Page 13

13

associated with training. While engaged in productive work, the participant is provided additional daily supervision and training, which will provide the knowledge or skills essential to fully and adequately perform the job. The participant is compensated at a rate (including benefits) comparable to that of other employees performing the same or similar jobs. The state reimburses the employer up to 50 percent of the wages paid to the participant utilizing federal funds to offset the cost of training and supervision given to the participant. The employer is expected to retain the participant as a permanent, unsubsidized employee at the end of the training period.

j. Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment

Job skills training directly related to employment is training or education for job skills required by an employer to provide an individual with the ability to obtain employment or to advance or adapt to the changing demands of the workplace. Job skills training can include customized training to meet the needs of a specific employer or training that prepares an individual for employment, including literacy and language instruction, if necessary, to enable the participant to perform a specific job or engage in a specific job training program. If available, funds shall be used by the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) for the assessment, enrollment, certification, follow-up and performance standards as they relate to career- related training of TANF Work Program (TWP) participants. Training may be established based on employer needs in a particular area of the State. Training may also be established on an individual basis based on the individual’s career goal(s)/objective(s) and training needs in conjunction with employer needs. As described in Mississippi Code of 1972 Annotated at 43-17-5(6)(g), MDHS policy prohibits the displacement of regular workers by TANF recipients. No adult in a work activity shall be employed or assigned when another individual is on layoff from the same or any substantially equivalent job within six months, before the date of the TANF recipient’s employment or assignment; or if the employer has terminated the employment of any regular employee or otherwise caused an involuntary reduction of its workforce in order to fill the vacancy created with an adult receiving TANF assistance. The Mississippi Department of Employment Security will appoint one or more impartial hearing officers to hear and decide claims by employees of violations. Federal or State Emergency Declarations In the event of a federal or state declared emergency, and placement opportunities and/or supportive services for work-eligible individuals are limited or not available, the state may, in specified counties, regions or statewide, temporarily place participants in “holding” until a suitable placement and/or supportive services can be arranged. Once a declared emergency period ends, the state will assess each family’s current circumstances and require participation in allowable work activities on a case-by-case basis focusing on the safety, health and wellbeing of the family. The family’s 60-month time limit counter will continue to increment but the 24-month time limit counter may be arrested during the emergency period. The 24-month counter will begin incrementing the month following the end of the declared emergency period, unless the participant is placed in an allowable work activity. Cases for participants placed in holding will be reviewed