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North Carolina

28 necessary childcare is not available are not sanctioned. (See Child Care Section for required definitions.)

MRA-B Plans of Action/Outcome Plans are individualized based on an employability assessment. Often, a Plan of Action will reflect fewer hours per week of activities than required to meet the Work Participation Rate. This may be due to a shortage of appropriate activities, a shortage of necessary support services, or other personal limitations of the participant. County Work First staff are responsible for balancing these limitations against the expectation of full-time participation and the requirement to meet the participation rates. All work eligible individuals are expected to strive and make progress toward full time participation. County Work First plans require frequent review because some plans may be short-term. The MRA-B Plan of Action/Outcome Plan may be updated or re-negotiated as often as appropriate.

When a work eligible individual has completed his/her first twelve (12) weeks in the Work First Employment Services program and remains unemployed or continues to exhibit signs and symptoms of substance abuse, domestic violence, or other barriers to self- sufficiency, then a more structured assessment is administered. The strategies and work requirements may need to be refined as the family begins to assume increased responsibility for its future independence. At a minimum, the MRA Plan of Action should be updated every 12 weeks, although more frequent ongoing contact may be necessary, particularly for more challenging cases. If a participant does not have the skills or resources to accomplish completing a job application, researching job opportunities, demonstrating interview skills, or demonstrating appropriate interview demeanor, the case manager should refer the participant to community and agency resources.

Reassessment of cases is required three (3) or twelve (12) months prior to termination. Case managers are required to complete a full assessment on families within specified months on the time clock. This full assessment should include an offer for a voluntary screening for disabilities. It is critical that the case manager assists families in establishing realistic goals in the context of time limits, work requirements, and available resources. Special attention must be paid to cases on the 24-month time limit during months 12, 18 and 24.

In the 18th month of participation, all cases on the 24-month time limit must be given a full assessment. This full assessment should include an offer for a voluntary screening for disabilities. The assessment may help identify a disability (for example, when there is a pattern of non-participation, behavioral cues, low test scores or poor performance in school or work assignments). If the participant declines the voluntary screening, the case record is to be documented to reflect the declination. In the 21st month of Work First participation, an automated notice is produced informing the family that their Work First payment will soon terminate and notifying the family of their right to appeal or request an extension. The notice also informs participants of benefits for which they may be eligible after their time limit expires such as Benefit Diversion, 200% and Emergency Assistance.

The state allows for the discretion of stopping the 24-month time clock for participants who have physical, mental, or emotional barriers that make full-time work unrealistic. Though the timeclock may stop for such participants, they may continue working with Work First Employment Services. This encourages participants to work to the best of