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o NMW program service providers have information available for work program participants.

All applicants and participants of TANF are notified of the availability to waive the work program participation based on domestic violence.

Referrals and Confidentiality An applicant or recipient may self-disclose a domestic violence situation to the NMHCA or to the NMW contractor. In either case, the referral process to a trained domestic violence counselor begins at the point of disclosure. The referral process is handled and monitored by the NMW contractor whether the disclosure is made to the NMHCA or the work program contractor. If the disclosure is made to the NMHCA, an immediate referral is made to the NMW contractor then makes an immediate referral to a trained domestic violence counselor.

The applicant or recipient will be assured of the confidentiality of all information provided to the NMHCA or to the NMW contractor. The certification of a domestic violence environment is made by a trained domestic violence counselor. The certification must include an individualized assessment of the situation and a service plan that is designed to lead to work. A service plan is developed by a trained domestic violence counselor and is provided to the work program service provider. A copy of the certification is provided to IRU, Income Support Division. The applicant or recipient is meeting work program requirements for the time period required by a trained domestic violence counselor to make a decision regarding the domestic violence environment.

The NMW contractor works with the applicant closely to make sure all referrals and requirements of the work program are being met.

Work Program Requirements

An applicant/participant in a domestic violence environment is placed in Limited Work Participation and is not required to complete the full work program requirements. Participants are assessed by their capacity for work. Participants identified as domestic violence victims may participate in work activities to receive services focused on assisting the participant to overcome the effects of domestic violence and abuse. Where there is a domestic violence environment in which the individual may continue to comply with work program requirements, that individual may participate in a temporary alternative work activity for 24 weeks. Waiver of Cooperation with Child Support Enforcement Cooperation with the state’s CSSD is waived in those situations where a trained domestic violence counselor has certified that cooperation would make it more difficult to escape the domestic violence or would unfairly penalizes the individual in light of his/her past or current experiences. These waivers are approved by CSED.