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DRUG SCREENING REQUIREMENTS Any adult, defined as being 18 years of age or older, included in the TANF assistance unit is required to take a substance abuse screening questionnaire to determine the reasonable likelihood of a substance abuse disorder prior to approval. This policy includes adults who are disqualified, but excludes minor heads of household (under age 18). Screenings will be administered only at the time of a new application and will not be administered at redetermination. If the results of the substance abuse screening questionnaire indicate a reasonable likelihood of a substance abuse disorder, the individual will be notified via A101, TANF Approval Notice that the adult must submit to a drug testing procedures. The case worker will mail under separate cover the MDHS- EA-337, TANF Drug Testing Instructions, and ePassport to the individual requiring a drug test. Testing expenses will be paid using TANF program funds. The adult will have 7 calendar days from the date of the TANF approval notice to report to the clinic for testing. The individual may advise the testing facility of any current prescription or over- thecounter medications being taken. The case worker will notify the adult of the test results via the MAVERICS Notice A315, Notice of Drug Test Results. If the result of the drug test is positive, the adult will be required to complete the treatment facility’s intake process and/or enroll in a drug treatment program approved by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health within ten days of the notice of test results. Failure to return the verification within ten days, will result in a sanction for the TANF adult. Drug testing procedures and test results are confidential and must not be disclosed to anyone other than the TANF household. NOTE: The adult may contest the results of a positive drug test by taking an additional test at a facility meeting agency contract guidelines. In such cases, the adult will be responsible for paying for the test. Additional testing must occur within 7 calendar days of the notice being sent with results of the original drug test. If results of the second test are negative, the individual will be reimbursed for the cost of the second test. Referral to Treatment Upon receipt of verification (copy of the treatment plan or MDHS-EA-338, Substance Abuse Treatment Plan, completed by the treatment facility), the individual will be referred to the TANF Work Program (TWP) for monitoring. (Adults exempt from Work Program requirements will be coded EV for referral to TWP.) The start date must be within a reasonable time, meaning the first available slot as verified by the treatment facility. The plan must include a start date and expected end date. A tickler must be set to alert the worker when the treatment is ending review the case for TWP requirements or to refer the individual adult back to the eligibility worker. Failure to participate in the treatment plan at any point will mean a drug sanction for the TANF adult. The drug treatment program will last at least sixty days. During treatment, the adult must test negative on any random drug test administered, in addition to testing negative at the conclusion of treatment, in order to continue to remain eligible for TANF.
MISSISSIPPI [NON-FINANCIAL CRITERIA: DRUG SCREENING REQUIREMENTS] Revised 07-01-19