Arkansas TANF/MOE Report

Office of Family Assistance

Annual Report on State TANF and MOE Programs - 2005
Arkansas

Arkansas’ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance program is entitled Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA).

Able-bodied adult family members are required to participate in work activities, which are designed to lead to employment. The work activities and definitions are as follows:

1. Employment – This activity is for clients who enter employment but are not yet self-
sufficient. Employed clients may be involved in additional activities directed at
increasing their earning potential. To the extent possible, program services for clients
will be arranged so as not to conflict with the client’s employment.

Employment may be either unsubsidized or subsidized. Subsidized employment may
be in either the private sector or public sector. Such employment is directly
supplemented by federal or state funds.

2. Education – Education includes elementary and secondary education and education to
obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma and education to learn English as a second language. In consultation with adult education or rehabilitative services a person with a high school diploma or the equivalent who tests at less than a working functioning level shall be eligible to participate in basic remedial or adult education. If an individual does not have a high school diploma or equivalency, education also includes basic remedial education and adult education.

Minor parents are required to participate in educational activities as their work activity participation requirement.

3. Vocational Education Training – Vocational educational training is post secondary education, including, at least, programs at two or four year colleges, universities, technical institutes and vocational schools which is in a field directly related to employment. Only 12 months of vocational education is counted for purposes of the federal rate calculation. An individual client is allowed to engage in vocational education for a longer period of time for purposes of his or her individual work requirements if it has been determined that is the best plan for that client to move toward self-sufficiency. However, any months in excess of 12 are not counted for the federal work participation rate.

4. Post-Secondary Education – Education past the high school level that does not fall under the definition of vocational education training. This includes courses leading to a 2 or 4-year degree, or a 5-year teaching degree.

Although most post-secondary education is treated as an allowable work activity, it does not count for purposes of the federal work participation rate calculation. In our definition of vocational education, certain types of post-secondary courses of study that can be clearly tied to a specific occupation such as nursing are included. However, these types of post-secondary education would also be subject to the 12-month vocational education limits as described above under Vocational Education.

5. Job Skills Training – This activity provides job skills training in a specific occupation.
Job skills training may include customized training designed to meet the needs of a specific employer or a specific industry.

6. Community Service - The State opts out of the provision at Sec. 401 (a)(1)(B)9iv) of the Act with regard to requiring community service after an individual has received assistance for two months if he or she is not engaged in work. However, Community Service is an allowable work activity when the individual is engaged in it through another agency or organization, e.g., community punishment, Arkansas Rehabilitative Services, etc.

7. Job Search/Job Readiness Activities – Persons engaged in this work activity may include those (1) for whom no major personal or family problems were identified and who are job ready; (2) who are determined to have limited or no job search knowledge or skills; (3) who have limited or no recent employment; and (4) those the worker thinks would benefit from this work activity.

Job Search may consist of Job Club and Assisted Job Search activities, or Assisted Job Search alone. In Job Club, clients are provided group employment counseling and instructions on effective job search and interview techniques followed by a period of assisted job search.

Job readiness activities may include any type of activity deemed necessary for the individual to become ready for work. Such activities may include substance abuse treatment, employment counseling and life skills training, etc.

8. On-the-Job-Training – On-the-Job Training is training and work experience at a public or private not-for-profit agency or organization or with a private for-profit employer which provides an opportunity to obtain training and job supervision and provide employment upon satisfactory completion of training.

9. Work Experience Training – Work Experience Training is job training experience at a supervised public or private not-for-profit agency or organization or with private, for-profit employer, which is linked to education or training and substantially enhances a recipient’s employability. Work experience may include training-related practicums and internships.

10. Micro-Enterprise – This activity is designed to allow individuals to engage in self-
employment enterprises. Individuals who are already self-employed, those wanting to expand a self-employment enterprise and those expressing an interest in developing and starting a Micro-Enterprise may participate in this activity. Individuals in this activity are allowed to escrow profits from the business into an escrow account.

The following extended supportive services are available to families who lose eligibility for TEA cash assistance due to employment.

1. Extended Support Services (ESS) Child Care – Child care services are available for up to a lifetime limit of three years (36 cumulative months) following case closure due to employment. The first year is free to the client and the second and third years are based on a sliding fee scale. Other conditions that have to be met are as follows:

• For the first year, the individual’s earnings alone must cause the family to be ineligible or the individual is employed an average minimum of 20 hours per
week;
• For the second year, the individual must be employed an average of 25 hours per
week; and
• For the third year, the individual must be employed an average of 30 hours per week.

