Date of Adoption: July 26, 2000.

Purpose: To set up a system to connect WorkFirst participants to a person who will help them keep their job, once employed, and help them take steps toward higher wages.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-310-0200, 388-310-0600, and 388-310-1800.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08A.340(2), 45 C.F.R. 260.31, RCW 74.08.090, and chapter 74.04 RCW.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 00-11-140 on May 23, 2000.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Added to WAC 388-310-1800, job success services must be delivered in accordance with equitable access to Indians requirements in state law (in RCW 74.08A.040). Deleted from same, You may be assigned to a job success coach, or similar services, where available.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Other Findings Required by Other Provisions of Law as Precondition to Adoption or Effectiveness of Rule: An effective date of August 31, 2000, is necessary to implement the job success coach initiative (JSCI) that provides vital services and support to WorkFirst participants trying to transition off TANF. The JSCI helps WorkFirst participants overcome many obstacles to hold onto their job, succeed in the workplace and bank months of TANF for times of greater need.Effective Date of Rule: August 1, 2000.

July 26, 2000

Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

(1) Who is required to participate in WorkFirst activities?

     (a) You are required to participate in WorkFirst activities, and become what is called a "mandatory participant," if you:

     (i) Receive TANF or SFA cash assistance; and

     (ii) Are a custodial parent or age sixteen or older; and

     (iii) Are not exempt.      (You can only get this exemption if you are caring for your child under three months of age.      See WAC 388-310-0300 for more details.)((.))

     (b) Participation is voluntary for all other WorkFirst participants (those who no longer receive or have never received TANF or SFA cash assistance).

     (2) What activities do I participate in when I enter the WorkFirst program?

     When you enter the WorkFirst program, you will participate in one or more of the following activities (which are described in more detail in other sections of this chapter):

     (a) Paid employment (see WAC 388-310-0400 (((1)))(2)(a) and 388-310-1500);

     (b) Self employment (see WAC 388-310-1700);

     (c) Job search (see WAC 388-310-0600);

     (d) Community jobs (see WAC 388-310-1300)

     (e) Work experience (see WAC 388-310-1100);

     (f) On-the-job training (see WAC 388-310-1200);

     (g) Vocational educational training (see WAC 388-310-1000);

     (h) Basic education activities (see WAC 388-310-0900);

     (i) Job skills training (see WAC 388-310-1050);

     (j) Community service (see WAC 388-310-1400); and/or

     (k) Activities provided by tribal governments for tribal members and other American Indians (see WAC 388-310-1400(1) and 388-310-1900).

     (3) If I am a mandatory participant, how much time must I spend doing WorkFirst activities?

     If you are a mandatory participant, you will be required to spend up to forty hours a week working, looking for work or preparing for work.      You will have an individual responsibility plan (described in WAC 388-310-0500) that includes the number of hours a week that you are required to participate.

     (4) What activities do I participate in after I get a job?

     You may participate in other activities, which are called "post employment services" (described in WAC 388-310-1800) once you are working twenty hours or more a week.      Work can include a paid, unsubsidized job, self-employment, college work study or a subsidized job like a community jobs placement.      Post employment services include:

     (a) Activities that help you keep a job (called an "employment retention" service); and/or

     (b) Activities that help you get a better job or better wages (called a "wage and skill progression" service).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050.      00-06-062, § 388-310-0200, filed 3/1/00, effective 3/1/00; 99-08-051, § 388-310-0200, filed 4/1/99, effective 5/2/99; 97-20-129, § 388-310-0200, filed 10/1/97, effective 11/1/97.]

(1) What is job search?

     Job search is an opportunity to learn and use skills you need to find and keep a job. Job search may include:

     (a) Classroom instruction; and/or

     (b) Structured job search that helps you find job openings, complete applications, practice interviews and apply other skills and abilities with a job search specialist or a group of fellow job-seekers; and/or

     (c) Pre-employment training.

     (2) What is pre-employment training?

     Pre-employment training helps you learn skills you need for an identified entry level job that pays more than average entry level wages.

     (a) Pre-employment training is an acceptable job search activity when an employer or industry commits to hiring or giving hiring preference to WorkFirst participants who successfully complete pre-employment training.

     (b) You can find out about current pre-employment training opportunities by asking your job service specialist, your case manager or staff at your local community and technical college.

     (3) Who provides me with job search?

     ((Your)) You get job search from the employment security department or another organization under contract with WorkFirst to provide these services.

     (4) How long do I stay in job search?

     Periods of job search may last up to twelve continuous weeks. Job search specialists will monitor your progress. By the end of the first four weeks, a job search specialist will determine whether you should continue in job search. Job search will end when:

     (a) You find a job; or

     (b) You become exempt from WorkFirst requirements (see WAC 388-310-0300); or

     (c) Your situation changes and you are temporarily deferred from continuing with job search (see WAC 388-310-0400); or

     (d) Job search specialists have determined that you need additional skills and/or experience to find a job; or

     (e) You have not found a job at the end of the job search period.

     (5) What happens at the end of job search if I have not found a job?

