WorkFirst HandBook

Engaging Parents in WorkFirst

1.2 Required Participation

The Required Participation section includes:

1.2.1 What is participation and how is it counted?

Individuals are required to participate in work or work-related activities full-time, which is defined as "getting as close as possible to 40 hours per week," with a minimum of 32 hours a week. In order to develop a full-time Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP) we count the actual hours involved in an activity. When working with the parent to develop the IRP, it is very important that we make every effort to reach 40 hours of activities per week.

Work with the parents who are not in full-time (32-40 hours) activity(ies) to ensure that every hour of activity is properly recorded in the IRP, as close to 40 hours a week as possible, with a minimum of 32 hours. See the 3.3, Individual Responsibility Plan, section for more information on Individual Responsibility Plans.

Federal rules reduce funding for states that fail to meet a federal work participation rate. To meet the rate, states must have a percentage of parents in the required number of hours of countable activities each month. The percentage is higher for two parent families.

To be a two-parent family, neither parent can be:

Federal rules define activities as "core" or "non-core". As shown on the Core & Non-core Activity chart, some core activities only count for a limited amount of time.

1.2.2 What are the WorkFirst participation requirements?

The chart below shows WorkFirst requirements for parents and teens that are able to participate. Most parents' hourly requirements are still 32-40 hours per week. Now we want at least 20 of those hours, however, to be in core activities.

Most parents, and each parent in a two-parent family, will be expected to meet the requirements in row 1. However, WorkFirst does not require the following to participate in core activities (rows 2 and 3 below):

Who Core Activity Requirements Core or Non-core Activity Requirements Total

1. Each parent or needy caretaker relative

20/hr/wk

12-20 hr/wk

32-40 hr/wk

2. Pregnancy to Employment Infant Exemption

None

None

None (exempt)

3. Teen head of households (age 19 or younger) that do not have a High School Diploma or GED

None

20 hr/wk HS, GE or BE

20 hr/wk

1.2.3 How we determine the best employment pathway?

Everyone has skills and abilities needed in today's workforce. Weaving those skills and abilities with labor market realities and education levels is the cornerstone of the CE. It is designed to achieve better and quicker engagement in employment-related activities.

The CE will be a key tool in leading parents directly to employment and job search will continue to be the most appropriate pathway for the majority of parents. For other parents, the CE will lead to employment through activities like Community Works, education or Community Jobs.

The WorkFirst Program Specialist refers the parent to the appropriate employment pathway identified by the CE using the appropriate code(s). The pathways include:

See section 3.2 and the "Comprehensive Evaluation Referral Criteria" document in the Resources section below for pathway details.

The information gained from the CE will also be available to the WorkFirst partners and the parent to ensure that the parent is engaged in the employment pathway that will move them most effectively toward self-sufficiency.

If at any time there is an indication or the family discloses involvement with Children's Administration (CA) we must work collaboratively to address the needs of the parents and children.

Families involved with CA may be required to do activities like counseling or treatment to help keep their families together. It's critical to take these activities into consideration when developing the parent's IRP and add these activities as a WorkFirst participation requirement as appropriate. We want to make sure that WorkFirst requirements do not interfere with the activities parents are taking to comply with CA requirements and resolve their family issues and emergencies.

Participation Example #1
After a newly approved WorkFirst parent completes the CE, she or he will start with full-time employment services as their first activity. Full-time employment service activities and attendance are defined and directed by Employment Security staff. See 4.2 Job Preparation/Job Search section for more information on job search.

Participation Example #2
The WorkFirst parent is working 25 hours a week at a local restaurant and is also in an approved educational component for 10 hours a week. Record the actual number of hours for each activity in the IRP and input the number of hours for each component on the component screen in eJAS, for a total of 35 hours a week of participation

1.2.4 When can someone participate in the various WorkFirst activities?

Unless the CE indicates otherwise, employment services are the first activity for almost everyone. The CE is the key tool in leading parents to employment through job search, education, or other employment pathway activities like Community Works or Community WEX approved by the WorkFirst Program Specialist (WFPS) or WorkFirst Social Worker.

For individuals who are not successful in job related activities, it is important to determine what factors may be contributing to the lack of success. The person may have an undisclosed disability or deficit and you cannot provide assistance without knowing what obstacles he or she is facing. Inform the person that you want to see him or her succeed and that support services are available for people needing special consideration. Ask whether circumstances have changed and/or has the person disclosed all information that may be affecting his or her success.

1.2.5 What does participation look like for families in crisis situations?

Consideration and action will be taken for those families in crisis/issue resolution situations that will be counted as full-time participation. The WFPS can develop an IRP with the parent that specifically addresses the crisis issues. When necessary, consult with expert personnel for assistance, including Social Workers, tribal representatives, family violence specialists, and other WFPS or supervisors. This should be done when assistance and expertise is needed to develop specific steps the person should take to mitigate his or her circumstances.

Both state and federal rules recognize that not all parents will be able to participate all the time. It is important that we stabilize families, resolve issues and provide parents with exemptions when that is the best plan for the family.

