(a)

1. (1) For purposes of this section, "minor parent" means a parent under age eighteen (18).
2. (2) The minor parent participation requirement applies to both the non-head of household minor parent and the head of household minor parent.

(b)

1. (1) The Program Eligibility Specialist will assist minor parents in preparing themselves for entrance into the labor market.
2. (2) Emphasis will be on the minor parent completing his or her basic education.

(c) Objectives:

1. (1) To enable more minor parents in the Transitional Employment Assistance Program to complete high school or its equivalent, thus providing them the minimum level of education needed to become productive citizens;
2. (2) To provide minor parents with skills and training necessary to allow them to support themselves and their families;
3. (3) To reduce the prevalence of welfare dependency and promote self-sufficiency among minor parents; and
4. (4) To reduce the number of pregnancies occurring among Arkansas’s teenage population.

(d) Minor parent deferrals. A minor parent receiving transitional employment assistance (TEA) benefits is required to participate unless he or she is unable to because one (1) of the following temporary deferrals exists:

1. (1) The minor parent’s child is under three (3) months of age;
2. (2) The minor parent is in the third trimester of pregnancy;
3. (3) The minor parent is ill or incapacitated which is verified by a physician; or
4. (4) Child care or other necessary support service arrangements cannot be made.

(e) Assessment.

1. (1)

   1. (A) The assessment process is the same for head of household minor parents as is for adults.
   2. (B) Refer to 20 CAR §§ 502-303 – 502-308.
2. (2) The objective of the assessment is to identify any life conditions that prevent the minor parent from completing basic education (high school level) or achieving the goal of self-sufficiency through employment.

3. (3)

   1. (A) The parent, or other adult with whom the minor parent is living, is required to accompany the minor parent to the orientation/assessment session.
   2. (B) This is to ensure that the adult relative has a clear understanding of what is expected of the minor parent and the importance of cooperation.
   3. (C) Note. If the minor parent is not required to live with a parent or other adult, then this requirement will not apply.

4. (4)

   1. (A) The Program Eligibility Specialist should maintain close contact with the minor parent and assist with supportive services and any other needs that will direct him or her toward self-sufficiency.
   2. (B) The Program Eligibility Specialist should also provide in-depth counseling and guidance to minor parents as needed.

5. (5)

   1. (A) In cases of abuse/neglect or homelessness of teen parents, a referral to the Division of Children and Family Services should be made.
   2. (B) If the minor parent is under sixteen (16) years of age, a referral should be made if sexual abuse is suspected.

6. (6)

   1. (A) If it is determined during assessment that a minor parent is already in school, the process will still be completed.
   2. (B) The Program Eligibility Specialist will discuss the existing childcare arrangements and any areas of concern.
   3. (C) The level of education, school attended, method of transportation, and cost if any, and cost of child care will be obtained from the participant for documentation purposes.
   4. (D) Information regarding services being received from other agencies will also be obtained and documented.
   5. (E) An explanation of other services available will also be given and a referral or referrals made, if necessary.

7. (7) If it is determined during assessment that a minor parent is not in school, the Program Eligibility Specialist will discuss with the minor parent and adult relative the:

   1. (A) Importance of enrolling in school;
   2. (B) Time frame for which the minor must be enrolled; and
   3. (C) Date verification of enrollment is due in the local office.

8. (8) Minor parents engaged in the education activity must:

   1. (A) Maintain satisfactory attendance as determined by the school; and
   2. (B) Comply with all activities required by the institution.

9. (9)

   1. (A) A schedule of follow-up contacts will be developed with dates of contact identified, reasons for contact, and method and place of contact mutually understood between the Program Eligibility Specialist and the minor parent.
   2. (B) Each contact will be documented.
   3. (C) The minor parent will:

(i) Be responsible for obtaining written progress reports from their institution of learning; and

1. (ii) Provide the reports to the local office at agreed upon intervals.

(f) Employment/education plan.

1. (1) The employment/education plan is developed jointly by the minor parent and the Program Eligibility Specialist from information obtained during the assessment.

