1998 Minnesota Code
Chapters 245 - 267 Public Welfare and Related Activities
Chapter 256J Minnesota Family Investment Program--statewide
Section 256J.45 Orientation.

256J.45 Orientation.

Subdivision 1. County agency to provide orientation. A county agency must provide each MFIP-S caregiver with a face-to-face orientation. The caregiver must attend the orientation. The county agency must inform the caregiver that failure to attend the orientation is considered an occurrence of noncompliance with program requirements, and will result in the imposition of a sanction under section 256J.46. If the client complies with the orientation requirement prior to the first day of the month in which the grant reduction is proposed to occur, the orientation sanction shall be lifted.

Subd. 2. General information. The MFIP-S orientation must consist of a presentation that informs caregivers of:

(1) the necessity to obtain immediate employment;

(2) the work incentives under MFIP-S;

(3) the requirement to comply with the employment plan and other requirements of the employment and training services component of MFIP-S, including a description of the range of work and training activities that are allowable under MFIP-S to meet the individual needs of participants;

(4) the consequences for failing to comply with the employment plan and other program requirements, and that the county agency may not impose a sanction when failure to comply is due to the unavailability of child care or other circumstances where the participant has good cause under subdivision 3;

(5) the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of participants;

(6) the types and locations of child care services available through the county agency;

(7) the availability and the benefits of the early childhood health and developmental screening under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19; 123B.02, subdivision 16; 123B.10; and 126.65.

(8) the caregiver's eligibility for transition year child care assistance under section 119B.05;

(9) the caregiver's eligibility for extended medical assistance when the caregiver loses eligibility for MFIP-S due to increased earnings or increased child or spousal support;

(10) the caregiver's option to choose an employment and training provider and information about each provider, including but not limited to, services offered, program components, job placement rates, job placement wages, and job retention rates;

(11) the caregiver's option to request approval of an education and training plan according to section 256J.52; and

(12) the work study programs available under the higher education system.

Subd. 3. Good cause exemptions for not attending orientation. (a) The county agency shall not impose the sanction under section 256J.46 if it determines that the participant has good cause for failing to attend orientation. Good cause exists when:

(1) appropriate child care is not available;

(2) the participant is ill or injured;

(3) a family member is ill and needs care by the participant that prevents the participant from attending orientation;

(4) the caregiver is unable to secure necessary transportation;

(5) the caregiver is in an emergency situation that prevents orientation attendance;

(6) the orientation conflicts with the caregiver's work, training, or school schedule; or

(7) the caregiver documents other verifiable impediments to orientation attendance beyond the caregiver's control.

(b) Counties must work with clients to provide child care and transportation necessary to ensure a caregiver has every opportunity to attend orientation.

HIST: 1997 c 85 art 1 s 35; 1998 c 397 art 11 s 3; 1998 c 407 art 6 s 81-83