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Limitation on Vocational Educational Training and Teens in School Vocational educational training cannot exceed 12 months for any individual. Vocational education activities cannot be approved as core work activities for any participant whose 12- month counter is equal to or greater than 12 months. No more than 30% of the individuals counting toward the participation rate in a month may meet the work requirement by participating in vocational educational training. A teen parent head of household attending secondary school or in an educational activity directly related to employment will be included in the 30%. Any countable attendance (thirty minutes, one hour, or forty hours of actual, excused hours counted, or holiday time) reported during the course of a report month triggers one month in the 12-month limit. Once an individual has used 12 months, that individual’s participation in vocational educational will not count in the participation rate calculation. JAWS currently displays the number of VOC EDU months a participant has used on the Participant Component Selection (SPAC) screen. Any time a participant is assigned to vocational education activities, the case manager MDES interviewer will discuss, with the participant, the 12-month lifetime limitation and the current status of the participant’s 12-month counter. The JAWS system will automatically generate the Vocational Education Training 12-Month Counter Notice (T026) each time the Add Participant Assignment (MPWA) screen is successfully processed for all VOC/EDU component assignments. The T026 will print at the MDHS case manager’s local printer and will be given or mailed to the participant. The T026 will be stored in history and may be viewed from the SPAN screen; therefore, a copy will not be filed in the electronic case record. The purpose of the T026 is to inform the participant, in writing, about the status of his/her 12-month vocational education counter. Placements Exceeding the 12-Month Limitation Students who are currently in their last semester at the time their twelfth month is used and who are expected to graduate at the completion of that semester, may be allowed to continue their VOC/EDU assignment beyond the 12-month limitation based on a case review and written approval from the MDHS Regional Director. The MDHS case manager must notify the MDES interviewer of the decision upon receipt. Attendance hours for participants who exceed the 12- month limitation will not count in the participation rate calculation. College students meeting the above criteria should not be required to participant in other TWP work activities, but may volunteer. Vocational education activities cannot be approved as core work activities for any participant whose 12-month counter is equal to or greater than 12 months; therefore, a VOC/EDU

Volume III | Chapter 9

9083 MISSISSIPPI [ PROGRAM COMPONENTS: TANF WORK ACTIVITES DEFINED]

Revised 08 - 01 - 12 11 - 01 - 17