2. (2)

   1. (A) The employment/education plan outlines a series of activities and services necessary for a minor parent to complete basic education and/or obtain full-time employment.
   2. (B) If the Program Eligibility Specialist cannot print the electronic version of the employment/education plan, then the TEA-181, Employment Plan, must be filled out and a copy given to the participant.

3. (3) The plan identifies:

   1. (A) The minor parent's education and employment goals;
   2. (B) Problems that, if not addressed, may prevent the minor parent from remaining in school and/or becoming employed;
   3. (C) Program services the minor parent will need in order to remain in school or accept employment; and
   4. (D) Specific tasks to be performed by both the Program Eligibility Specialist and the minor parent.
4. (4) The plan will also include tentative completion dates for each activity listed in the employment/education plan.

5. (5) During the employment/education planning interview, the Program Eligibility Specialist and the minor parent will:

   1. (A) Discuss any problems; and
   2. (B) Identify specific actions required to eliminate the problems.
6. (6) The employment/education plan will be reassessed and updated as necessary.

(g) Family planning referral.

1. (1)

   1. (A) It will be explained to the minor parent and adult relative that family planning services, such as those offered by county health units, are a vital part of minor parent participation.
   2. (B) It will also be explained why the referral should be made (to prevent subsequent pregnancies).

   3. (C) If the referral is accepted, the Program Eligibility Specialist will:

      1. (i) Call a local family planning provider;
      2. (ii) Identify himself or herself; and
      3. (iii) State the need to refer a minor parent for family planning services.
   4. (D) If needed, the Program Eligibility Specialist may arrange transportation.

2. (2)

   1. (A) The dates, times, and addresses of the clinics will be given to the participant in writing.
   2. (B) When more than one (1) day and time of clinic services is available, the minor parent will be urged to select a day and time most convenient to their participation.
   3. (C) The referral information, date and time participant is scheduled to attend, will be shown in the narrative.

3. (3)

   1. (A) A TEA-3350, Referral for Services, will be completed for all referrals for family planning services.
   2. (B) Other relevant information will be documented in the case narrative.

(h) Minor parent referrals to other agencies.

1. (1)

   1. (A) In the event a member of a minor parent's household is in need of a particular service, the Program Eligibility Specialist may give information about the availability of the service, identifying the agency and location.
   2. (B) If the family member's need for the service creates a problem to the participant's education goal, a formal referral using TEA-3350 will be made.

2. (2)

   1. (A) For minor parent case heads in need of housing assistance, the Program Eligibility Specialist will contact the local housing authority on behalf of the participant stating the problem or problems and needs of the family.
   2. (B) The information obtained will be explained to the participant and the importance of cooperating with the housing agency will be emphasized.
   3. (C) Housing needs will be addressed only through referral services.

3. (3)

   1. (A) Minor participants under age sixteen (16) who become parents should be referred to the Division of Children and Family Services if sexual abuse is suspected and for direct services, i.e., day care, family planning, protective services, and services to unmarried parents.
   2. (B) Follow-up will be made periodically with the division, on behalf of the participant, to monitor progress and continuity.

4. (4)

   1. (A) If the participant is in need of mental health services, the Program Eligibility Specialist will contact the appropriate agency for dates, times, and address of the agency.

   2. (B) This information will be given to the participant and documented in the case record.

      1. (i) Minor parent activities.
5. (1) Minor parents must be engaged in education or vocational education training in order to receive cash assistance.

6. (2) Teen parents sixteen (16) through seventeen (17) years of age can be engaged in:

   1. (A) Education;
   2. (B) Vocational education training; and
   3. (C) Employed activities.
7. (3) Teen parents employed through a program at school will be assigned to the education activity.

8. (4) Teen parents who find employment on their own:

   1. (A) Must still be engaged in education; and
   2. (B) Will be assigned to dual activities (education/employed).
9. (5) The minor parent is not required to participate in any other work activities once the education track has been completed.