(a)

1. (1) An employability and educational assessment will be conducted on each transitional employment assistance (TEA) participant who is not exempt or deferred.
2. (2) However, those who are exempt or deferred may be assessed and encouraged to participate in work-related activities.

(c)

1. (1) An employability assessment and educational assessment (TABE) will be conducted for each appropriate participant, unless the TEA case record contains an employability and educational assessment that was completed within the last six (6) months.
2. (2) No new assessment will be required in that situation.
3. (3) However, if the Program Eligibility Specialist determines either a new employability or educational assessment is needed, one should be completed.
4. (4) Beyond the TABE, the level and type of assessment will be left to the discretion of the Program Eligibility Specialist based on the participant's circumstances.
5. (5) The case record will be documented to clearly reflect the type of assessment made and the rationale for it.
6. (6) Form TEA-1402, Skills, Employability, and Intake Assessment, will be completed during the assessment.
7. (7) Please see subsection (g) of this section for more detailed information as to what should be addressed in the assessment.

(d) An employability assessment may be conducted:

1. (1) During the application interview;
2. (2) At any time while the application is pending; or
3. (3) At application approval.

(e) Note.

1. (1)

   1. (A) TABE testing may be completed during the application period provided the applicant does not need supportive services, e.g., transportation or child care to take the TABE.
   2. (B) See TEA policy 2004.2.
2. (2) KeyTrain may be used as an additional assessment tool but will not be used in place of TABE testing.

(f) Scheduling the employability assessment after approval.

1. (1) The assessment should be scheduled and completed within twenty (20) days of the application approval.
2. (2) The participant may be notified of the assessment appointment at the same time the application approval notice is sent.
3. (3) The Program Eligibility Specialist will use TEA-1405, Appointment Notice, to schedule appointment after receiving task from the eligibility worker.

(g) Conducting the employability assessment.

1. (1)

   1. (A) The purpose of the employability assessment is to identify the participant's readiness for employment so that a realistic employment plan can be developed.
   2. (B) In two-parent families, one (1) parent may be deferred from engaging in work requirements to care for the children.
2. (2) Note. If federally funded child care assistance is provided, both parents must be engaged in a work activity.

3. (3)

   1. (A) It will be determined during the joint employability assessment if such a deferral is appropriate and, if so, which parent will be deferred.
   2. (B) Refer to 20 CAR § 503-122, work participation exemptions/deferrals.

4. (4)

   1. (A) During the employability assessment, the Program Eligibility Specialist:

(i) Presents an overview of the program;

1. (ii) Gathers pertinent case information; and

   1. (iii) Identifies life conditions that, if not addressed, may prevent the family from becoming self-sufficient through employment.
   2. (B) The PUB-389 (TEA Supportive Services) will be provided to the participant.
   3. (C) The participant will sign the TEA-188, Acknowledgment of TEA Support Services and Work Pays Program.

   4. (D) The assessment should be designed to identify the following:

      1. (i) Employment history/work experience;
      2. (ii)

(b) (b) TABE testing will be provided through the Department of Human Services;

1. (iii) Family situation/circumstances;

   1. (iv) Supportive services needs, if any;

      1. (v) Personal attributes, personal traits that help or hinder employment; and
      2. (vi) Job skills/interests.

2. (5)

   1. (A) A referral to the Adult Education Section for a career assessment may be made in counties where it is available.
   2. (B) A career assessment is used to measure and identify a participant’s job aptitude and interests.
   3. (C) The Program Eligibility Specialist should document the type of career assessment the participant is given.

3. (6)

   1. (A) The Learning Needs Screening is a three-page questionnaire designed to determine if a possible learning disability exists.
   2. (B) The Program Eligibility Specialist will explain the use of the screening tool to the participant.
   3. (C) The Program Eligibility Specialist should advise the participant that the screening tool does not determine the existence of a learning disability but determines if further assessment is needed.
   4. (D) If the total points from the responses total twelve (12) or more, this is an indication that a learning disability may exist and further assessment is needed.

   5. (E)

      1. (i) Attached to the questionnaire are additional questions that the Program Eligibility Specialist may ask, if appropriate.
      2. (ii) However, the additional questions are not used to determine if a referral for assessment should be made.

   6. (F)

      1. (i) After discussing the results with the participant, a determination of referral should be made.
      2. (ii) Advise the participant of the referral and explain how the participant should benefit from the assessment.
      3. (iii) If a referral is made, the TEA-3350, Referral for Services, will be used.
4. (7) Information obtained during the employability assessment is used to develop the employment plan.

