STATE OF
ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #5
MANUAL: Work Services Procedure Manual
DATE: June 1, 2015
This manual change includes the removal of the Families First Facilitator and updates to the casefile review process. We also made several changes to clarify existing policy based on feedback 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:
MS 1001 ATAP Work Services Definitions
Deleted the definition of Families First Facilitator (FFF) because the function was eliminated and the term is now obsolete.
Deleted reference to the FFF in the definition of a family support team.
MS 1002-1 Management Goals
Deleted reference to an incorrect DPA mission statement.
Added a hyperlink to the website with the current mission statement.
MS 1002-2 Management Due Diligence
Deleted the table and text regarding casefile reviews; information was obsolete due to new review standard.
Updated with language defining the new standard for casefile review.
Deleted all references to the FFF as these positions have been eliminated.
Clarified provider liaison responsibilities because FFF has been eliminated.
1002-3 B. Reports From Work Services
Deleted "Grantee" from the title to reflect that the reports apply to all providers.
Deleted "e-Grants System" and replaced it with "GEMS" due to a systematic change.
1002-3 D. Calendar of Reporting Dates
Added hyperlinks to DPAweb grievance procedure, new manual section 1011-1 for performance confirmation, and the inconsistent data report.
Deleted the reference to the "Case Transfer Records" because it was never implemented.
1002-3 F. Native Family Assistance Program
Deleted the entire NFAP section as the information is already located in the NFAP Guide.
1002-9 Confidentiality
Removed number two in this subsection because non-DHSS SOA employees are no longer doing this work and the reference is obsolete.
Renumbered subsection due to removing number two.
Replaced the term "grantee" with "provider" in number three to reference all work services providers and not just those operating under a grant and/or contract.
1003-1 Principles
Changed the title from, "Work Service Principles" to "Principles."
Updated the first paragraph with language that is applicable to both the Families First and Work First tracks.
1008-5 Adjusting a Family Self-Sufficiency Plan
Deleted a bullet that referred to the AST, which doesn't currently exist.
1009-2 When to Issue Supportive Services
Created a note in this section that clarifies the use of supportive services for Post TA eligible cases.
Added a cross reference to ATAP MS 740-1for Extended Case Management and Supportive Services.
1009-4 Using Supportive Services
Deleted "Basic Needs" from the section title for clarity because supportive services should not be used for basic needs.
1009-4 B. What Supportive Services Can Be Used For
Deleted the subheading and introductory sentence for readability.
Deleted and moved the description of supportive services to newly created subsection 1009-4 C. for readability.
1009-4 C. Description of Supportive Services
Created a new subsection and moved information that was previously located in MS 1009-4 B.
Changed "notes" to "note" in the description of Emergency Shelter for consistency and also added the word refundable.
Corrected the acronym for Professional License; i.e. changed from PO to PL.
1011-1 Performance Confirmation
Created a new subsection for the updated performance confirmation procedures.
Created a hyperlink to 1002-3 D. Calendar of Reporting Dates.
1016-3 Work First Staffings
Deleted the term "Families First Facilitator" and replaced it with "Field Work Services Project Assistant" as the FFF term is obsolete (this was done twice in this section) .
1016-4 Families First Staffings
Deleted the sentence containing "Families First Facilitator" and WSPM Section 1018 as it is now obsolete.
1018-3 Client Transfers Between Regions
Deleted entire section 1018-3 because the information was in conflict with approved language in WSPM Section 1002.