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A-812 Division of Welfare and Supportive Services EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING Eligibility and Payments Manual Assessment MTL 12/04 12 Jul 01

812 ASSESSMENT An Assessment is required for each adult household member and minor parent (including relative caregivers, SSI head-of-households and non-qualified, non-citizen head-of- households) applying for the TANF-NEON and TANF-Temporary Programs. The pre- screening assessment (first nine blocks of the DWSS E&T assessment. Form 2576-A) must be completed prior to assigning pre-eligibility work activities and prior to authorization of TANF benefits and/or support services, such as child care and transportation. New adult household members must not be added to the existing TANF- NEON case until a pre-screening assessment is completed. The Assessment should identify any self-disclosed barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment and include the individual’s work history and employment goals based on the participant’s responses. The post approval assessment can be completed prior to or after approval. The assessments will be used to determine if the household requires immediate referrals for services, such as Crisis Intervention, housing, or mental health services.

For more detail on Form 2576-A, pre-screening assessment, post approval assessment and social work assessments, see Manual Section A-2000. 812.1 Job Readiness Status Assessment (Tiers to Self Sufficiency) Each NEON participant must be assessed for their level of job readiness. This assessment will be used to determine the focus of the participant’s Personal Responsibility Plan (PRP) and self sufficiency goals. The following are the Job Readiness Tiers: • Assessment and Stabilization (Tier 1)

The following participants are included in this Tier:

• All newly approved cases pending completion of the post approval assessment and the social work assessment, if applicable.

• Participants determined through the assessment process to have complex barriers, fragmented work history, no clear motivation, program compliance issues and self esteem barriers. Case workers will engage participants in this category in activities to stabilize the household circumstances and individual. The participant will be required to complete skills assessments for their issues and barriers to employment. Intensive social work case management services may be needed to stabilize and prepare the participant for employment readiness activities.