(h) Developing the employment plan.

1. (1)

   1. (A) An employment plan will be developed for each TEA participant who has been assessed.
   2. (B) The plan will be developed jointly by the participant and the Program Eligibility Specialist.

2. (2)

   1. (A) The employment plan is a document that specifies a series of actions necessary for the participant to accept and retain permanent full-time employment.
   2. (B) Even though the Program Eligibility Specialist and participant will jointly develop the employment plan, the final determination of the plan content will rest with the Program Eligibility Specialist.

3. (3)

   1. (A) There are two (2) versions of the employment plan, electronic and paper.
   2. (B) The electronic plan is produced by the case management system.
   3. (C) The paper format is the TEA-181, Employment Plan, and should only be used when the electronic version is not available but should be entered into system as soon as possible.

4. (4)

   1. (A) During the development of the employment plan, the Program Eligibility Specialist should also direct some discussion toward the participant’s future goals.
   2. (B) Although the focus of the plan is on short-term goals and actions, the participant should be encouraged to think about long-term goals.
   3. (C) This type of discussion could help the participant start looking to the future, particularly to the time when cash assistance may no longer be available to the family.

5. (5)

   1. (A) The employment plan will contain the following:

      1. (i) An employment goal;
      2. (ii) The activities that will be undertaken by the participant to achieve the employment goal;
      3. (iii) The services to be provided by the agency, including child care and other supportive services; and
      4. (iv) Other needs of the family that might be met by TEA or other agency programs, e.g., substance abuse treatment, parenting/life skills, training, etc.
   2. (B) The initial plan will also include tentative start dates for each activity in which the participant is likely to become engaged.

6. (6)

   1. (A) The participant, as part of developing skills necessary to be self-sufficient, will be encouraged to accomplish, without assistance, as many tasks as are possible, such as making arrangements for child care.

   2. (B) Provision of services should be limited to those necessary for the participant to accept employment.

      1. (i) Scheduling/rescheduling assessment.
7. (1) After a TEA case has been approved, the Program Eligibility Specialist will send a TEA-1405, Appointment Notice, to the participant.

8. (2) The notice will indicate:

   1. (A) The appointment date and time; and
   2. (B) What information to bring to the appointment, including diplomas, job skills assessments, certificates, etc.
9. (3) The decision to reschedule an employability assessment is left to the discretion of the Program Eligibility Specialist.

10. (4) The Program Eligibility Specialist will send a TEA-1, Notice of Action, to inform the participant of the:

    1. (A) New appointment; and
    2. (B) Penalties that may occur if the participant fails to attend the rescheduled assessment.

(j) Assessment.

1. (1)

   1. (A) The participant will complete the TEA-1402, TEA Skills, Employability, and Intake Assessment.
   2. (B) The Program Eligibility Specialist and participant will discuss short-term and long-term goals.
   3. (C) The gathered information will be used to develop the employment plan.
   4. (D) Although the focus of the plan is on short-term goals and actions, the participant should be encouraged to think about long-term goals.
   5. (E) The Program Eligibility Specialist will discuss with the participant ways to be self-sufficient.

2. (2)

   1. (A) The Program Eligibility Specialist will discuss supportive services and give the participant a copy of PUB-389, TEA Supportive Services.
   2. (B) The participant will sign the TEA-188, Acknowledgment of TEA Supportive Services and Work Pays Program, to verify receipt.

3. (3) The Program Eligibility Specialist will also discuss:

   1. (A) Minimum weekly hours;
   2. (B) Work activity time limits;
   3. (C) Tasks involved; and
   4. (D) Sanctions.

(k) Failure to attend employability assessment.

1. (1) If the participant fails to attend the scheduled employability assessment and does not contact the Program Eligibility Specialist, or fails to attend a rescheduled appointment, the case narrative will be documented accordingly and the noncompliance sanction initiated unless, in the judgment of the Program Eligibility Specialist, there is good cause for rescheduling the appointment.
2. (2) Reasons for good cause include, but are not limited to, child care not available, no transportation, inclement weather, family emergency, short-term illness, etc.

3. (3) Refer to 20 CAR § 503-224(c).

   1. (l) Contingency plan.
4. (1) The Program Eligibility Specialist should advise the participant to be prepared to deal with emergencies that may occur, such as utility cut-offs, domestic violence, etc., by developing strategies and contingency plans to deal with such emergencies when they occur.
5. (2) The Program Eligibility Specialist may suggest the participant make a list of relatives, friends, and community resources who can assist in case of emergency.