     At the end of each job search period, you will be referred back to your case manager for an employability evaluation if you have not found a job. You and your case manager will also modify your individual responsibility plan.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.050.      99-10-027, § 388-310-0600, filed 4/28/99, effective 5/29/99; 97-20-129, § 388-310-0600, filed 10/1/97, effective 11/1/97.]

(1) What is the purpose of post employment services?

     Post employment services help low-income parents who are working twenty hours or more a week keep and cope with their current jobs, look for better jobs, gain work skills for a career and become self sufficient.

     (2) How do I obtain post employment services?

     (a) You can obtain post employment services by:

     (i) Asking for a referral from the local community service office;

     (ii) Contacting community or technical colleges; or

     (iii) Contacting the employment security department. Employment security department staff may also telephone you if you got a job while you were on TANF or SFA to see if you are interested in receiving these services.

     (b) You may qualify for different services (from various state or federal programs) depending on whether you:

     (i) Are a mandatory participant (that is, you currently receive TANF, SFA or GA-S benefits);

     (ii) Used to receive TANF or SFA benefits; or

     (iii) Have never been on TANF or SFA.

     (3) Who provides post employment services and what kind of services do they provide?

     (a) ((Your WorkFirst case manager can refer you to employment retention services, that will help you develop the skills you need to keep your job. An employment retention specialist will contact you on a regular basis)) You may be assigned to a job success coach, or similar services. Job success services must be delivered in accordance with the equitable access to Indians requirements in state law (in RCW 74.08A.040). The job success coach is a person who will work with you to increase your success in the workplace. The purpose of the job success coach, or similar post employment services, is to:

     (i) Help you resolve problems with your employer;

     (ii) Help you adjust to your workplace;

     (iii) Provide job coaching; ((and/or))

     (iv) Provide mentoring;

     (v) Increase your job skills;

     (vi) Help you develop the skills you need to keep your job;

     (vii) Create steps to help you increase your wages; and/or

     (viii) Develop educational activities to promote wage progression.

     (b) The employment security department can help you increase your wages, increase your job skills or find a better job by providing you with:

     (i) Employment and career counseling;

     (ii) Labor market information;

     (iii) Job leads for a better job (sometimes called job development);

     (iv) On the job training;

     (v) Help with finding a job that matches your interests, abilities and skills (sometimes called job matching); and

     (vi) Help with finding a new job after job loss (sometimes called reemployment).

     (c) Any Washington state technical and community college can approve a skill-training program for you that will help you advance up the career ladder. Their staff will talk to you, help you decide what training would work best for you and then help you get enrolled in these programs. The college may approve the following types of training for you at any certified institution:

     (i) High school/GED,

     (ii) Vocational education training,

     (iii) Job skills training,

     (iv) Adult basic education,

     (v) English-as-a-Second language training((;)), or

     (vi) Pre-employment training.

     (4) What other services are available while you receive post employment services?

     While you receive post employment services, you may qualify for:

     (a) Working connections childcare if you meet the criteria for this program (described in chapter 388-290 WAC). To qualify, you must also be in an approved post-employment service and your family's income cannot exceed one hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level.

     (b) Other support services, such as help in paying for transportation or work expenses.

     (c) Other types of assistance for low-income families such as food stamps, medical assistance or help with getting child support that is due to you and your children.

     (5) Who is eligible for post employment service, support services and childcare?

     You may qualify for post-employment services, support services and child care if you are working twenty hours or more a week, and:

     (a) You are current TANF or SFA recipient. You qualify for:

     (i) All types of post employment services, unless you are in sanction status;

     (ii) Tuition assistance from the community and technical college system;

     (iii) WorkFirst support services; and

     (iv) Working connections childcare.

     (b) You are a former TANF or SFA recipient. You qualify for:

     (i) Employment retention services (help with keeping a job) for up to ((twelve)) twenty-four months ((following)) after exiting TANF or SFA.

     (ii) Wage and skill progression services (help with finding a better job and/or obtaining better wages) for up to twenty four months after exiting TANF or SFA.

     (iii) Tuition assistance or pre-employment training from the community and technical college system;

     (iv) Working connections childcare assistance; and/or

     (v) WorkFirst support services for up to twelve months after exiting TANF or SFA.

     (c) You are a low wage earner (that is, your family income does not exceed one hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level) who has never received TANF or SFA benefits, and are in a community or technical college-approved skill training program. You may qualify for:

     (i) Tuition assistance or pre-employment training from the community and technical college system; or

     (ii) Working connections child care while you are in training or school for up to a total of thirty six months.

     (6) What if I lose my job while I am receiving post employment services?

     If you now receive or used to receive TANF or SFA, help is available to you for up to four weeks so that you can find another job and continue in your approved post employment.

     (a) The employment security department will provide you with re-employment services.

     (b) At the same time, your case manager can approve up to four weeks of support services and childcare for you.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.050.      99-10-027, § 388-310-1800, filed 4/28/99, effective 5/29/99; 97-20-129, § 388-310-1800, filed 10/1/97, effective 11/1/97.]

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