Section 144-607-11 - WORK ACTIVITY SERVICESSummary: This Section describes ASPIRE-TANF work activities which include Maine Serve and Transitional Employment for Maine Parents (TEMP) and Providing Child Care services to an ASPIRE participant in a Community Service Program.
I.GENERAL PROVISIONSA. The purpose of MaineServe, TEMP, and Providing Child Care Services is to enhance job skills, meet federal TANF work requirements and provide recent employment references.B. Placement in permanent full-time employment will have priority over participation in MaineServe or TEMP or Providing Child Care Services.C. MaineServe and TEMP positions will be in public or private non-profit organizations.D. MaineServe positions shall be limited to projects which serve or support a useful public purpose such as education, urban and rural development, health, and social services.E. Neither MaineServe or TEMP placements will be provided to an agency where an organized union strike or walkout is occurring or other labor dispute is in progress.F. No organization, or agency in violation of local, State or Federal laws will be eligible for MaineServe or TEMP placements.G. The EEO and ADA policies of the prospective MaineServe or TEMP sites should be assessed to determine if the prospective site is in compliance with EEO and ADA regulations.H. The MaineServe or TEMP site agrees to maintain the confidentiality of any information regarding ASPIRE-TANF participants or their immediate families which may be obtained through interviews, tests, reports from public agencies or counselors, or any other source. Without the permission of the participant, such information shall be divulged only as necessary for purposes related to the performance or evaluation of the Work Site Agreement and to persons having responsibilities under the Agreement.I. The monthly maximum number of hours that can be required of a participant assigned to either MaineServe or TEMP is obtained by dividing the total of the TANF and Food Supplement (SNAP) benefit amounts by the current Maine minimum wage; fractional hours will be dropped. The monthly number of hours is then divided by 4.3 to arrive at a weekly figure and this number is written in the Family Contract Amendment as the maximum number of hours per week that will be required for participation in MaineServe or TEMP. If the total is less than the minimum number of hours required by Federal and/or State law, then the difference will be made up by involving the participant in non-work activities, such as skills training or remedial education. The maximum number of hours of participation in MaineServe or TEMP is subject to review and change as the TANF and Food Supplement (SNAP) benefit amounts change, and should be addressed whenever new Family Contract Amendments are written.J. After six (6) months, TEMP positions will be reassessed to determine whether the placement continues to be viable for the participant. If it is determined to be appropriate, the TEMP position may be renewed.K. At the end of nine (9) months, the MaineServe volunteer and the ASPIRE-TANF case manager shall evaluate the MaineServe placement. If it is determined to be appropriate, the MaineServe placement may be renewed.L. ASPIRE-TANF will not provide funds to a MaineServe or TEMP placement site for a MaineServe or TEMP placement.M. Any mandatory ASPIRE-TANF participant who has completed training and job search but has not obtained a permanent job must participate in either TEMP or MaineServe.N. Any voluntary ASPIRE-TANF participant may choose to participate in MaineServe or TEMP.O. ASPIRE-TANF will provide the necessary support services in accordance with Section 15 in order for the participant to complete the MaineServe or TEMP placement.P. A Family Contract Amendment will be developed that will reflect the MaineServe or TEMP activity, the participant's requirements and will include the services needed by the participant to succeed in the placement.II.MaineServeA. MaineServe is a temporary volunteer work experience position designed to provide parents who are eligible for TANF opportunities to serve their communities and the State, develop employability skills and meet mandatory work requirements.B.Eligibility: Any ASPIRE-TANF participant over 16 years of age is eligible to volunteer for MaineServe, except that any person under 20 years of age who has not completed high school or its equivalent must also participate in an educational activity designed to complete high school education.C.Duration of service: MaineServe volunteers may serve up to nine (9) months. At the end of the service period, the MaineServe volunteer and the ASPIRE-TANF case manager shall evaluate the MaineServe placement. If the case manager determines that the service is appropriate, the MaineServe volunteer may renew the placement within MaineServe.III.TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT FOR MAINE PARENTS (TEMP)A. TEMP is a temporary volunteer work experience position designed to provide parents who are eligible for TANF opportunities to learn job skills, gain work experience, meet mandatory TANF work requirements and earn referrals for future employment.B. TEMP participants will not receive work or training reimbursements for voluntary work performed.C. ASPIRE-TANF will assist in the development of a placement site which will match the participant's abilities, work history and employment goal, to the extent possible, within a reasonable distance from the participant's location and program resources.IV.PROVIDING CHILD CARE SERVICES TO ENABLE ANOTHER PARTICIPANT TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICEA. An individual may provide Child Care Services to enable another TANF recipient to participate in a community service program (MaineServe or TEMP).B. In a two-parent household, one parent may not meet his or her participation requirement by providing care to children in the household while the other parent participates in community service.10-144 C.M.R. ch. 607, § 11