Alabama TANF/MOE Report

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Office of Family Assistance

Annual Report on State TANF and MOE Programs - 2004
Alabama

A. Unsubsidized Employment: This is paid employment for either wages or salary where no part of the pay is subsidized by federal, state or local government. In order to be countable under federal requirements the employment must be equal to an average of 30 or more hours per week.

B. Subsidized Private-Sector Employment: This activity is currently not available through the TANF Program in Alabama.

C. Subsidized Public-Sector Employment: This activity is currently not available through the TANF Program in Alabama.

D. Work Experience: In Alabama this activity is called Preparation for
Employment (PREP). PREP is designed to assist clients in enhancing or gaining new employment skills. It is a 13-week program, which consists of a 12-week intensive training period and a one-week field practicum. This activity is appropriate after a client has completed Job Search and/or Job Readiness Training and has been unable to find a job. During the first 12 weeks of PREP, the client is expected to train for 30 to 40 hours per week to give the client the experience of full-time employment. Fewer hours, to fit the client’s circumstances, may be authorized. PREP provides a client the opportunity to acquire new skills through application in a real-world setting and through related, intensive training in the skills needed to complete the work. PREP placements may be made in either public or private non-profit or for-profit work sites. The client does not receive a salary during the PREP placement. The client’s prior training, experience, skills and interests will be taken into consideration when designing the appropriate training placement.

E. On-the-Job-Training: In this component a public or private employer hires the TANF client full-time where part of the wages are subsidized, usually by a governmental entity such as Department of Labor. While employed in the OJT position, the client engages in productive work while receiving training in knowledge and skills essential for adequate job performance. The client is compensated at a rate comparable to that of other employees performing the same or similar jobs, but at no less than minimum wage.

1. Job Search is assigned in two-week increments. The client is expected to
complete up to 15 serious contacts with potential employers each week and must also register with the Employment Service. The weekly number of required contacts is determined by the case manager based on the client’s specific circumstances and the geographic area. The case manager will randomly contact employers turned in as job contacts to verify that an application was submitted and/or an interview was conducted.

2. Job Readiness is an intensive, short-term component, consisting of formal
classroom training designed to prepare the client for successfully seeking and maintaining employment. Activities focus on pre-employment preparation and are aimed at helping the client overcome barriers that might preclude employment. Typical activities include application completion, interview skills, ways to locate job openings, general workplace expectations, and the behaviors and attitudes necessary to compete successfully in the labor market.

G. Community Service Programs: Community Service Employment (CEMP) is similar to PREP except that it is limited to projects that serve a useful community purpose, including, but not limited to improvement of public facilities and fields such as health, social service, environmental protection, education, urban and rural development and redevelopment, welfare, public safety and day care. Clients may only be assigned to public, non-profit organizations, agencies or corporations for their placement. The placement is not time-limited but should last as long as necessary for the client to gain the experience and skills needed to find paid employment.

H. Vocational Educational Training: this activity includes any of the following:

1. Competency-based applied learning that contributes to a client’s academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, life skills, work attitudes, employability skills, and occupation-specific skills through organized educational programs of sequenced courses. These courses should provide individuals with technical skills and academic knowledge needed for success in current or emerging employment sectors.

2. Any formal instruction in a skill or trade, traditionally referred to as job skills training, determined by the case manager to be other than purely academic in nature that prepares the client for a vocation, for example, technical programs designed to prepare a client for a specific occupation, including but not limited to, nursing, plumbing, electrical, auto mechanics and barbering. It is limited to education that leads to useful employment in a recognized occupation. Training is available to clients through vocational/technical schools, and some colleges.

3. Training programs provided through the Alabama Department of Rehabilitative Services.

I. Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment: This is specific training in a skill that is more informal than Vocational Educational Training. It is usually offered for a shorter period of time and does not normally result in a diploma. However, the client may receive some type of certificate at completion of the training. The training program is usually designed to teach the skills needed for a particular employer or occupation, usually as a new manufacturing plant is opening.

J. Education Directly Related to Employment for Individuals with No High
School Diploma or Certificate of High School Equivalency:
This activity is currently not available through the TANF Program in
Alabama.

