1. Welcome to EF New Worker Training!
Warm Welcome with some type of “Ice Breaker”
Stress unity of EF program & FS Office and our goal to support the county in every possible way. First step of that support is the foundation of basic training and providing resource materials. Encourage trainees to ask questions throughout the training.

2. Priorities
Bathrooms
Phones
Water

3. Priorities The Schedule Breaks Lunch Ending Time
Discuss breaks, approximate a lunch time, and targeted dismissal time.

4. EF program history/philosophy
Training Agenda
EF program history/philosophy
Goals
Federal Exemptions
Briefly discuss each listed point.
Activities
ABAWDs and Non-ABAWDs

5. Training Agenda NOT FINISHED
Forms
Assessment/Initial Site
Briefly discuss each listed point.
Sanctions
CBMS
Referral

6. What is Employment First?
For anyone who has been referred to Employment First to remain eligible for their portion of their household’s food stamps, they must be involved in either Workfare or a NON-workfare activity.
Colorado’s Employment and Training Program for Food Assistance Work Registrants

7. Program History
1983
Demonstration programs in Adams, Jefferson, and Larimer
1985
Food Stamp E & T federally mandated by Food Stamp Act
Workfare started in Colorado
1992
1983 – Federal law authorized demonstration programs. In May of 1983 programs were set up in Adams, Jefferson and Larimer counties and the department of Social Services chose to run the program themselves.
1985 – Demonstration was successful, so program mandated by federal law – Also in 1985 the precedent was set in Colorado for local level cooperation between Social Services and other local employment and training providers such as JTPA and Goodwill when Arapahoe County contracted JTPA to run the Employment First program.
1992 – Workfare started in Colorado
- Welfare reform – Big changes in Colorado EF program – ABAWDs were required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week or be involved in a work program to remain eligible for food stamps.
1996
Welfare reform (ABAWDs)
2004
CBMS Implemented

8. EF Philosophy Every intervention makes a difference.
Everyone has a choice and all choices have consequences.
Every person deserves an opportunity.
Everyone must take responsibility for their choices.
Every intervention makes a difference.  A portion of your responsibilities as case manager is to sell your clients on education and the opportunities that the Employment First program can help partnership for the client’s success in obtaining employability through education, honest, tactful feedback to all aspects of the participants’ program involvement, and you must be a referral source for the participant.
No one can predict what a person can accomplish.

9. Employment First Goals
Emp Counselor… CM… Referral Source
The goal of the federal Food Assistance Employment and Training Program as stated in the legislation establishing the program is “to assist food assistance recipients in gaining skills, training or experience that will increase their ability to obtain regular employment.”
In Colorado, the Employment First Program measures progress towards the goals stated above by the increases in employment for food assistance recipients through support, accountability, community work and referrals.
Beliefs that form the basis for the Employment First program are building independence through work.
Remember: you are the gift Employment First makes to EF participants. Employment First can’t afford to buy the training or education our people need so we buy the services of case managers to give hope and help to every person who comes through our doors. Goals of EF: The goal of the federal Food Assistance Employment and Training Program as stated in the legislation establishing the program is: “Assist food assistance recipients in gaining skills, training or experience that will increase their ability to obtain regular employment.

10. Referral Source
*Clothing, Financial, Food Bank, Homeless Shelter, Transitional Housing…
Knowledge of Local Social Service Providers will allow you to help clients obtain and maintain their stability and build a foundation for long-term success. Your ability to refer clients to appropriate local social services will also help them to focus on employment, build community relationships to provide additional resources and services needed.
Ask large corporations to sponsor business clothing drives to help you create a clothing closet.
Ask local service clubs to sponsor tuition costs or buy tools for one client per quarter.
Ask a temporary placement agency to test clients computer skills and allow them to use their computer tutoring programs.
Ask a community college or adult ed program to waive tuition and book costs.
Ask for free bus tokens or bus passes.
Ask local counselors to volunteer once a week to help participants put their lives back together.
Ask a retired judge to assist voluntarily with resolving pending legal issues.
Ask the phone company to provide free voice mail.
Attend community meetings, visit other programs. As you pursue these relationships realize the worst thing they can say is “no”.

11. Case Manager
Case managers must continually create additional resources, information and referral networks to assist participants. Case managers must effectively coordinate with other agencies, departments, and offices to provide timely service.

12. Employment Counselor
Winners of 2013 About.com Job Search Readers Choice Award for the Best Job sites: Glassdoor.com, US.jobs, Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, and TweetMyJobs.com. Indeed.com
The more contacts you have with the business community, the quicker you will be able to begin accessing the resources and employer relationships your clients need to be successful. Building a professional network is one of the most important, but most time consuming tasks.

