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1000.13 TANF MANUAL 7/19 PAGE 56

F. PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM (PSP)

The public service program (PSP) shares many of the characteristics of CWEP. It includes volunteer work at community organizations with the goal of improving the participant’s employability. Unlike CWEP, the PSP placement must provide a clearly defined public service. Examples of public service activities include court-ordered unpaid work, as well as participation in other programs or placements that benefit the community.

PSP assignments may be made for a maximum of 35 hours, with the exception of court-ordered assignments which will be made at the discretion of the court. Participants assigned to PSP for less than 35 hours must also be assigned to another work activity order to meet the 35-hour participation requirement. Each assignment to PSP should be for a period of six months.

VIEW participants placed in PSP are not considered employees of the Commonwealth for purposes of the Workers’ Compensation Act. PSP placements can be made only for participants with Medicaid coverage unless the PSP site agrees to provide coverage under its own Workers’ Compensation plan. If a client is assigned to a PSP site and loses his Medicaid coverage, he is to be reassessed. If an unpaid work placement continues to be appropriate, the client can be assigned to CWEP. Assigned hours will be based on CWEP guidance at 1000.13. The former PSP site can be used for the CWEP placement, or the client can be assigned to another CWEP site. Alternately, the client can be assigned to a different component.

The development of PSP worksites, assignment and referral of participants to PSP worksites, limitations on the PSP positions, and PSP worksite monitoring follow CWEP guidance, with the exception that the public service provided through the placement must be a consideration in development of the site, and must be clearly documented in the record.

G. ON THE JOB TRAINING (OJT)

On-the-job training is a type of paid employment in which an employer provides training to an employee in order to increase the employee’s skills on the job.

1. The following are examples of on-the-job training that may be counted as a work activity in the VIEW Program: (a) On-the-job training offered through the WIOA; (b) Work study offered through a community college or a four-year college program; (c) Apprenticeship programs; (d) Paid internships offered by colleges or training providers in which the participant receives a wage or stipend for working and receiving training while on the job; (e) AmeriCorps Program placements in which the participant receives a stipend for living expenses; or (f) Sheltered workshop employment

2. With the exception of sheltered workshop employment and AmeriCorps placements, OJT positions that pay less than minimum wage do not meet the definition of employment and are not countable work activities. The minimum wage requirement is waived if the OJT position is sheltered workshop employment or an AmeriCorps placement. (Sheltered workshops are certified by the U.S. Department of Labor to pay commensurate wages which are based on the individual’s ability to perform in relation to the performance of a person without a disability. AmeriCorps participants receive a stipend related to hours of participation.)

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