1. (a) A Board shall conduct a strategic planning process that includes an analysis of the local labor market to determine employers' needs, emerging occupations, and demand occupations; and identify employers who will support employment with a goal of career advancement for individuals.

2. (b) A Board shall set local policies for a Choices service strategy that coordinates various service delivery approaches to:

   1. (1) assist applicants in gaining employment as an alternative to public assistance;
   2. (2) utilize a Work First strategy to provide recipients access to the labor market; and
   3. (3) assist former recipients in job retention and career advancement to remain independent of temporary cash assistance.

3. (c) The Choices service strategy shall include:

   1. (1) Workforce Orientation for Applicants (WOA). As a condition of eligibility, applicants are required to attend a workforce orientation that includes information on options available to allow them to enter the Texas workforce. As part of the orientation, a Board shall ensure that applicants are provided with an appointment for the employment planning session that the individual is required to attend if the individual is subsequently certified as eligible for temporary cash assistance. A Board shall ensure that the applicants are informed of:

      1. (A) the impact of time-limited benefits, the advantages of working, individual and parental responsibilities;
      2. (B) the services available through Choices;
      3. (C) other services and activities available through the One-Stop Service Delivery Network; and
      4. (D) the consequences for noncompliance.

   2. (2) Work First.

      1. (A) Work First provides individuals with access to the labor market before or immediately after certification for temporary cash assistance.
      2. (B) A Board must establish written policy guidelines that provide a period of assisted job search and job readiness activities that are consistent with state-established guidelines. Individuals who do not obtain employment during this timeframe are placed in work-based services and education or training activities as identified in the individual's employability plan.
      3. (C) Boards shall ensure that the individual assessment and the individual's time limits for temporary cash assistance are considered when planning services.

   3. (3) Job Retention, Career Advancement, and Re-Employment Services.

      1. (A) A Board shall ensure that the Choices service strategy provides services for current recipients who are employed or former recipients to support job retention, independence from temporary cash assistance, and progress towards self-sufficiency with a goal of career advancement.
      2. (B) Post-employment services include skills upgrade, work-related incentives, education and training, transportation, child care, and other supportive services. Post-employment service providers may include, among others, community colleges, technical colleges, proprietary schools, faith-based organizations, and community based organizations.
   4. (4) Adult Services. Services for adults focus on activities individually designed to lead to employment and self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.
   5. (5) Teen Services. Services for teenaged individuals focus on completion of school, graduating or obtaining a high school equivalency certificate, and making the transition from school to work.
   6. (6) Local Flexibility. A Board may develop additional service strategies that are consistent with the goal and purpose of this chapter and the One-Stop Service Delivery Network.

Source Note:The provisions of this §811.4 adopted to be effective February 19, 2001, 26 TexReg 1566.