STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC Manual Change #4

MANUAL: Work Services Procedure Manual

DATE:  March 2, 2015

This manual change includes changes to the Discovery Services chapter 1023 as we continue to evolve our Families First Work Services Program.    We also made several changes to clarify existing policy as a result of suggestions from the field.    

Highlights of these updated procedures are described below.  If you have any questions please contact the Work Services Policy Team at WSTA@alaska.gov or DPApolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES:

1002-4  C.   When There Seems to be a Conflict in Policy between Two or More Agencies

• Deleted the reference to Families First Facilitators and replaced it with instruction to contact the Work Service Policy and Program Development team.

• Added an email link to WSTA@alaska.gov.

1004-3   Due Diligence of the Work Services Case Manager

• Deleted the fourth bullet, which referenced Families First Facilitators.

1007   Screening, Initial Tracking, Assessments, and Evaluations

•  Corrected a typo in the second bullet.

•  Added language regarding the weekly routines in the sixth bullet.

1007-5   Family Network for Families First

• Replaced the reserved section with new content describing the Family Network.

1007-6   Calendar for Families First

• Added "Weekly Routines" to the title.

• Replaced the reserved section with new content describing the weekly routines/calendar for families first clients.

1008-5   Adjusting a Family Self-Sufficiency Plan

• Deleted the reference to Families First Facilitators and replaced it with Field Work Services Project Assistants.  

1021   Family Support Team

• Added a note to clarify the FSTs are not required for all clients.

1021-1   Family Support Team Guidelines

• Corrected some grammatical issues.

1021-6   Family Support Team Follow-up

•  In subsection I., deleted the term "negotiated job development" and replaced it with "customized employment" to align with WSPM Chapter 1023 for Discovery Services.

•  In subsection J., deleted the weekly communication requirement and replaced it with as needed to align with WSPM Chapter 1023 for Discovery Services.

1023-2 A.  Case Management Supports

•   Added a statement to clarify countable and non-countable work activities during Discovery.

•   Clarified that clients must not engage in traditional job search while participating in Discovery.   

1023-2 B.   Discovery Services as Work Activity

•   Updated the procedure for work verification of Discovery Services.

1023-4   Discovery Services Client Eligibility and Client Referral

•   Updated the note in this section to remove the requirement of a separate consent form for Discovery Services.

1023-4 A.   Discovery Services Eligibility Prerequisites

•   Updated number three in this subsection to include information about an IFSSP and removed the language regarding the FST as that information is WSPM Chapter 1021.

•   Deleted the note in this subsection due to programmatic changes.

1023-4 B.  Identification and Referral for Discovery Services

•   Revised the first bullet in subsection 3 to reflect new procedures.

•   Added a bullet to clarify that the CM is responsible for determining if the client is ready to participate in Discovery Services.   

1023-4 C.  Requirement to Recommend Discovery Services to FF Clients

•   Removed language regarding the time frame a CM's recommendation must be made.

•   Removed the client note example.

1023-4 D.  Ensuring Client Consent

•   Removed this subsection and the content is now located in the note in MS 1023-4.    

1023-5   Discovery Services Referral

•   Deleted the first sentence regarding the DSC being the single point of contact for Discovery Service processing and responses due to program and procedure changes.

•   Revised the Week 1 Discovery Services time line due to procedural changes.

1023-5  A.   Complete Discovery Services Referral Checklist

•   Revised the first sentence and note  in this subsection due to procedural changes.

•   Removed the client note example.

1023-5  B.  Submission of Discovery Referral Documents

•   Revised the first sentence and note  in this subsection due to procedural changes.

•   Removed the client note example.   

1023-5  C.  Referral Review

•   Removed the references to the SharePoint site and consent forms due to procedural changes.

1023-5  D.  Referral Documentation

•   Removed the reference to the consent form due a change in procedure.

1023-5  E.  Assignment of the Discovery Specialist

•   Revised the first sentence and note in this subsection due to procedural changes.   

•   Removed the client note example.   

1023-6 A.  Ongoing Families First Services

•  Revised subsection 2 and removed the requirement to submit a weekly note.

1023-6 B.  Discovery Specialist Contacts CM Upon Referral

•   Revised this subsection to reflect new procedures regarding the client's consent for Discovery Services and removed the two-day contact requirement.   

•   Removed the client note example.   

1023-6 D.  Discovery Specialist Confirms Contacts

•   Removed the client note example.   

1023-6 E.  Case Manager Packets

•   Removed the reference to the profile part I. 

1023-7   Discovery Activities

•   Removed the client note example.   

1023-9   Coordinating the Employment Planning Meeting (EPM)

•   Removed the client note examples throughout this chapter (in subsections A., B., C. and D.).

1023-11   Customized Employment

•   Removed the client note example.

1032   Native Family Assistance Programs     

•   Corrected the statutory reference.