13. Where Does It Start?
The Food Assistance Tech enters the food assistance application and CBMS determines if the applicant is exempt or to be referred to Employment First. Building a good rapport within your particular county with the Food Assistance techs or using your liaison, is essential to having a more holistic approach to the service provided to participants. Having the EF 102s completed accurately and receiving them timely is critical to good case management in Employment First/Workfare.

14. Apply for Food Assistance
Employment
The Process for
Referral to
First FA
tech
Refer to EF
WF 30 Day Job
Search Activity
EXEMPT
From EF
Non
ABAWDS A C T I V Y
Job Overview
Workfare
Education
Working
Part -
time
Vocational
ABAWDS
OUTCOMES
Exempt
Employed
Complete
Activity
Sanction
OUTCOMES
Exempt
Employed
Sanction
Complete
Activity
Education
Working
Part -
time
Vocational
Workfare
Comply

15. Federal Exemptions
You may hear these exemptions referred to as Black and White exemptions. Requires verification, data is entered by the Food Assistance Tech, Decision Tables change the EF Program/Participation statuses to Exempt. You may collect the verification from client’s and forward to the food assistance technician. You may not enter this information in the CBMS system, unless you participate in the exemption pilot program, therefore FA approved your receiving access.
Hand out EF Exemptions in CBMS desk aid and ask them to please keep this posted by their desks.

16. 60 and over
On their 60th birthday, an individual is exempt from Employment First.

17. 16-17 * not HOH
A 16 year old is exempt only when they are a member of a food stamp household.
Even if a 16 year old member of a household is not in school, they cannot be mandated to participate in Employment First. A person age 16 or 17 who is not the head of a household is exempt. A 16- or 17-year-old head of household who is attending school, or enrolled in an employment training program on at least a half-time basis is exempt from work registration.

18. Job Attached or Temporary Lay Off
Job-attached persons (e.g., those on temporary layoff or those expecting to return to work within 60 days) shall be exempt from referral to Employment First for 60 calendar days at which time the food assistance office shall review the job-attached status. Add’l Info:
If someone works as a substitute teacher for 9 months out of the year and has 3 months off in the summer, the person may be mandatory to Employment First for 30 days. Once they are going to return to work within 60 days, they can be exempted with verification from the employer.

19. Drug and/or Alcohol Treatment Program
Regular participants in drug or alcohol treatment or rehabilitation programs are exempt from work registration.
Add’l Notes:
“Significant”, meaning consistent and regular work with a drug/alcohol counselor or regular attendance in group sessions. If a person participates in AA meetings one time a week, this would not be considered “significant”.
Written verification from a drug/alcohol counselor stating that the person is unable to work or look for work because of their involvement in counseling may also be accepted.
Includes drug and/or alcohol centers

20. Person caring for a child under 6
The able-bodied parent or other household member who is responsible for the care of a dependent child under the age of 6, if the child reaches its sixth birthday within a certification period, the individual responsible for care of the child shall register for work at the next scheduled certification, unless the individual qualifies for another exemption.
Add’l Notes:
If a couple has a child(ren) under the age of six, only one of them can be exempted for dependent care. It is up to the household to decide who will be the dependent care provider.
If there are multiple families within the same food assistance household and there are multiple children under the age of six and those children belong to different families, then more than one person may be exempted for dependent care within that food assistance household.

21. Caregiver of an Incapacitated Person
The able-bodied parent or other household member who is responsible for the care of a incapacitated person is exempt from work registration.
Note for EF staff : If the person is providing care for an incapacitated person they can be exempt if they have a doctor’s statement verifying their need as a care provider the majority of the time for the incapacitated person.

22. VA, Railroad, SSA/SSI
Persons physically or mentally unfit for employment are exempt from work registration. If physical or mental unfitness is claimed and is not evident to the food assistance office, verification may be required. Appropriate verification may consist of receipt of temporary or permanent disability benefits issued by government or private sources, or of a statement from a physician or licensed psychologist. Individuals who are 18 years of age through 50 years of age, who are subject to work requirements as set out in Section B , must provide a medical certification of disability. See Disabled Persons document attached SSI/FOOD STAMP JOINTLY PROCESSED APPLICANTS
Members of households who are applying for SSI and food assistance shall have the requirement for work registration waived until: A. They are determined eligible for SSI and thereby become exempt from work registration, or
B. They are determined ineligible for SSI and where applicable, a determination of their work registration status is then made by the food assistance office through recertification procedures.
Add’l Info:
If a person is receiving a disability payment through the Social Security Administration (either SSI or SSDI), they are exempt from being a work registrant.
VA disability must be a 100% disability (or have Dr’s statement of inability to work) in order to use this exemption.