2. Employment Bonus – A cash payment in the amount of the last TEA payment is made
to the family in the month following case closure. Only one bonus payment is made
within a 12-month period.

3. Extended Support Service (ESS) Transportation – A cash payment of $200 is made to
the family in each of the two months following case closure to assist with meeting employment related transportation expenses.

4. Extended Support Service (ESS) Job Retention – During the 12 months following case
closure, an individual may receive cash payments for the purpose of enabling him or her to maintain employment. There must be an immediate need, which if not resolved will result in the loss or termination of employment.

5. Transitional Medicaid – A family whose TEA Medicaid case closes due to employment may receive up to one year of extended Medicaid coverage.

6. Categorically Eligible Household for Food Stamps - A household remains
categorically eligible for Food Stamps if all members receive (or are certified to receive) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or at least one member receives (or is certified to receive) Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) benefits: child care, TEA cash assistance, mentoring services, case management or extended case management services, employment bonus, transportation assistance or job retention payments.

C. Penalty for Non-Compliance with a Work Activity

Once an individual fails to comply with a work activity requirement, a good cause
determination is made. If it is determined that good cause does not exist, a progressive
sanction is imposed. The progressive sanction is as follows:

Month one of Non-Compliance – suspension of cash assistance payment. (To be implemented upon completion of system changes. Until then, a 25% reduction in the full cash assistance payment will be made.)

Months two and three of Non-Compliance – 25% reduction of the full cash assistance payment.

Months four through six of Non-Compliance – 50% reduction of the full cash assistance payment.

Month seven and subsequent months of Non-Compliance – possible closure of the TEA case or a continuation of the 50% reduction.

D. Child Care Disregards

The state does not allow the option of a child care disregard. Child care is paid directly to the provider.

The state agency defers from work activity participation an individual who is unable to
participate due directly to the effects of domestic violence. During the initial assessment, a
screening tool is completed by the individual, which provides information to the TEA Case Manager that domestic violence may exist. The responses are discussed with the individual and a decision regarding deferral is made at that time. The TEA Case Managers have received training on how to identify possible domestic violence and have been provided procedures for referring to other agencies a for services.

The state agency has partnered with local domestic violence agencies and shelters to establish local referral procedures, training, etc. in an effort to provide services to these individuals.

During federal fiscal year 2005, an average of 6 cases per month were deferred from work activity participation due to domestic violence.

1. Diversion Assistance – A diversion payment may be provided to an otherwise eligible
TEA family in certain specified circumstances so that the family does not come on to regular TEA cash assistance. To qualify for diversion, the adult caretaker must meet the following conditions:

(a) have a related minor child living in the home
(b) be currently employed but having a problem that jeopardizes the employment; or
(c) be promised a job but needs help in order to accept the job (e.g., needs car repairs, uniforms, etc.)
(d) has never received a diversion payment;
(e) agree to forego any TEA benefits for a period of 100 days.

The diversion payment will be the actual cost of what it would take to resolve the problem up to a maximum equal to three (3) months of what the monthly TEA cash assistance would have been for the family size.

Under Arkansas State Law, a diversion payment is considered a loan. If not repaid, it will count toward the adult’s maximum time limit of twenty-four (24) months.

During the initial interview, the Case Manager assesses the problems and needed services including Food Stamps, Medicaid, Child Care, etc. If the individual is diverted from the TEA program, the caseworker continues to process any other pending application for services.

2. Relocation Assistance – Cash assistance to help a family who receives TEA cash
assistance move from an area of limited job opportunities to a new locality within Arkansas for full-time employment is available on a limited basis. Before relocation assistance is provided, the person must have a bona fide offer of full-time employment in the new locality.

An agreement is developed between the Department of Human Services and an OJT or subsidized employment employer. This agreement requires the employer to assure that regular employees’ positions will not be displaced or partially displaced, and normal work shift hours, wages, or employment benefits will not be reduced as a result of activities by TEA program participants.

The county office staff is responsible for discussing the assurances with the employer prior to finalizing the agreement. It is the employer’s responsibility to make employees aware of the assurances.

The Arkansas Department Of Workforce Services has responsibility for handling any displacement complaints in accordance with Arkansas State Law, Act 1058 of 1997.

H. Third & Fourth TANF Purposes

1. Plan to Reduce Unwed Births and Teen Pregnancy (45CFR260.20(c) &(d))

Arkansas’ plan involves multiple strategies and multiple agencies in which five components are utilized.

