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Subject: Families First Family Focused Solutions

Policy 23.21 Date of Last Review: 11/30/2023 Effective Date: 07/01/2023 Date of Next Review: 11/30/2026 RDA: SW22 Page 2 of 6 f. Teen/young adult pregnancy and parenting, g. Children's health or behavioral problems, and/or h. Legal issues. 3. FFS counselors are available to all county offices. Some counselors may cover more than one (1) county, making them available to each county on a rotating basis. 4. The Eligibility Counselor and TANF Case Manager will inform all Families First AUs of the availability and content of FFS Referrals 1. Families First customers receive referrals to FFS on the HS-2946 Family Focused Solutions Referral/Feedback form when a barrier or potential barrier to employment is identified. a. Eligibility Counselors will refer customers who are exempt from the work and/or educational activity. b. TANF Case Managers will refer customers who are mandatory participants in a work and/or educational activity and have had a barrier identified on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Screening Tool. c. A customer can request a referral to FFS at any time while receiving Families First cash assistance. The customer does not have to provide a reason for the request. 2. The customer must agree to receive the referral for FFS. a. If the customer agrees to be referred: i. The referral to FFS is completed; ii. The customer is given the option of receiving a short-term temporary crisis exemption until the assessment is complete; and iii. Participation in the work and/or educational activity will be evaluated upon receipt of the feedback from the FFS provider. b. If the customer does not agree to an FFS referral or does not complete the assessment: i. The refusal will be noted in the case file; and ii. Other possible exemptions must be explored. If no other exemptions exist, the TANF Case Manager will engage the customer in work and/or educational activities Appointments and Communication 1. Information needed to complete the Personal Responsibility Plan (PRP) and the Individual Opportunity Plan (IOP) for work and/or educational activity provisions is shared between the Eligibility Counselor, TANF Case Manager, and the FFS counselor. 2. Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter and the confidentiality of the customer/counselor relationship, some information related to FFS will not be shared with the Eligibility Counselor and/or TANF Case Manager.