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Vermont Department for Children and Families Economic Services Division Reach Up Services Rules 2300 21

2323.1 Domestic Violence Deferment (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. The Department shall make an individualized assessment of a participant's situation and available documentation to determine whether their request for deferment because of domestic violence shall be granted.

1. These effects may be the result of domestic violence that occurred in the past or the present.

b. The Department shall grant a domestic violence deferment when engaging in Reach Up participant requirements can be reasonably anticipated to result in serious physical or emotional harm to:

1. The participant, that significantly impairs their capacity to engage in Reach Up participant requirements;

2. The participant, that significantly impairs their ability to care for a child adequately; or 3. A child.

c. If the Department determines that supporting documentation is necessary to determine whether the deferment shall be granted, the following items are examples of acceptable documentation:

1. Medical reports or records; 2. Court documents;

3. Police reports;

4. Statements from victim advocates or staff working in a domestic violence program;

5. School records;

6. Reports from other FSD staff; or

7. Statements from neighbors, employers, family, or friends.

d. The decision to grant or deny the deferment shall be based solely on the consultation between the case manager and participant if, for any reason, the participant is unable or unwilling to provide supporting documentation that the Department had determined was necessary. e. The Department may grant a domestic violence deferment for a period of time as established by the case manager and participant.

f. There is no limit to the number of times the deferment may be extended.

1. No additional verification of domestic violence is required if circumstances have not changed.

2323.2 Medical Deferment (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. The Department shall make an individualized assessment of a participant's health situation and available documentation to determine whether their request for medical deferment shall be

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Official source

Vermont Department for Children and Families Economic Services Division Reach Up Services Rules 2300 21

2323.1 Domestic Violence Deferment (08/01/2024, 23-30)

1. These effects may be the result of domestic violence that occurred in the past or the present.

b. The Department shall grant a domestic violence deferment when engaging in Reach Up participant requirements can be reasonably anticipated to result in serious physical or emotional harm to:

1. The participant, that significantly impairs their capacity to engage in Reach Up participant requirements;

2. The participant, that significantly impairs their ability to care for a child adequately; or 3. A child.

c. If the Department determines that supporting documentation is necessary to determine whether the deferment shall be granted, the following items are examples of acceptable documentation:

1. Medical reports or records; 2. Court documents;

3. Police reports;

4. Statements from victim advocates or staff working in a domestic violence program;

5. School records;

6. Reports from other FSD staff; or

7. Statements from neighbors, employers, family, or friends.

f. There is no limit to the number of times the deferment may be extended.

1. No additional verification of domestic violence is required if circumstances have not changed.

2323.2 Medical Deferment (08/01/2024, 23-30)

a. The Department shall make an individualized assessment of a participant's health situation and available documentation to determine whether their request for medical deferment shall be