734              WORK:  VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Vocational Training provides participants with marketable job skills for paid work.  Without such skills, the participant may remain unemployable, or employable only in low paying occupations.  Participants with few job skills, outdated job skills, or skills no longer in demand may benefit from training designed to bring their qualifications in line with those required by local employers.

Vocational Training provides marketable job skills, rather than opportunities for career change.  Care must be taken in assigning this activity to ensure the training prepares the participant for the earliest paid employment opportunity, and that it concludes within the Temporary Assistance participant's 60 month lifetime limit on benefits.

Generally,  the length of Vocational Training activities should not exceed 12 months.  The case worker must ask a supervisor to review and approve a training activity that exceeds this limit.  Participation in Vocational Training beyond this limit doesn't count toward meeting participation targets.  The supervisor may approve training activities that exceeds this limit when the training offers viable employment opportunities with earnings that allow the family to leave Temporary Assistance prior to the 60 month limit.  

This chapter provides policy for the following Temporary Assistance training activities:

• Job Skills Training.  This activity provides specific vocational training or vocational education, and at completion typically provides a certification or diploma.    
   

• Self Initiated Training.  Some participants will identify employment goals prior to involvement in Temporary Assistance's work programs.  These training programs, also known as SIT Self Initiated Training , typically involve enrollment in recognized vocational or technical schools, or in other higher education programs (University of Alaska).
   

• College Education.  This activity prepares a participant for professional or para-professional occupations consistent with their employment goals.  Often this activity is referred to as post-secondary education ( PSE Post Secondary Education ) or University education.