Section 144-607-8 - PRE-TRAININGSummary: This Section describes the pre-training component which consists of activities designed to prepare participants for job skills training, post-secondary education, job search services, employment services, subsidized or unsubsidized employment, or self-employment.
I.GENERAL PROVISIONSA. Pre-training activities may include, but are not limited to, remedial and secondary education programs, job readiness training, employment and self-employment counseling, field training, and referral to services to improve life management skills, encourage personal responsibility and provide the needed foundation to engage in activities aimed at securing and maintaining employment.B. Based on Assessment, a Family Contract Amendment will be developed which will reflect the participant's pre-training needs and will include necessary and available support services.C. ASPIRE-TANF will pay for services necessary to complete the Family Contract Amendment only when those services cannot be funded from other sources and only as long as funding is available for those services. ASPIRE-TANF will purchase the least expensive quality service necessary to meet the participant's needs.D. When approved pre-training programs are available at comparable quality and cost, including the cost of support services, and the implementation of the Family Contract Amendment would not be unreasonably delayed, the participant may choose to enroll in the program with the provider of the participant's choice. If the ASPIRE-TANF case manager and the participant cannot mutually agree on the choice, then the decision will be made by the ASPIRE-TANF unit supervisor and is subject to a fair hearing.II.PRE-TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURESA.Employability Counseling - Employability counseling helps participants make informed choices about personal issues, education, training and employment by interpreting data from assessments and providing information as to how that data relates to the participant's needs, interests, strengths, available employment options and resources.B.High School Diploma Programs - High School Diploma Programs are available through local area high schools, adult education and alternative education programs. C.High School Equivalency Preparation and Training - High School Equivalency preparation and training is offered by local adult education programs, and other agencies.D.Remedial Education - Remedial Education is individual or group training offered by local adult education programs, Literacy Volunteers and other agencies to assist the participant in obtaining a basic literacy level of at least grade 8.9 or to fulfill labor market requirements necessary for the participant to reach his/her goal. Remedial Education also provides training in English proficiency.E.Job Readiness - Activities designed to prepare participants for education, training and/or employment services. These activities include: 1.Life Management Skills - Life management skills activities include options such as budgeting of resources, driver's training, substance abuse counseling, use of available resources, use of supportive services, personal counseling, self-esteem building, appropriate work habits, dealing with others in the work environment and interpersonal communications (e.g. active listening, how to ask questions, etc.). These services may be available to participants in a variety of community-based settings and formats.2.Work Readiness Activities - These activities include: job shadowing, job coaching, mentoring, situational assessment, and any other activity that will encourage obtaining or retaining employment.3. The following pre-training activities are available to program participants if reasonably available in the participant's area: a.Family Planning: To assist the participant in decision-making regarding future pregnancies. This service is typically provided through clinics, private practitioners, and hospitals.b.Health Care: Health Care referrals for participant's family members. This service is typically provided through clinics, private practitioners, and hospitals.c.Parenting Education: To enable the participant to maximize parenting skills. These services are typically provided in center-based, school-based and in-home settings.10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 607, § 8