1. (a) Choices participants shall have an initial assessment to determine the participant's employability and needs. At a minimum, the assessment shall cover information about the participant's employment and educational history; vocational and educational skills, experiences, and needs; support services needs; and family circumstances that may affect participation. The existence of family violence shall be one of the factors considered in evaluating a participant's employability.
2. (b) The need for family violence services, or other services to address severe family crisis situations, must be considered when establishing the participant's employability plan and in assigning hours of work or work-related activities. Participation in counseling or other services to address family violence and other crisis situations may be included in the participant's employability plan.
3. (c) As part of the initial assessment, a literacy assessment shall be conducted for Choices participants using a statewide standard literacy assessment instrument. The grade level results of the literacy assessment shall be compared by DHS to the participant's stated grade completion to determine the appropriateness of the initial time limit designation for cash assistance as stipulated in the Texas Human Resources Code, §31.0065, concerning Time-Limited Benefits.

Source Note:The provisions of this §811.16 adopted to be effective April 15, 1998, 23 TexReg 3700.