Deferrals and exemptions will not necessarily make it harder to meet the federal rate. As shown on the WorkFirst Stacking Strategy chart , some exempt parents qualify for federal exemptions and parents in countable "X" codes may be able to add enough participation hours to meet federal participation requirements.

If a parent has an urgent issue, such as family safety, he or she will be directed to the Social Worker after the CE via the Issue Resolution pathway for assessment and services. The Social Worker will address the immediate need as well as determine appropriate participation activities. These actions must be outlined when the IRP is developed.

Be sure that the person understands how and when to report progress or lack of progress in completing the steps outlined in the IRP. Completion of the activities outlined in the IRP will constitute required participation until the SW determines the issue is resolved or other activities are added to the IRP.

1.2.6 What are contracted services?

Some individuals are referred to contractors to receive specific services. These contractors include community or faith-based organizations, for profit providers, and others. Contractors provide services that are not otherwise available through the partner agencies. They may focus on barriers or issues that need to be addressed so individuals can be supported in finding and keeping employment. Contractors need to be notified of and provide any necessary accommodations.

WorkFirst has established strong certification standards for contractors and service providers. Contractors and service provides must meet the standards to obtain WorkFirst certification which occurs during the contracting process. Contractors must meet the standards for reporting to the WFPS or WFSW by providing monthly verification reports. Contractors must report non-participation immediately.

1.2.7 What if someone is not exempt but cannot participate in regular employment service activities?

Some individuals may need specialized services to participate and progress to self-sufficiency. For example, a person with a physical impairment that is not considered a condition that would exempt him or her from participation, might best participate with experts who can provide specific vocational services, such as the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

Coordinate with the DVR counselor or other professionals when the parent is on a waiting list for services such as alcohol treatment or DVR. In many cases, all that can be reasonably expected would be that the person completes all necessary applications and prepares for acceptance into another program such as DVR or SSI. Through consultation with WorkFirst Social Workers and other professionals, determine the appropriate activities and level of participation while the person is awaiting services. For example, an individual may be able to participate in activities such as alcohol/substance abuse/chemical dependency treatment, parenting classes, counseling, adult education, and/or money management education. Similarly, parents who need DVR services may be able to work part-time in an entry-level job while waiting for the services that will help them obtain career employment.

Some individuals may not be able to participate in employment service activities because they are working with CA. Parents working with child protective services may have court appointments, counseling, treatment or other activities that they are required to attend. If at any time there is an indication or the family discloses involvement with CA, it is critical to take these activities into consideration when developing the parent's IRP.

1.2.8 What are the WorkFirst requirements for dependent teens and pregnant or parenting minors?

Dependent teens and young adults who are on an adult's WorkFirst cash assistance grant are not required to do an IRP or verify school attendance.

The following chart summarizes the CE, IRP, participation, and verification requirements for dependent teens/young adults and teen head of households:

Age Dependent Teen Teen Head of Household
Federal Reporting Not included in the work participation rate. Included in the work participation rate.
13-19 Parent's responsibility to ensure the child is in school. No IRP required.

20 hours per week HS, GE or BE is required unless exempt.

  • Must verify actual hours of high school attendance monthly.
  • IRP required.
  • No CE Required
Upon Graduation N/A Same as adult parents and needy caretaker relatives:
  • Participate 32-40 hours per week:
    • 20 hours core, and
    • 12-20 hours core or non-core.
  • Must do CE & IRP.

Dependent teens are part of an adult's WorkFirst cash assistance grant. It is the parent's responsibility to ensure the child is in school. There are no WorkFirst requirements for these teens. However, if a child is not enrolled in school a referral to Children's Administration (CA) is appropriate.

Some teens and young adults must go to school and/or be in an approved living arrangement as a condition of TANF/SFA eligibility. See these sections of the EAZ Manual for more information:

1.2.9 Home Schooling

Teens and young adults that are home schooled can meet the WorkFirst participation requirement for schooling when it is approved by the household's local school district and meets the state law requirements. See RCW 28A.200 for more information .

When a parent reports they are providing, or intend to provide home-based instruction, they must submit a signed statement to the school district declaring their intent to home school. This is a yearly requirement. Once this document is filed and a copy provided to the WFPS, then the home schooling can be added to the IRP.

Home schooling is WorkFirst participation for the child only. A parent or guardian providing the home schooling cannot satisfy WorkFirst participation requirements by providing the instruction.

1.2.10 What are the participation requirements after 60 months of WorkFirst?

Participation requirements for individuals that have received WorkFirst for more than 60-months are limited to the following:

A family may also receive a time limit extension if they are deferred, exempt or in sanction. See EA-Z Manual and the WorkFirst Handbook Time Limits Staffings.

1.2.11 eJAS/ACES codes
1.2.12 Participation - Step-by-Step Guide

Refer to the IRP section for a step-by-step guide to regular participation. For all others, the WFPS or WFSW looks at the age of all assistance unit members to determine participation.

Resources

Related WorkFirst Handbook Sections
Other Resources

For more information about the WorkFirst HandBook, contact Kim Shidell, WorkFirst Program Manager.