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TANF POLICY MANUAL

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Community service programs must be limited to projects that serve a useful community purpose in fields such as health, social service, environmental protection, education, urban and rural redevelopment, welfare, recreation, public facilities, public safety, and child care. Community service programs are designed to improve the employability of recipients not otherwise able to obtain employment. Participants in work experience activities must be compensated according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Community Service Programs fall under FLSA guidelines. The following self-initiated Community Service Programs are allowable but exempt from FSLA guidelines. A. Student teaching B. Student nursing C. Internship or practicum for participants enrolled in higher education D. Court Ordered Community Service Placements

Community Service Time Frame Community service placements are limited to a total of 6 months or 24 weeks. At the end of 3 months (90 days), the client must be evaluated to determine if he/she will benefit by continuing at the site or needs additional training. The bi-weekly performance and attendance report should be reviewed by the CM to address any issues identified by the work site supervisor.

15.7 Work Experience & Community Service Referral/Placement Work Experience and Community Service placement offers the following benefits for the participant: A. Opportunity to obtain on-the-job experience and training B. Improvement of his/her employability in the competitive job market C. Knowledge of basic work habits D. Application of skills learned in classroom training E. Acquisition of on-the-job experience to create recent work history with references F. Determination of suitability for a given job category

The CM uses the DSS Form 1234, Client Referral/Communication Form, to refer a suitable candidate to the WFC and/or designated TANF staff member who will consider all available resources in the community.

Work Experience assignments can be at public, private nonprofit and private for-profit agencies, businesses or institutions. The WFC will be the primary contact person for all providers of Work Experience slots.

Community Services assignments must be in structured programs at public or nonprofit organizations.