23. Pregnancy

24. Migrant Seasonal Farm Worker

25. High School Student
You are a high school student

26. Working
Employed or self employed individuals who are working a minimum of 30 hours per week or receiving weekly earnings at least equal to the federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours are exempt from work registration. This shall include migrant and seasonal farm workers who are under contract or similar agreement with an employer or crew chief to begin employment within 30 days. Persons working in Action programs (including VISTA) are exempt from work registration if they work at least 30 hours per week even if compensation is not consistent with prevailing community wage, since an employer-employee relationship can be documented. Those engaged in volunteer work or hobby activity cannot be considered gainfully employed unless the income is consistent with 30 hours employment as herein defined, regardless of the time spent in such endeavor.
Add’l Notes:
individuals who work less than 30 hours a week, but earn at least $196.50/week.
for individuals who work 30 hours per week and who earn less than $196.50/week.
Used for self-employed individuals who provide proof of 30 hours/wk or earnings of $196.50/week. Self-employment verification can include asking for a business license, income tax statements, or copies of accounting ledgers. See Agency Letter FA I dated 12/3/01.
Cannot be used for volunteers.
Used for homeschoolers. See Agency Letter FA I dated 10/2/01.

27. Unemployment Insurance Benefit
A person applying for or receiving unemployment insurance benefits (UIB) shall be exempt from work registration requirements. The food assistance office shall verify application for or receipt of UIB, if questionable. A person who has been denied UIB and who is appealing this decision is exempt.
Exceptions to the Rule:
Workfare Exception:Under the Employment First Workfare Regulations, a county may choose to mandate individuals who are applying for or receiving unemployment and food assistance to participate in the Employment First Workfare Program (they may not be mandated to participate in any other activity - i.e GED, Employability classes, etc…). Should your county choose this option, these individuals must be coded a work registration code “U”, not “F” (they can never be coded as ABAWDs (K) either or be subjected to the ABAWD Work Requirement).

28. Colorado Works Diversion II Family Preservation program
Persons subject to and complying with any work requirement under Title IV of the Social Security Act are exempt from work registration requirements.
Add’l Notes:
See Agency Letter FS-01-6-P dated 1/19/01 for more information about County/State Diversion Payments.
Also see COIN Retro Code desk aide.
Family Preservation
program

29. Physical or mental condition (FA)
Medical
S.S.I.
A.N.D.
PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY UNFIT FOR EMPLOYMENT
Persons physically or mentally unfit for employment are exempt from work registration. If physical or mental unfitness is claimed and is not evident to the food assistance office, verification may be required. Appropriate verification may consist of receipt of temporary or permanent disability benefits issued by government or private sources, or of a statement from a physician or licensed psychologist.
SSI/FOOD STAMP JOINTLY PROCESSED APPLICANTS
Members of households who are applying for SSI and food assistance shall have the requirement for work registration waived until: A. They are determined eligible for SSI and thereby become exempt from work registration, or
B. They are determined ineligible for SSI and where applicable, a determination of their work registration status is then made by the food assistance office through recertification procedures.
Add’l Notes: If a person is
Applying for AND they are only exempt if they have also applied for SSI as a part of the process of applying for AND. The AND application without the SSI application is not enough to exempt the person.
Applying for SSI they are exempt. They must have actually submitted an application and have proof of this. Just making an appointment to apply for SSI is not sufficient.
Denied SSI benefits and is in the process of appealing this decision, they are mandatory until they are approved for SSI or become exempt for another reason (i.e. they have a medical statement).
Receiving Aid for the Needy and Disabled, they are exempt.
A medical statement that says that the individual cannot work is also acceptable.
Medical Statement
Physical or mental condition (FA)

30. CO Refugee Services Program
CRSP REGISTRANTS
Any registrant for the Colorado Refugee Services Program is exempt from work registration requirements as CRSP work registration requirements satisfy the requirements of the food assistance program.

31. Vocational Rehabilitation
DRUG/ALCOHOL REHABILITATION
Regular participants in drug or alcohol treatment or rehabilitation programs are exempt from work registration.
Add’l Notes:
If a person is already enrolled and working with Vocational Rehabilitation when applying for Food Stamps, they are exempt from EF. If the applicant becomes involved with Voc Rehab after becoming a participant in Employment First, they remain a mandatory work registrant and must continue to work with Employment First.