K. Satisfactory School Attendance for Individuals with No High School
Diploma or Certificate of High School Equivalency:
Individuals in this activity must be attending an educational facility with the
goal of achieving a high school diploma or certificate of high school
equivalency. In addition, the student must be considered a “student in good
standing”. The student must have regular attendance and must be making
satisfactory progress toward his/her goal. Satisfactory progress is defined by
the instructor/institution.

L. Providing Childcare Services to an Individual Who is Participating in a
Community Service Program:
This activity is currently not available through the TANF Program in Alabama.

II. TRANSITIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO FAMILIES NO LONGER
RECEIVING ASSISTANCE DUE TO EMPLOYMENT

A. Short-term Employment Aid (SEA):

1. Referrals to Job clubs led by DHR staff and/or other community or faith-based
organizations that focus on job retention skills;

2. Individualized help with problem solving and removal of work-related
barriers, such as developing and/or arranging back-up plans for child care;

3. Intervention with an employer before a client is terminated from a job;

4. Referral to community resources for emergency aid, assistance with budgeting, and income tax preparation;

5. Referral to coaches/mentors for on-going assistance in adapting to rigors and increased expectations of the work environment;

6. Help with career planning and advancement;

7. Referral to counseling/treatment programs for substance abuse, domestic violence, or making other good life choices;

8. Counseling on family planning resources and referral to the Health Department or other provider;

9. Provision of information and explanation about Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC);

10. Referrals to the Child Support Program, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Food Stamp Program and Family Services Program as appropriate;

11. Purchase of automobile repair services (the amount paid may not exceed $500);

12. Provision of cost of clothing, tools, or work-related training expenses which would allow the client to retain or begin confirmed employment;

13. Purchase of transportation services;

14. Assistance with overdue rent or utilities (for which the client is solely responsible) with the threat of eviction or termination of services;

15. Payment for alcohol or drug counseling/treatment, excluding medical expense;

16. Driver’s license fees and/or training; and/or

17. Referral for Transitional Child Care (TC) costs.

III. DESCRIPTION OF GRANT REDUCTION DUE TO REFUSAL TO ENGAGE IN WORK WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE

A. Parents or stepparents included in the assistance unit:

For the first three months of noncompliance (consecutive or not) by individuals who have received assistance for less than 24 months, the grant amount will be reduced by 25% of the payment standard for the assistance unit size. For months of noncompliance in excess of three months by individuals who have received assistance for less than 24 months, the assistance unit will be disqualified for a one-month period for the first sanction sequence and a six-month period for subsequent sanction sequences.
For instances of noncompliance by individuals who have received assistance for 24 months or more or by individuals who voluntarily terminate employment or refuse employment without good cause (regardless of the number of months of receipt of assistance), the assistance unit will be disqualified for a one-month period for the first instance of noncompliance and a six-month period for subsequent instances of noncompliance.

B. Teens, 16-18 years of age, who are not parents and teens, 16-18 years of
age, who are parents of a child(ren) not in the home:
The grant amount will be reduced by $30 for each month of noncompliance.

IV. AVERAGE MONTHLY NUMBER OF PAYMENTS FOR CHILD CARE
SERVICES MADE THROUGH THE USE OF DISREGARDS

A. Strategies and procedures to ensure that victims of domestic violence receive
appropriate alternative services:

Alabama adopted the Family Violence Option in 1998. The Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence formed a collaborative relationship to establish the Special Assessment, Intervention & Liaison (SAIL) Project to provide for domestic violence screening, assessment and services for Family Assistance (FA), JOBS and other low income clients. A domestic violence specialist (SAIL Specialist) is assigned to serve each DHR county office.
All Family Assistance (FA) applicants and recipients are screened for domestic violence at each application and redetermination interview. If the screening indicates possible domestic violence the client is referred to the SAIL Specialist if the client desires to be referred. The SAIL Specialist conducts a domestic violence assessment and develops a service plan to include counseling, safety planning, referral to other agencies and supportive services as appropriate. Individuals participating in the SAIL Project where safety is an issue are deferred from the work participation requirement (although the client may volunteer to participate), child support enforcement activities and will be granted a hardship for time limits.

JOBS case managers include questions on domestic violence as part of the JOBS assessment. Supportive services are provided to victims and their families if available income is less than 200% of the federal poverty level.

