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256J.521 ASSESSMENT; EMPLOYMENT PLANS.
    Subdivision 1. Assessments. (a) For purposes of MFIP employment services, assessment
is a continuing process of gathering information related to employability for the purpose of
identifying both participant's strengths and strategies for coping with issues that interfere with
employment. The job counselor must use information from the assessment process to develop
and update the employment plan under subdivision 2 or 3, as appropriate, to determine whether
the participant qualifies for a family violence waiver including an employment plan under
subdivision 3, and to determine whether the participant should be referred to family stabilization
services under section 256J.575.
    (b) The scope of assessment must cover at least the following areas:
    (1) basic information about the participant's ability to obtain and retain employment,
including: a review of the participant's education level; interests, skills, and abilities; prior
employment or work experience; transferable work skills; child care and transportation needs;
    (2) identification of personal and family circumstances that impact the participant's ability to
obtain and retain employment, including: any special needs of the children, the level of English
proficiency, family violence issues, and any involvement with social services or the legal system;
    (3) the results of a mental and chemical health screening tool designed by the commissioner
and results of the brief screening tool for special learning needs. Screening tools for mental
and chemical health and special learning needs must be approved by the commissioner and
may only be administered by job counselors or county staff trained in using such screening
tools. The commissioner shall work with county agencies to develop protocols for referrals and
follow-up actions after screens are administered to participants, including guidance on how
employment plans may be modified based upon outcomes of certain screens. Participants must be
told of the purpose of the screens and how the information will be used to assist the participant in
identifying and overcoming barriers to employment. Screening for mental and chemical health
and special learning needs must be completed by participants who are unable to find suitable
employment after six weeks of job search under subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and participants
who are determined to have barriers to employment under subdivision 2, paragraph (d). Failure to
complete the screens will result in sanction under section 256J.46; and
    (4) a comprehensive review of participation and progress for participants who have
received MFIP assistance and have not worked in unsubsidized employment during the past 12
months. The purpose of the review is to determine the need for additional services and supports,
including placement in subsidized employment or unpaid work experience under section 256J.49,
subdivision 13, or referral to family stabilization services under section 256J.575
.
    (c) Information gathered during a caregiver's participation in the diversionary work program
under section 256J.95 must be incorporated into the assessment process.
    (d) The job counselor may require the participant to complete a professional chemical use
assessment to be performed according to the rules adopted under section 254A.03, subdivision 3,
including provisions in the administrative rules which recognize the cultural background of the
participant, or a professional psychological assessment as a component of the assessment process,
when the job counselor has a reasonable belief, based on objective evidence, that a participant's
ability to obtain and retain suitable employment is impaired by a medical condition. The job
counselor may assist the participant with arranging services, including child care assistance and
transportation, necessary to meet needs identified by the assessment. Data gathered as part of a
professional assessment must be classified and disclosed according to the provisions in section
13.46.
    Subd. 2. Employment plan; contents. (a) Based on the assessment under subdivision 1, the
job counselor and the participant must develop an employment plan that includes participation in
activities and hours that meet the requirements of section 256J.55, subdivision 1. The purpose
of the employment plan is to identify for each participant the most direct path to unsubsidized
employment and any subsequent steps that support long-term economic stability. The employment
plan should be developed using the highest level of activity appropriate for the participant.
Activities must be chosen from clauses (1) to (6), which are listed in order of preference.
Notwithstanding this order of preference for activities, priority must be given for activities related
to a family violence waiver when developing the employment plan. The employment plan
must also list the specific steps the participant will take to obtain employment, including steps
necessary for the participant to progress from one level of activity to another, and a timetable for
completion of each step. Levels of activity include:
    (1) unsubsidized employment;
    (2) job search;
    (3) subsidized employment or unpaid work experience;
    (4) unsubsidized employment and job readiness education or job skills training;
    (5) unsubsidized employment or unpaid work experience and activities related to a family
violence waiver or preemployment needs; and
    (6) activities related to a family violence waiver or preemployment needs.
    (b) Participants who are determined to possess sufficient skills such that the participant is
likely to succeed in obtaining unsubsidized employment must job search at least 30 hours per
week for up to six weeks and accept any offer of suitable employment. The remaining hours
necessary to meet the requirements of section 256J.55, subdivision 1, may be met through
participation in other work activities under section 256J.49, subdivision 13. The participant's
employment plan must specify, at a minimum: (1) whether the job search is supervised or
unsupervised; (2) support services that will be provided; and (3) how frequently the participant
must report to the job counselor. Participants who are unable to find suitable employment after six
weeks must meet with the job counselor to determine whether other activities in paragraph (a)
should be incorporated into the employment plan. Job search activities which are continued after
six weeks must be structured and supervised.
