This Field Operations Memo informs TAO staff that effective immediately, no referrals to the Division of Career Services program for ESP-funded Job Search/Job Readiness activities should be made by TAO staff. Clients who are currently participating in ESP-funded Job Search/Job Readiness activities may continue to participate in the activity until October 31, 2008. At that point, these clients will be transitioned over to the One Stop Career Center for non-ESP funded services. TAO staff will receive more information on how this impacts work program required clients as it becomes available.

The Department changed how it counts clients’ work program participation in the following areas: homework/study time counts towards overall participation in certain education and training activities; post-secondary education beyond an Associate’s degree (including Bachelor’s and Graduate Degree programs) meets the work program requirement (provided the client has not already exceeded the 12-month limit of education or training activity to meet the work program);child support counts in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) calculation when determining community service participation limits; and the Job Search/Job Readiness counter is activated during a client’s first weeks in a Supported Work – Job Search/Job Readiness activity.

As a result of changes to Federal work participation rules, effective October 1, 2008 the Department changed how it counts clients’ work program participation in the following areas:1) homework/study time counts towards overall participation in certain education and training activities; 2) post-secondary education beyond an Associate’s degree (including Bachelor’s and Graduate Degree programs) meets the work program requirement (provided the client has not already exceeded the 12-month limit of education or training activity to meet the work program); 3) child support counts in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) calculation when determining community service participation limits; and 4) the Job Search/Job Readiness counter is activated during a client’s first weeks in a Supported Work – Job Search/Job Readiness activity.

Due to increased enrollments in vocational rehabilitation, DTA will exceed available funding unless we immediately suspend any further referrals to the program. Therefore, the Vocational Rehabilitation Services program is being suspended effective October 31, 2008. No referrals to the Vocational Rehabilitation Services program may be made by TAO staff after the close of business on October 31, 2008. Referrals made by TAO staff to the Vocational Rehabilitation Services program by the close of business on October 31, 2008 will be honored by Vocational Rehabilitation Services providers until the close of business on November 14, 2008. The provision of any authorized service must be completed by December 31, 2008. This suspension will not impact the role of the Vocational Specialists.

Field Operations Memo 2008-45 told TAO Staff about the 2008 clothing allowance.  The memo provided incorrect dates for clients who will receive the supplemental clothing allowance payments in September, October, November and December.  The payments will be available on September 19, October 17, November 21 and December 19.  

Field Operations Memo 2007-45 introduced TAO staff to Orientation Sessions. Attendance at these sessions was voluntary for any TAFDC applicant or work program required client. To ensure that all TAFDC applicants receive this critical information in as timely and as uniformly a way as possible, the Department is making the orientation PowerPoint presentation a required part of application activities for all TAFDC applicants (see 106 CMR 702.125 (C) and (E)). This change in procedure will begin September 2, 2008.

The Department is planning to change the TAFDC Employment Services Program (ESP) education and training activity regulations. This change will allow a client to meet the work program requirement by participating in an education program beyond the Associate’s degree level. The change will be effective October 1, 2008.  If an applicant or client is planning to enroll in a four-year or advanced degree program beginning in September, this program will meet the work program requirement. It is important an applicant or client knows this, if he or she is planning to attend an education program for the 2008 fall semester.

Due to budgetary constraints, the initiative to have vocational specialists in all TAOs statewide (detailed in Field Operations Memo 2008-12) has been suspended.   Vocational specialists will continue to be staffed in the following TAOs: Brockton, Dudley Square, Fall River, Holyoke, Lowell, New Bedford, Newmarket Square, North Shore, Revere, Springfield Liberty, Springfield State and Worcester.  Case managers in these TAOs should follow the procedures in Field Operations Memo 2008-12 for client referrals and follow-up.

Due to the importance of ensuring that clients are enrolled in an activity that can lead to economic self-sufficiency, as well as meet their work program requirement, the marketing of the FSS program is being expanded to a new group of clients, those who live in Somerville or Framingham Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) or have their Section 8 certificate administered by the Somerville or Framingham PHAs. The purpose of this Field Operations Memo is to: • remind TAO staff about the FSS program; • explain the benefits of the FSS program; • advise AU Managers and Full Engagement Workers of their roles; • give TAO staff information about the PHAs participating in the FSS program; and • give the FSS contact list for the RNPs and the PHAs. Obsolete Memos This Field Operations Memo obsoletes Field Operations Memo 2008-3A.