1009-2 WHEN TO ISSUE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
Supportive Services are not an entitlement. Work Services staff will determine when to issue Supportive Services to clients. Payments are based on individual circumstances and individualized FSSP's, so there is no simple and clear way to identify whether individual payment should be made beyond the general guidelines given here.
Some agencies have their own procedures to determine when to authorize Supportive Services. The Work Services Provider (WSP) will follow their agency’s protocols as well as the guidance below:
It may be appropriate to provide Supportive Services to clients who are working and/or engaged in other approved work or self-sufficiency activities when:
Meeting the identified need is essential to maintaining their work and/or participating in their FSSP activities;
The unmet need is interfering with their ability to work or progress in their self-sufficiency goals;
Meeting the need is expected to significantly improve their chances in job advancement, increasing their income, or progressing in their FSSP or IFSSP; AND,
There is no other way to meet the need.
Note:
Clients who are not in compliance with their FSSP or IFSSP are not eligible
for Supportive Services; however when clients express willingness to engage
in their plan, Supportive Services must be made available as necessary
for their engagement. Supportive Services may never be withheld to force
compliance with case management demands, for example: turning
in a Work Verification paperwork.
Before providing Supportive Service payments, case managers will demonstrate due diligence by working with the client to explore alternative resources available to meet the need. This process includes:
Problem solving—help families to anticipate problems and identify solutions for future needs. Even when the Case Manager provides Supportive Services, he/she must take the opportunity to help the client prepare and plan for the time when supports are no longer available.
Budgeting and identification of other income—authorize Supportive Services when there is no other way to meet the need. Sometimes budgeting can help the client meet the need on their own. Ask the client to contribute what they can to the purchase of the service—to “co-pay” for the service or item.
Identification of natural supports (friends, family, etc.)—every family has different strengths and needs. Supportive Services should be tailored to each family and determined on a case-by-case basis. The client should be able to identify their network of family and friends who may be able to help.
Access of community resources—link clients to community resources. While charitable organizations and agencies may not have the funds or specific service needed, the client will know how to access that organization’s resources when they are self-sufficient and Work Services are no longer available.
The expectation is that case managers will work with clients to ensure they identify and use resources other than Work Services Supportive Services whenever possible. However investigation other resources should not take so long that the unmet need interferes with client participation and success with their self-sufficiency plan. The urgency of the need and the time the client has available to invest in doing things outside of their job or other activities shall be balanced with the investigation of alternative resources.
If the Case Manager is unsure about whether to authorize a Supportive Service, consider the following:
Conduct a case staffing with other involved staff or staff from the WSP team who might offer helpful information or perspectives;
Talk with a supervisor about the case; and,
Be as specific as possible in identifying why question exists about authorizing the service. Consider whether the client needs to provide more information or do more to help you make a good decision.
If Work Services staff decide not to authorize a requested Supportive Service, they should discuss the decision with the client and try to help the client meet the need through other resources. Any denial of Supportive Services must be documented.
There are no Work Services Program caps on how much an individual client can receive in Supportive Services per program year. However, Supportive Services funds are a finite resource each agency shall have protocols in place to manage their Supportive Services budget.
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