119-2          GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

The RMSRandom Moment Sample is not a device for evaluating individual or program performance. The Division uses the information reported on the RMSRandom Moment Sample form to determine the allocation of state and federal funding between programs. Each observation form has unique identifying program "Service" and "Activity" codes to meet federal requirements. The worker must complete all of the required fields on the observation form.

For each RMSRandom Moment Sample observation form, the worker must carefully review the RMSRandom Moment Sample "Service" and "Activity" codes and select the one code that most appropriately reflects either:

1. The specific, discrete program worked on at the exact moment indicated on the observation form. The caseworker selects the best "activity" that reflects or describes the public assistance program(s) that is being performed at the chosen moment; and
2. The common activity that simultaneously benefits more than one program; or
3. A non-programmatic activity, such as a break, lunch, leave, or travel.

119-2 A.      CASE NUMBER

The worker enters the EISEligibility Information System or ARIESAlaska's Resource for Integrated Eligibility Services case number when the recorded activity involves a specific case, which may include reviewing a policy manual or notice. For example, if a worker is reading a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program policy notice at the randomly selected moment, a case number will be entered for the correlating activity.

119-2 B.      COMMENTS

Use the "Comments" field on the observation form to briefly describe the activity completed. These are not case notes and should not contain client information. The description should be brief and support the activity selected by the caseworker. For example: "SNAP case closure" or "Initial intake interview."

119-2 C.      SELECTING PROGRAMS

When completing the RMSRandom Moment Sample observation form, the worker should carefully review the services and activities list, and select the best program(s) for the randomly chosen moment. If the activity is discrete to a specific program, then the selection of the corresponding program is the correct choice.

If working on combination of programs, then the worker selects the appropriate multi-program combination activity listed in the Admin MS 119-3 A.

Some activities, such as gathering income information and recording the data in EISEligibility Information System, will be a necessary task for all of the programs rather than just one specific program. The worker must determine if the activity is common to all programs or if it is specific activity discrete to only one program.