B. Number of good cause domestic violence waivers:
JOBS – 34 (Average monthly #)

A. Short-term Employment Aid (SEA)
Same as identified in II above.

1. Criteria

These services may be provided to clients as stated above regardless of the
age of the client. However, if the client is age 19 or older, s/he must be the parent of a child under age 19 at the time of the request.
Services 11 through 16 in II A above may be provided for a particular expense for up to four months per incident of need. An incident of need is when an event or crisis occurs causing the client to be temporarily unable to afford the expense(s). The maximum amount allowable per incident of need is $250 for services 12 through 16 in II A above.

2. General Criteria

Services 1 through 10 in II A above may be provided upon request to any client (including a child). There is no restriction on the last date the financial assistance was received. However, if the client is age 19 or older, s/he must be the parent of a child under age 19 and the family’s gross income must be under 200% of the federal poverty level for the family’s size.

Services 11 through 16 may be provided to any client who is either currently employed or has an offer of employment and meets one or more of the following conditions:

- Is a former financial assistance recipient who received assistance in the last 12 months;

- Is a former financial assistance recipient who last received assistance more than 12 months ago and whose family income is less than 200% of the federal poverty level;

- Is a financial assistance applicant who is employed at the time of the FA application and whose income is below 200% of the federal poverty level, an unemployed financial assistance applicant who obtains a job while in applicant status, or a financial assistance recipient;

- Is a participant in the TANF Domestic Violence Program.

C. Information and Referral

All denial and termination notices provide information regarding medicaid,
child support, and transitional childcare. In addition, JOBS case managers
attempt to contact each client who is terminated from FA to
provide information/referral regarding possible eligibility for SEA supportive
services, EIC, medicaid and food stamps.

Program policy states that “placements may not displace individuals currently employed with the employer or fill existing vacancies”. Displacement complaints will be heard through the program's fair hearings process and may be appealed to the Secretary of Labor in accordance with established regulations.

VIII. STATE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES DIRECTED TOWARD THE
PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK PREGNANCIES AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF TWO PARENT FAMILIES

The Department of Human Resources funded the 2004 State Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. This included a statewide media campaign with Public Service Announcements and brochures. The Department of Human Resources funded Family Planning Services through the State Department of Public Health.

Through a contract with the Children’s Trust Fund the Alabama Fatherhood
Initiative Program (AFI) was established in FY 01. In FY 04 the Program funded
33 local fatherhood programs to prevent unwed fatherhood, to encourage
participation in children’s lives and address other issues related to fatherhood.
Through the AFI the Short-term Skills Training Pilot Project was developed. Working with AFI core partners, DHR built capacity for the Project
by securing commitments for ADECA to use Welfare to Work resources to fund
short-term skills training and from the Department of Postsecondary Education to
develop short-term skills training courses at nine community colleges for non-custodial parents. Workgroups from the AFI devised the Short-term
Training Model, an implementation guideline, to be used by the community
colleges in providing skills training and employment opportunities to non-
custodial parents unable to make child support payments due to underemployment
or unemployment. Three of the nine colleges identified to pilot the project continued to be fully implemented in FY04.

IX. ESTIMATE OF INDIVIDUALS IN SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT

A. Subsidized Private Employment – 0
B. Subsidized Public Employment - 0

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

1. Name of Benefit or Service Program:

A. Basic Assistance

B. Child Care

C. Other Supportive Services

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities:

A. Temporary financial assistance; services related to enabling clients to become self-sufficient, such as counseling/mentoring, educational activities, Job Readiness activities and Preparation for Employment activities, etc.

B. Child Care supportive services to FA JOBS clients.

C. Supportive Services for employed clients to include transportation, counseling and work related expenses.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:

A. To provide a reasonable subsistence compatible with decency and health as far as practicable under the conditions in the state; To help maintain and strengthen family life and enable families to become independent and self-sufficient.

B. To assist parents of needy children to attain or retain capability for the maximum self-support and personal independence consistent with the maintenance of continuing parental care and protection.

C. To assist parents of needy children to attain or retain capability for the maximum self-support and personal independence consistent with the maintenance of continuing parental care and protection.

_X__ This Program is operated under the TANF program.

_____ This Program is a separate State program.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP-MOE program (I.e., Complete only if this program is a separate State program):

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $5,488,620.

8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds: 21,155.
This last figure represents (check one):

_XX The average monthly total for the fiscal year.

