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North Carolina

38 interview process. If the screening indicates the adult is at risk for mental health issues, the applicant/recipient may be referred to a Qualified Professional in Substance Abuse (QPSA) for further assessment.

If appropriate, a substance use or mental health referral is made through the Local Management Entity-Managed Care Organization (LME-MCO) to identify a provider for treatment, and then a treatment plan is developed. The QPSA serves as the care coordinator to track the adult’s engagement in treatment. The QPSA and the Work First caseworker jointly develop a plan for the family to ensure success. If the adult fails to comply with the treatment plan without good cause; the adult is ineligible for Work First. The QPSA will assist the Work First worker in determining good cause. The family’s payment is recalculated with the adult excluded from the needs unit, and the payment is made to a protective payee.

Participants in treatment programs are expected to combine treatment with other appropriate work activities. The Opioid Action Plan increases the number of community- based recovery resources which include support groups, recovery centers and peer recovery coaches. The plan also reduces barriers to employment for those with criminal histories related to drug offenses via the use of therapeutic (mental health, recovery and veteran) courts. One strategy includes expanding employment support services for people with substance use disorders and increasing workplace policies and employment assistance programs that support people with substance use disorders. To reduce barriers to employment for those with criminal histories, another strategy includes supporting counties in adopting pre-arrest diversion programs and divert low-level offenders to community-based programs and services. For those with criminal histories, information will be provided on education options, career paths, and licensures that are available to people with different classes of convictions.

The Work First Program will seek new opportunities to align with efforts increasing access to behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment and resources. The Work First program will continue to collaborate with community, state, and federal partners in developing and providing trainings for county TANF/Work First staff to readily assist families with substance use resources and information.

FRAUD AND ABUSE

The Department of Health and Human Services enforces standards and procedures to detect and prevent fraud and abuse by recipients and employees of the program. An administrative hearing process enables county departments of social services/agencies to identify cases of intentional program violations. All Standard Counties follow the hearing policy stated in Work First Policy. Electing County’s Hearing policies are outlined in their county plan if different than policy in the Work First Manual. Individuals found to have committed an intentional program violation are disqualified from Work First for 12 months for the first offense, 24 months for the second offense, and permanently for the third offense. The offender is not included when determining the benefit amount for the family, but the offender continues to be subject to time limits and work requirements. The overpayment is recovered by repayment or payment reduction.