    (c) Beginning July 1, 2004, activities and hourly requirements in the employment plan may
be adjusted as necessary to accommodate the personal and family circumstances of participants
identified under section 256J.561, subdivision 2, paragraph (d). Participants who no longer meet
the provisions of section 256J.561, subdivision 2, paragraph (d), must meet with the job counselor
within ten days of the determination to revise the employment plan.
    (d) Participants who are determined to have barriers to obtaining or retaining employment
that will not be overcome during six weeks of job search under paragraph (b) must work with
the job counselor to develop an employment plan that addresses those barriers by incorporating
appropriate activities from paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (6). The employment plan must include
enough hours to meet the participation requirements in section 256J.55, subdivision 1, unless a
compelling reason to require fewer hours is noted in the participant's file.
    (e) The job counselor and the participant must sign the employment plan to indicate
agreement on the contents.
    (f) Except as provided under paragraph (g), failure to develop or comply with activities
in the plan, or voluntarily quitting suitable employment without good cause, will result in the
imposition of a sanction under section 256J.46.
    (g) When a participant fails to meet the agreed upon hours of participation in paid
employment because the participant is not eligible for holiday pay and the participant's place of
employment is closed for a holiday, the job counselor shall not impose a sanction or increase
the hours of participation in any other activity, including paid employment, to offset the hours
that were missed due to the holiday.
     (h) Employment plans must be reviewed at least every three months to determine whether
activities and hourly requirements should be revised. The job counselor is encouraged to allow
participants who are participating in at least 20 hours of work activities to also participate in
education and training activities in order to meet the federal hourly participation rates.
    Subd. 3. Employment plan; family violence waiver. (a) A participant who requests and
qualifies for a family violence waiver shall develop or revise the employment plan as specified in
this subdivision with a job counselor or county, and a person trained in domestic violence. The
revised or new employment plan must be approved by the county or the job counselor. The plan
may address safety, legal, or emotional issues, and other demands on the family as a result of
the family violence. Information in section 256J.515, clauses (1) to (8), must be included as
part of the development of the plan.
(b) The primary goal of an employment plan developed under this subdivision is to ensure
the safety of the caregiver and children. To the extent it is consistent with ensuring safety, the
plan shall also include activities that are designed to lead to economic stability. An activity is
inconsistent with ensuring safety if, in the opinion of a person trained in domestic violence, the
activity would endanger the safety of the participant or children. A plan under this subdivision
may not automatically include a provision that requires a participant to obtain an order for
protection or to attend counseling.
(c) If at any time there is a disagreement over whether the activities in the plan are
appropriate or the participant is not complying with activities in the plan under this subdivision,
the participant must receive the assistance of a person trained in domestic violence to help
resolve the disagreement or noncompliance with the county or job counselor. If the person
trained in domestic violence recommends that the activities are still appropriate, the county or a
job counselor must approve the activities in the plan or provide written reasons why activities
in the plan are not approved and document how denial of the activities does not endanger the
safety of the participant or children.
    Subd. 4. Self-employment. (a) Self-employment activities may be included in an
employment plan contingent on the development of a business plan which establishes a timetable
and earning goals that will result in the participant exiting MFIP assistance. Business plans must
be developed with assistance from an individual or organization with expertise in small business
as approved by the job counselor.
(b) Participants with an approved plan that includes self-employment must meet the
participation requirements in section 256J.55, subdivision 1. Only hours where the participant
earns at least minimum wage shall be counted toward the requirement. Additional activities and
hours necessary to meet the participation requirements in section 256J.55, subdivision 1, must be
included in the employment plan.
(c) Employment plans which include self-employment activities must be reviewed every
three months. Participants who fail, without good cause, to make satisfactory progress as
established in the business plan must revise the employment plan to replace the self-employment
with other approved work activities.
(d) The requirements of this subdivision may be waived for participants who are enrolled in
the self-employment investment demonstration program (SEID) under section 256J.65, and who
make satisfactory progress as determined by the job counselor and the SEID provider.
    Subd. 5. Transition from the diversionary work program. Participants who become
eligible for MFIP assistance after completing the diversionary work program under section
256J.95 must comply with all requirements of subdivisions 1 and 2. Participants who become
eligible for MFIP assistance after being determined unable to benefit from the diversionary work
program must comply with the requirements of subdivisions 1 and 2, with the exception of
subdivision 2, paragraph (b).
    Subd. 6. Loss of employment. Participants who are laid off, quit with good cause, or are
terminated from employment through no fault of their own must meet with the job counselor
within ten working days to ascertain the reason for the job loss and to revise the employment plan
as necessary to address the problem.
History: 1Sp2003 c 14 art 1 s 78; 2004 c 288 art 4 s 46,47; 2007 c 147 art 2 s 33,34

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Revisor of Statutes