They are:
• Abstinence programs using TANF funding
• Improved access to family planning services statewide
• Community-based efforts in targeted counties
• Media campaign with emphasis on 9-14 year olds
• Two state-level steering committees to coordinate the efforts

1. In FY 2005, reduce the pregnancy rate for teenagers aged 15-17 years to no more than 40.0 per 1000 females (1996 provisional baseline = 59.6/1000).

2. In FY 2005, reduce the proportion of adolescents 17 years and younger who have engaged in sexual intercourse to 50% (2001 baseline = 55.5%; 1999 baseline = 56%; 1997 baseline = 60%; 1995 baseline = 62%)

3. In FY 2005, reduce the selected Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) among youth 15-19 years old to 1650 per 100,000 (1996 baseline = 1615/100,000).

4. In FY 2005, reduce the rate of births to teenagers 15-17 years old to no more than 33.0 per 1000 females (1996 provisional baseline = 49.1/1000).

5. In FY 2005, reduce the rate of births to 10-14 year olds to no more than 1.20 per 1000 females (1996 baseline = 1.79/1000).

6. In FY 2005, reduce the proportion of youth reporting first sexual intercourse to have occurred at less than 13 years of age to 7% (2001 baselines = 9.8%; 1999 baseline = 11%; 1997 baseline = 12%; 1995 baseline = 14%).

7. 26 Community Based Organizations receiving abstinence and unwed birth
prevention grants.

2. Encourage the Formation and Maintenance of Two-Parent Families
(45CFR 260.20(d))

In an effort to keep families together, deprivation is not a factor when determining the
family’s eligibility for cash assistance. The TEA Case Manager works with both adults addressing the needs of the family in order to move them into gainful employment, thus keeping the family together. This begins at the assessment and is a part of the on-going case management.

For federal fiscal year 2005, an average of 10 individuals per month participated in subsidized employment.

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

Child care assistance is provided to a family if needed, so that the family member(s) can participate in a TANF work activity.

4. Program Type. (Check One)

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP-MOE program (i.e., Completed 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:
$14,843,469

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

The individual must need child care in order to participate in a TANF work activity.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under the prior law (i.e., as defined at 45 CFR 260.30)? (check one)

This certifies that all families for which the State claims MOE expenditures for the fiscal year meet the State’s criteria for “eligible families.”

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

Cash payments to help newly employed persons meet their work-related transportation costs.

To provide families whose TANF cash assistance case closes due to employment, transportation assistance in the two months following case closure.

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

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year:

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE-funded Benefits or Services under the Program:
The family’s cash assistance case is closed due to employment. Such families are deemed financially eligible for Extended Support services if they were eligible for TANF cash assistance in the month prior to case closure due to employment.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at 45CFR 260.30)? (check one)

This certifies that all families for which the State claims MOE expenditures for the fiscal year meet the State’s criteria for “eligible families.”

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

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

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year:

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

Services are provided to a needy family who has insufficient resources immediately available to alleviate an emergency situation. See Attachment A – Reference to Arkansas’ TANF State Plan.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at 45CFR 260.30)? (check one)

This certifies that all families for which the State claims MOE expenditures for the fiscal year meet the State’s criteria for “eligible families.”

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 and Employment Related Supportive Services

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: To provide assistance to needy families with
related children under age 18 and who meet the eligibility requirements.

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

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year:

$5,756,095

8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds: 8,647
This last figure represents (check one):

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

The family must meet the requirements as outlined in Arkansas’ TANF State Plan.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at 45 CFR 260.30.)? (check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995:
(NOTE: provide only if the response 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.”

STATE PLAN FOR TITLE IV-A OF THE
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT:
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES

This addendum to the Arkansas Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) plan will assist the State in assuring that the Foster Care and Adoption Assistance Program is operated in accordance with Part E of the Social Security Act that encourages parental responsibility and promotes family unity.

The Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services will provide services to a needy family who has insufficient resources immediately available to alleviate an emergency situation. For purposes of this addendum, an emergency situation will be defined as a family member at risk of maltreatment.

For families who are experiencing an emergency situation, the Division will provide a
maltreatment assessment of the family needs. This assessment will not affect the eligibility or the benefits that are due a family under the TEA program.

In addition, the State uses TANF funds for emergency assistance activities that were previously authorized as of September 30, 1995 under the AFDC Emergency Assistance State Plan.