35A-3-304 - Assessment -- Participation requirements and limitations -- Mentors.
35A-3-304. Assessment -- Participation requirements and limitations -- Mentors.
(1) (a) Within 20 business days of the date of enrollment, a parent client shall:
(i) be assigned an employment counselor; and
(ii) complete an assessment provided by the division regarding the parent client's:
(A) family circumstances;
(B) education;
(C) work history;
(D) skills; and
(E) ability to become self-sufficient.
(b) The assessment provided under Subsection (1)(a)(ii) shall include a survey to becompleted by the parent client with the assistance of the division.
(2) (a) Within 15 business days of a parent client completing an assessment, the divisionand the parent client shall enter into an employment plan.
(b) The employment plan shall have a target date for entry into employment.
(c) The division shall provide a copy of the employment plan to the parent client.
(d) As to the parent client, the plan may include:
(i) job searching requirements;
(ii) if the parent client does not have a high school diploma, participation in aneducational program to obtain a high school diploma, or its equivalent;
(iii) education or training necessary to obtain employment;
(iv) a combination of work and education or training;
(v) assisting the Office of Recovery Services in good faith to:
(A) establish the paternity of a minor child; and
(B) establish or enforce a child support order; and
(vi) if the parent client is a drug dependent person as defined in Section 58-37-2,participation in available treatment for drug dependency and progress toward overcoming thatdependency.
(e) As to the division, the plan may include:
(i) providing cash and other types of public and employment assistance, including childcare;
(ii) assisting the parent client to obtain education or training necessary for employment;
(iii) assisting the parent client to set up and follow a household budget; and
(iv) assisting the parent client to obtain employment.
(f) The division may amend the employment plan to reflect new information or changedcircumstances.
(g) If immediate employment is an activity contained in the employment plan the parentclient shall:
(i) promptly commence a search for a specified number of hours each week foremployment; and
(ii) regularly submit a report to the division on:
(A) how time was spent in search for a job;
(B) the number of job applications completed;
(C) the interviews attended;
(D) the offers of employment extended; and
(E) other related information required by the division.
(h) (i) If full-time education or training to secure employment is an activity contained inan employment plan, the parent client shall promptly undertake a full-time education or trainingprogram.
(ii) The employment plan may describe courses, education or training goals, andclassroom hours.
(i) (i) As a condition of receiving cash assistance under this part, a parent client shallagree to make a good faith effort to comply with the employment plan.
(ii) If a parent client consistently fails to show good faith in complying with theemployment plan, the division may seek under Subsection (2)(i)(iii) to terminate all or part of thecash assistance services provided under this part.
(iii) The division shall establish a process to reconcile disputes between a client and thedivision as to whether:
(A) the parent client has made a good faith effort to comply with the employment plan;or
(B) the division has complied with the employment plan.
(3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a parent client's participation ineducation or training beyond that required to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent islimited to the lesser of:
(i) 24 months; or
(ii) the completion of the education and training requirements of the employment plan.
(b) A parent client may participate in education or training for up to six months beyondthe 24-month limit of Subsection (3)(a)(i) if:
(i) the parent client is employed for 80 or more hours a month; and
(ii) the extension is for good cause shown and approved by the director.
(c) A parent client who receives an extension under Subsection (3)(b) remains subject toSubsection (4).
(4) (a) A parent client with a high school diploma or equivalent who has received 24months of education or training shall participate in full-time work activities.
(b) The 24 months need not be continuous and the department may define "full-timework activities" by rule.
(5) As a condition for receiving cash assistance on behalf of a minor child under thispart, the minor child must be:
(a) enrolled in and attending school in compliance with Sections 53A-11-101.5 and53A-11-101.7; or
(b) exempt from school attendance under Section 53A-11-102.
(6) This section does not apply to a person who has received diversion assistance underSection 35A-3-303.
(7) (a) The division shall recruit and train volunteers to serve as mentors for parentclients.
(b) A mentor may advocate on behalf of a parent client and help a parent client:
(i) develop life skills;
(ii) implement an employment plan; or
(iii) obtain services and supports from:
(A) the volunteer mentor;
(B) the division; or
(C) civic organizations.
Amended by Chapter 81, 2007 General Session