____ The total served over the fiscal year.

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE-funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

A. Basic Assistance: Refer to Alabama’s Title IV-A State Plan – Family Assistance Program, Section IIIC.

B. Child Care: Available to FA JOBS clients who are employed or who are required to participate in other JOBS activities in accordance with the client’s Family Responsibility Plan and/or as a condition of FA eligibility.

C. Other Supportive Services: Individuals are eligible for JOBS Supportive services provided they are current or former Family Assistance recipients.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995. _________________________
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to question 10 is No.)

This certifies that all families for which the State claims MOE expenditures for the fiscal year meet the State's criteria for "eligible families."

SIGNATURE: ___________________________________
NAME: Joel Sanders
TITLE: Director, Family Assistance Division

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities:

* Cash Assistance: benefits to meet ongoing needs;

* Supportive Services: transportation and child care;

* Short-term Employment Aid (SEA): Refer to Annual Report on TANF Programs, Sections II and VI;

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:

* Provide assistance to needy families with children;

* Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families;

* Promote job preparation, work and marriage in an effort to end dependence of needy parents on government benefits.

_____ This Program is operated under the TANF program.

_X __ This Program is a separate State program.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP-MOE program (Complete only if this program is a separate State program):

* Employment activities: On-The-Job-Training;

* Pre-Employment Activities: Job Search, Job Readiness, Preparation for Employment Program (PREP), Vocational Education and Individual Business Entrepreneurial Activities;

* Employability Advancement Activities: Educational activities, including but not limited to secondary education, GED, literacy training and college.

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $735,665.

8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds: 215.
This last figure represents (check one):

_XX The average monthly total for the fiscal year.

____ The total served over the fiscal year.

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE-funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

Eligibility requirements are the same as for regular TANF benefits with the addition of the following:

* There must be two able bodied parents;

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law? (check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995. _________________________
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to question 10 is No.)

This certifies that all families for which the State claims MOE expenditures for the fiscal year meet the State's criteria for "eligible families."

SIGNATURE: ___________________________________
NAME: Joel Sanders
TITLE: Director, Family Assistance Division

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

1. Name of Benefit or Service Program:
Non-Assistance Programs:
Includes the following:

A. Work Related activities/expenses

B. Child Care Subsidy

C. Transportation

D. Administration

E. Systems

F. Other (Includes Emergency Assistance)

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities:

A. Work Related activities/expenses: On-the-Job Training, Job Search, Job Readiness, Preparation for Employment Program (PREP), Community Service Employment Program (CEMP), Vocational Education, Individual Business Entrepreneurial Activities, Educational activities to include but not limited to, secondary education, GED, Literacy training and college.

B. Child Care Subsidy: Child care subsidy for children.

C. Transportation: Reimbursement for transportation expenses for clients engaged in an approved JOBS activity.

D. Administration: Program costs and overhead costs allocated through the cost allocation system for indirect items such as Personnel, Finance, General Services and Administration of the Department, salaries, fringe benefits and travel for county TANF workers and all costs not documented on Form ACF-196.

E. Systems: See ADDENDUM TO ACF-196 FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004.

F. Other: See ADDENDUM TO ACF-196 FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004.

G. Emergency Assistance: Payment for shelter, foster care and emergency living expenses. Information and referral, case planning and case management, counseling, support activities, and health care and health maintenance activities.

* To enable Family Assistance clients to engage in work and/or training activities;

* To enable families to maintain suitable employment and/or to engage in other educational or training activities leading to employment;

* To protect children from actual, threatened or potential abuse or neglect;

* To enable minor parents to remain in school and thereby avoid long-term welfare dependency;

* To promote quality child care services through a variety of quality enhancement initiatives;

* To alleviate family emergencies and normalize family functioning.

_XX_ This Program is operated under the TANF program.

________ This Program is a separate State program.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP-MOE program (I.e., Complete only if this program is a separate State program):
N/A

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $32,989,833.

8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds: 6,142.
This last figure represents (check one):

_XX_ The average monthly total for the fiscal year.

_____ The total served over the fiscal year.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law? (check one):

Yes_ X_ No ___

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995. _________________________
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to question 10 is No.)

This certifies that all families for which the State claims MOE expenditures for the fiscal year meet the State's criteria for "eligible families."

SIGNATURE: ___________________________________
NAME: Joel Sanders
TITLE: Director, Family Assistance Division