32. Eligible Students 4215.14 ELIGIBLE STUDENTS
Eligible students are those enrolled at least half time, as defined by the educational facility, in any recognized school or training program, and those in an institution of higher education who have met the eligibility conditions of the section "Students in Institutions of Higher Education" (see Volume VI-B regulation 4217) are exempt from work registration. Eligible students shall remain exempt from work registration during normal periods of class attendance, vacation, and recess. (See Agency Letter FA I dated 7/19/01).
Persons who are not enrolled at least half time or who experience a break in their enrollment status due to graduation, expulsion, suspension or who drop out or otherwise do not intend to register for the next normal school term (other than summer), shall not be considered students for the purpose of qualifying for this work registration exemption.
Add’l Notes:
High school students are exempt, regardless of their age.
Correspondence schools are not acceptable under this exemption.
If a person becomes a student after enrollment with Employment First, they remain a mandatory work registrant (the fact that they are participating in EF makes them an eligible student) and EF tracks their school attendance.

33. NOT Exempt:
Fast-food workers planned one-day strikes in 100 cities and protest activities in 100 more cities on Dec. 5 to demand McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy's and other restaurants pay a $15-an-hour wage.

34. Volunteers
Are always welcome. Must be receiving at least $1 in FA.

35. Good Cause
Verification of good cause must be received/approved by EF office prior within 10 days of NOAA and BEFORE the disqualification period begins. (see Good Cause policy 11/11)

36. No EF Program Farm Bill = High unemployment rate
Signed Affidavit: There are a few counties that do not have the EF program. The person must sign the FA application and that’s it. If they are under a sanction from another county, they must ride it out.

37. ABAWDs
Able Body Adults Without Dependents. Between the ages of No children under 18 in the household. Clarify that if child under age of 18 in the household that the child does not have to be related to the household member for that member to not be considered an ABAWD.
Clarify that if a couple apply and the woman is pregnant with no other children in the household, the woman is not an ABAWD but the man would be.

38. ABAWD Reform 1996 Must meet a work requirement.
Allowed 3 out of 36 months…
ABAWDs can receive only 3 months of food stamps in a 36 month period without meeting the work requirement. Colorado is the only state that refers to this as a “ticket” .
9/30/13

39. 7th NOA Monthly Programs
7th- in batch, Ticket program runs for ABAWDs who have 0-1 ticket. If the person received their full amt of FA and did not meet the work req in the previous month, CBMS will post a ticket.
NOA- ticket program runs (normally the day before) NOA for ABAWDs who have 2-3 tickets. If the person received their full amt of FA IN SAID MONTH, and did not meet the work req, CBMS will post a 3rd ticket (or Regain slide), a noncompliance record, and a sanction to start in the following month.

40. ABAWD Pledge Contract activities… Schedule more frequently…
Sanction timely…
Contract participants to activities that meet the work requirement.
Schedule more frequently with case managers.
Sanction timely to prevent tickets.
Push to get ABAWD coded correctly in CBMS to exempt them.
Exemption coded correctly…

41. 15 % Exemption Must be justified in Case Comments
Determined by the EF Case Manager. It is primarily used for the following situations: for a known violent person; a person who is known to have serious mental issues but has not been diagnosed yet; a person who hasn’t applied for SSI yet but it is known to the agency that they should, etc. These exemptions must be justified in the case comments.
Counties cannot exempt more than 15% of their ABAWDs.
Must be justified in Case Comments
Case Manager’s judgment call (no verifiable/documented exemption
Must change Work Program status in CBMS to ‘Deferred’
Don’t forget to close the activity and plan.
You must call the state to have the client 15% exempted
10% of Non-ABAWDs can be exempted

42. Non-ABAWDs Non-Abawds have children in their home under the age of 18.
They are year olds, they are also year olds.
And finally 16 and 17 year olds who are heads of their own households.

43. Deferrals
CBMS choices: Determined Not Job Ready, More than 1 hr from EF unit, Non-English Speaking, Transitional Living Situation, Transportation Problems, Working PT.

44. Referral
The food assistance technician will determine that the client is not exempt and will refer the client to come to the Employment First orientation with a 102.
EF worker to data enter 102 as soon as it is received in the unit.

45. EF Orientation (EFO) Assign to Activity Exempt Sanction
Provide follow up letter requesting proof of exemption within 10 calendar days.
By EF
By other
agency
If client no shows,
initiate record of
non -
compliance.
Check case the
following day for
post of sanction.
Sign
Activity
Contract
Follow -
up letter,
return in
10 days
See
Once a
month
Sign
Activity
Contract
If sanction posts,
CBMS sends NOA
in batch. If not, EF
worker must send
a manual NOAA, &
request EDBC/Auth
from FA worker.
Forward a
copy to FA
with EF 123
See
Once a
Month

46. Contract One contract for Workfare One contract for Non-Workfare.
Specify
Participants signature and date required
Specific with location, hours, start date

47. Forms