STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #11

MANUAL: Work Services Procedure Manual

DATE: December 1, 2023

We have made multiple technical corrections and incorporated the change outlined below.

If you have any questions, please contact the Work Services Policy Team at WSTA@alaska.gov or the Policy & Program Development Team at hss.dpa.policy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

1000  WORK SERVICES OVERVIEW

• Corrected typos, hyperlinks, and aligned language from the DOHDepartment of Health public facing website for the ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program.

1000-2  PRINCIPLES OF WORK SERVICES

• Clarified collaboration language to include the client(s)' role and to acknowledge the many differences in communities throughout Alaska.

1000-3  ACHIEVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY

• Added "self-sufficiency" as a goal of ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program.

1001  ENGAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT

• Corrected typos, hyperlinks, and made other technical corrections as recommended from the field and Training.

1001-1  RAPID ENGAGEMENT

• Added program status in which clients may be referred to WSPWork Services Provider.
• Added language about clients reapplying beyond 60 months.
• Replaced "referral" with "engagement" and added "including Supportive Services" at the end of the first sentence.
• Clarified when the 30 day "rapid engagement" timeframe begins.
• Added language for the variety of ways the client becomes known as the WSPWork Services Provider.

1001-2  EMPLOYABILITY ASSESSMENT

• Replace "employment" with "employability" for consistency.
• Made technical corrections as recommended by the field.

1001-3  INITIAL EMPLOYMENT PLANNING INTERVIEW INSTRUCTIONS

• Deleted 1003-1 and replaced with clarified description.
• Reorganized and clarified A through L.

1001-4  MINIMUM SCREEN REQUIREMENTS

• Added language describing parameters for minimum screening.

1001-6  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

• Deleted link to ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program MS 731-2.
• Added "client allowed Good Cause."
• Reversed order of paragraphs for readability.
• Added sentence after bulleted list for clarification.
• Added language describing training and collaboration with DVDomestic Violence experts.
• Added link to CDVSA home page.

1001-6 A.  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BEHAVIOR

• Added stalking and financial abuse.

1001-6 D.  NOTIFICATION AND SCREENING

• Deleted and replaced with link to ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program MS 731-2.

1001-8  PHYSICAL OR MENTAL ILLNESS

• Added referral to the local Vocational Rehabilitation office information.

1001-13  DOCUMENTATION

• Clarified documentation requirements.

1002-2 G.  SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

• Added link to the Child Care Program Manual.

1002-3 E.  TIME-BOUND

• Clarified establishing timeframes with the client.

1002-4  UPDATING THE FSSP

• Amended for clarity.
• Added CS penalty.

1002-5  INCORPORATING PARTNER PLANS

• Clarified ROI requirements.
• Clarified examples of partner agencies.

1002-6  DOCUMENTING THE FSSP

• Clarified signature requirements and included language that allows for electronic record keeping.

1003-1 C.  PERFORMANCE MEASURES DEFINITIONS

• Corrected hyperlinks.
• Reversed order of "possible" and "met" definitions to reflect the performance measure calculation.

1003-1 D.  MEETING THE RATE

• Clarified two-parent hours required to meet the participation rate.

1003-2  WORK ACTIVITIES

• Revised to emphasize Core Activities, strengthen and clarify section.
• Made a series of technical corrections for clarity.
• Added hyperlinks.

1003-3 A.  CORE ACTIVITIES

• Clarified language around allowable employment collateral contact and verification requirements.
• Created example to demonstrate averaging hours.
• Created definition for Subsistence, code C2.
• Deleted code X1.
• Made a series of technical corrections for clarity.

1003-3 B.  WORK SUPPORT ACTIVITIES

• Made a series of technical corrections for clarity.

1004-3      WHAT SUPPORTIVE SERVICES CANNOT BE USED FOR

• Updated language referring to subsistence.

1004-4      SUPPORTIVE SERVICES CODES AND DEFINITIONS

• Amended note on Emergency Shelter to allow flexibility in payments.
• Added WSTA email for case specific allowance for families requiring additional Emergency Shelter funds.
• Expanded the use of Youth Enrichment to allow payment of costs not covered by PASS I.

1005-4      ON-THE-JOB TRAINING

• Described flexibility in reimbursement for OJT contracts with complex circumstances.
• Updated the example to include a more current wage that is higher than the State of Alaska's minimum wage.

1007-9 B      CONDUCTING THE PENALTY RESOLUTION HOME VISIT

• Corrected the link to eForms TA 40