PURPOSE: This rule requires that all applicants/recipients for the payment of Temporary Assistance shall complete an assessment and may be required to complete an individual responsibility plan which is termed a self-sufficiency pact.

1. (1) Initial Assessment and Self-Sufficiency Pact.

   1. (A) For the purpose of the administration of the Temporary Assistance Program, the Division of Family Services shall make an initial assessment of the skills, prior work experience, and employability of each applicant/recipient of assistance under the program who is the head of household or second parent and—

      1. 1. Has attained eighteen (18) years of

age; or

1. 2. Has not completed high school or

obtained a certificate of high school equivalency, and is not attending secondary school.

1. (B) The assessment described in subsection (1)(A) shall be completed within thirty

1. (30) days after the individual is determined to be eligible for such assistance.

   1. (C) On the basis of the assessment made under subsection (1)(A) with respect to an individual, the Division of Family Services, in negotiation with the individual, may develop a self-sufficiency pact (SSP) for the individual, which—

      1. 1. Sets forth an employment goal for the

individual and a plan for moving the individual into employment as soon as possible and may include a requirement that the individual attend parenting and money management classes;

1. 2. Sets forth the obligations of the indi-

vidual, which may include a requirement that the individual keep school age children of the individual in school and immunize children;

1. 3. To the greatest extent possible is

designed to move the individual into whatever employment the individual is capable of handling as quickly as possible;

1. 4. Describes the services the state will

provide the individual so that the individual will be able to obtain and keep employment, and describe the job counseling and other services that will be provided by the state; and

1. 5. May require the individual to under-

go appropriate substance abuse treatment.

1. (2) In-Depth Assessment and Self-Sufficiency Pact.

   1. (A) In some instances, the division may require an in-depth assessment be conducted to assist in developing an SSP. For this SSP, participants shall include:

      1. 1. A representative of the Division of

Family Services, who shall be a case manager or other specifically designated, trained and qualified person authorized to negotiate the SSP and follow-up with the family and responsible state agencies to ensure that the SSP is reviewed at least annually and, if necessary, shall be revised (including extension) as further assessments, experience, circumstances and resources require; and

1. 2. The recipient and, if appropriate,

another family member, assessment personnel or an individual interested in the family’s welfare.

1. (B) The SSP under section (2) shall—

   1. 1. Contain the provisions in subsection

(1)(C) above;

1. 2. Be in writing and establish mutual

state and family member obligations as part of a plan containing goals, objectives and 13 CSR 40-2

time lines tailored to the needs of the family and leading to self-sufficiency;

1. 3. Identify available support services,

such as subsidized child care, medical services and transportation benefits during a transition period, to help ensure that the family will be less likely to return to public assistance;

1. 4. Contain a parent and child develop-

ment plan to develop the skills and knowledge of adults in their role as parents to their children and partners of their spouses. Such SSP shall include school participation records; and

1. 5. Address circumstances creating barri-

ers to self-sufficiency and may be updated and adjusted to identify and address the removal of these barriers.

1. (3) The Division of Family Services shall establish a training program for self-sufficiency pact case managers which shall include but not be limited to:

   1. (A) Knowledge of public and private programs available to assist recipients to achieve self-sufficiency;
   2. (B) Skills in facilitating recipient access to public and private programs; and
   3. (C) Skills in motivating and in observing, listening and communicating.
2. (4) The Division of Family Services shall encourage families enrolled in the family selfsufficiency program to make full use of the federal earned income credit.
3. (5) An individual may request a review by the director of the Division of Family Services, or the director’s designee, of any provision of the SSP that the recipient objects to as inappropriate. After receiving informal review, a recipient who is still aggrieved may appeal the results of the informal review pursuant to the provisions of section 208.080, RSMo.

4. (6) If an individual in a family fails to cooperate in developing the self-sufficiency pact or, without good cause, fails to comply with the SSP, the division shall reduce the amount of temporary assistance otherwise payable to the family, pro rata.

   1. (A) Good cause for not complying with the terms of a self-sufficiency pact are—

      1. 1. Court-required appearance or incar-

ceration;

1. 2. Emergency family crisis which ren-

ders participation unreasonable;

1. 3. Breakdown in transportation arrange-

ments with no readily accessible alternate means of transportation;

1. 4. Breakdown in the child care arrange-

ment or availability of child care not suited for special needs of the child for whom it is intended; or

1. 5. Lack of identified social services nec-

essary for participation and set forth in the self-sufficiency pact referenced in this rule.

1. (7) The Division of Family Services shall make efforts to coordinate with the Departments of Health, Mental Health, Elementary and Secondary Education, Labor and Industrial Relations, and Economic Development to develop or make available existing programs to individuals enrolled in SSPs.

AUTHORITY: sections 207.020 and 208.040.5, RSMo 1994.* Original rule filed Jan. 16, 1998, effective Aug. 1, 1998. *Original authority: 207.020, RSMo 1945, amended 1961, 1965, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1993 and 208.040.5, RSMo 1949, amended 1955, 1969, 1982, 1985.