack of Child Care: There is no available childcare, as defined in Section XII, while the parent participates in work activity. Objective Criteria: The Department verifies absence of relative, legally exempt or licensed childcare. Transportation: There is no transportation to work activity. Family Trauma: Family disaster such as a fire, flood or major crime victimization, eviction, through no fault of the family, necessitating a search for housing, death or incarceration of a parent, spouse or caretaker, the death of a child, or the need to provide care for a family member, or other situations which are determined by the County Director as meeting the definition of a family disaster. Objective Criteria: Verification through independent sources of a family disaster; or, assessment and statement by a mental health professional with a plan for counseling that will enable the family to restore family functioning; or, a statement by a physician thatJhe parent/caretaker is needed in the home to provide care for another family member. Domestic Violence: Separation due to domestic violence or child abuse; or, there is an imminent risk of domestic violence to the participant. Objective Criteria: The parent/caretaker makes a request for exemption and there is documentation oflaw enforcement reports/intervention to protect the parent/caretaker from domestic violence. IX. Dispute Resolution Participants may request a meeting with the County Director or her designee to review the factors of their individual situation and the basis for the county decision regarding cash benefits, services or sanctions. Meetings with the County Director or designee will occur within 5 working days. Benefits will continue during the period of County dispute resolution. Participants who disagree with the Director's review of their situation will be provided information on the their right to appeal the county's decision. Eagle County will not provide interim relief when a participant appeals an agency decision after the prior notice has expired. EAGLE COUNTY WORKS PROGRAM POLICIES Adopted November 20, 2001; Amended April 2003, April 2004 and April 2005 Page 15 3. Information to be shared includes: > Household composition and verification > Activity information and verification > Any additional information related to low-income eligibility as outlined in Volume 3.900. B. Colorado WORKS Cases Which Will Not Be Transitioned to Low-Income Child Care Assistance Program 1. Circumstances Where No Transition from Colorado WORKS to Low-Income Child Care Assistance Program will occur: > The family leaves the Colorado WORKS program due to a program violation as determined in Section 3.621; > The family is participating in training activities which Eagle County does not include as an eligible activity for the Low-Income Child Care Assistance program; > Eagle County's Low-Income Child Care Assistance program's eligibility level is below that of the transitioning family; or > Eagle County's Low-Income Child Care Assistance program has a waiting list. 2. Noticing Requirements When No Transition Will Occur All Colorado WORKS participants who will not be transitioned due to the reasons listed in XITI(B)(l) will be noticed according to regulations outlined in Volume ITI, Section 3.830 and 3.924. C. Redeterminations for Transitioning Families 1. Families who transition from the Colorado WORKS program to the Low Income Child Care Assistance Program will be redetermined three (3) months after the Low Income case is established. 2. Subsequent redeterminations after the first determination will comply with low- income redtermination rules at outline in Volume ITI, Section 3.906. Adopted by the Eagle County Board of County Commissioners on this 20th day of November, 2001; Amended on April 15, 2003, April 13, 2004 and April 26, 2005. ~m" ~hIDnnan Eagle County Board of Commissioners J:\Self Sufficiency\publicasst\tanf\ WORKS 2005 County Policies. DOC