1999 Minnesota Statutes

  256.736 Repealed, 1999 c 159 s 154 

*   NOTE:  Subdivision 11 was also amended by Laws 1996, 
*chapter 412, article 4, section 25, to read as follows:  

*   "Subd. 11.    Case management services.  (a) The county 
*agency may, to the extent of available resources, enroll 
*targeted caretakers described in subdivision 16 in case 
*management services and for those enrolled shall: 

*   (1) Provide an assessment as described in subdivision 10, 
*paragraph (a), clause (14).  As part of the assessment, the case 
*manager shall inform caretakers of the screenings available 
*through the early periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment 
*(EPSDT) program under chapter 256B and preschool screening under 
*chapter 123, and encourage caretakers to have their children 
*screened.  The case manager must work with the caretaker in 
*completing this task; 

*   (2) Develop an employability development plan as described 
*in subdivision 10, paragraph (a), clause (15).  The case manager 
*must work with the caretaker in completing this task.  For 
*caretakers who are not literate or who have not completed high 
*school, the first goal for the caretaker should be to complete 
*literacy training or a general equivalency diploma.  Caretakers 
*who are literate and have completed high school shall be 
*counseled to set realistic attainable goals, taking into account 
*the long-term needs of both the caretaker and the caretaker's 
*family; 

*   (3) Coordinate services such as child care, transportation, 
*and education assistance necessary to enable the caretaker to 
*work toward the goals developed in clause (2).  The case manager 
*shall refer caretakers to resource and referral services, if 
*available, and shall assist caretakers in securing appropriate 
*child care services.  When a client needs child care services in 
*order to attend a Minnesota public or nonprofit college, 
*university or technical college, the case manager shall contact 
*the appropriate agency to reserve child care funds for the 
*client.  A caretaker who needs child care services in order to 
*complete high school or a general equivalency diploma is 
*eligible for child care under sections 119B.01 to 119B.16; 

*   (4) Develop, execute, and monitor a contract between the 
*county agency and the caretaker.  The contract must be based 
*upon the employability development plan described in subdivision 
*10, paragraph (a), clause (15), but must be a separate 
*document.  It must include:  (a) specific goals of the caretaker 
*including stated measurements of progress toward each goal, the 
*estimated length of participation in the program, and the number 
*of hours of participation per week; (b) educational, training, 
*and employment activities and support services provided by the 
*county agency, including child care; and (c) the participant's 
*obligations and the conditions under which the county will 
*withdraw the services provided; 

*   The contract must be signed and dated by the case manager 
*and participant and may include other terms as desired or needed 
*by either party.  In all cases, however, the case manager must 
*assist the participant in reviewing and understanding the 
*contract and must ensure that the caretaker has set forth in the 
*contract realistic goals consistent with the ultimate goal of 
*self-sufficiency for the caretaker's family; and 

*   (5) Develop and refer caretakers to counseling or peer 
*group networks for emotional support while participating in 
*work, education, or training. 

*   (b) In addition to the duties in paragraph (a), for minor 
*parents and pregnant minors, the case manager shall: 

*   (1) Ensure that the contract developed under paragraph (a), 
*clause (4), considers all factors set forth in section 257.33, 
*subdivision 2; 

*   (2) Assess the housing and support systems needed by the 
*caretaker in order to provide the dependent children with 
*adequate parenting.  The case manager shall encourage minor 
*parents and pregnant minors who are not living with friends or 
*relatives to live in a group home or foster care setting.  If 
*minor parents and pregnant minors are unwilling to live in a 
*group home or foster care setting or if no group home or foster 
*care setting is available, the case manager shall assess their 
*need for training in parenting and independent living skills and 
*when appropriate shall refer them to available counseling 
*programs designed to teach needed skills; and 

*   (3) Inform minor parents or pregnant minors of, and assist 
*them in evaluating the appropriateness of, the graduation 
*incentives program under section 126.22, including 
*post-secondary enrollment options, and the employment-related 
*and community-based instruction programs.  

*   (c) A caretaker may request a conciliation conference to 
*attempt to resolve disputes regarding the contents of a contract 
*developed under this section or a housing and support systems 
*assessment conducted under this section.  The caretaker may 
*request a hearing pursuant to section 256.045 to dispute the 
*contents of a contract or assessment developed under this 
*section.  The caretaker need not request a conciliation 
*conference in order to request a hearing pursuant to section 
*256.045."