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Subject: Families First Assistance Units

Policy 23.02 Date of Last Review: 03/11/2024 Effective Date: 04/01/2024 Date of Next Review: 03/11/2027 RDA: SW22 Page 3 of 7 to the place or residence in order to receive assistance simultaneously from two (2) or more states. 5. Fleeing felons who have knowledge that they are or could be wanted for a felony level criminal act and have taken or are in the process of taking action to avoid prosecution. 6. Probation/parole violators who are in violation of a condition of probation or parole under a federal or state law. 7. Individuals who are convicted under Federal or State law of any felony offense which occurred after August 22, 1996, which has an element of the offence of possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance. a. All persons convicted of a class A felony of this type, or its equivalent if the offense occurred outside of Tennessee. b. Other felony classes of this type may be eligible as described in Exceptions. c. An individual convicted on or after July 1, 2011, of any substance subsequent drug felony offense under federal or state law which involves possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance, shall not be eligible for Families First for three (3) years from the date of conviction. i. The applicability of this section is tied to the conviction date (on or after July 1, 2011) and is not linked to the date the offense occurred. ii. If a drug treatment program is prescribed for an individual convicted on or after July 1, 2011, of a drug felony (first offense or multiple offenses) and the individual fails to successfully complete the substance abuse program within three (3) attempts, the individual will be ineligible for Families First for a period of three (3) years. 8. Individuals with a positive drug test result who fail to cooperate with the requirements of their substance abuse evaluation and/or treatment as outlined in policy 23.06 Families First Drug Testing. 9. Individuals sanctioned for failure, without good cause, to cooperate with the minor parent school attendance requirement as outlined in policy 23.09 Families First School Attendance. Exceptions 1. Emancipation of a minor by court order or any other action has no effect on a person’s status as a minor for Families First purposes. 2. Different sets of children living in the home with a caretaker (within the specified degree of relationship) and the caretaker’s children may be included in one (1) AU when it is to the advantage of the AU. 3. Legal guardians or custodians may receive Families First for a child only if the guardian is within the specified degree of relationship to the child. a. A guardian/custodian may file an application on behalf of a dependent child and be appointed payee for the grant. However, the child must live in the home of a specified relative to be eligible.