461-001-0025    Effective 01/01/09
Definitions of Terms, Components, and Activities; JOBS, Pre-TANF, Post-TANF, TANF

In the JOBS, Pre-TANF, Post-TANF, and TANF programs, the following definitions apply to rules in Chapter 461 unless the context indicates otherwise.

1. Activity: An action or set of actions to be taken by the client, as specified in the case plan. An activity is intended to reduce barriers and:
   1. Increase the likelihood of self sufficiency, employment, job retention, wage enhancement, and financial independence; or

   2. Promote family stability (see OAR 461-001-0000).

2. Adult Basic Education (ABE): An activity in the basic education component that involves remedial education coursework intended to ensure functional literacy.

3. Assessment: An activity of the program entry component that involves gathering information to identify the strengths, interests, family circumstances, status in the JOBS program, and vocational aptitudes and preferences of the client and to mutually determine an employment goal, the level of participation of the client in the JOBS program, and which support services are needed. This activity includes providing screenings and evaluations (if appropriate) to determine the level of participation, accommodation, and modification for the client in the JOBS program. The screenings include but are not limited to physical and mental health needs, substance abuse, domestic violence, and learning needs.

4. Barrier: A personal condition or circumstance that reduces the likelihood the client will become employed or the client's ability to participate in an activity listed in the case plan.

5. Basic education: A component of non-core activities intended to ensure functional literacy for all JOBS clients. Basic education activities are high school attendance, English as a second language (ESL) instruction, job skills training, adult basic education (ABE) instruction, and services that result in obtaining a general equivalency diploma (GED). The component is discussed in OAR 461-190-0171 and 461-190-0181.

6. Case plan (formerly also known as an employment development plan (EDP), a personal plan, or personal development plan): A written outline, developed in partnership by the client and case manager, with input from partners as appropriate, listing activities and goals for the client. The case plan also identifies the support service payments, accommodations, and modifications to help the client complete the plan. The DHS 1543 - Domestic Violence Assistance Agreement - is the case plan for clients with safety concerns about domestic violence.

7. Community Service Program: An activity in the unpaid employment component in which the client works without pay at a job site to enhance the likelihood the client will become employed and perform work for the direct benefit of the community. This activity is available through nonprofit organizations or public agencies.

8. Component: A set of one or more activities of the JOBS program. Components of the JOBS program are paid unsubsidized employment, paid subsidized employment, unpaid employment, vocational training, job search and readiness, and basic education activities.

9. Core activities: Federally-defined countable work activities that include: paid unsubsidized employment; paid subsidized employment; work experience; on-the-job training; job search and readiness; community service programs; vocational training; and providing child care assistance to a community service program participant.

10. Degree Completion Initiative (DCI): An activity in which a limited number of TANF recipients may participate for up to 12 months to complete an educational degree at a two- or four-year educational institution.

11. Drug and alcohol services: An activity in the job search and readiness component that provides substance abuse screenings and evaluations, outpatient or resident treatment, and support groups such as AA or NA.

12. Employer contact: A client communication with an employer or employer's representative through a visit, phone call, or mail to request consideration for employment.

13. English as a second language (ESL): An activity in the basic education component. ESL classes are designed to give clients with limited English proficiency better working skills in the language.

14. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Applies to subject employers with clients working in the unpaid employment component. FLSA requires that clients engaged in unpaid employment, in effect, cannot "work off" their SNAP and TANF benefits at an hourly rate less than the state minimum wage.

15. Federally required participation rates: The participation rates required by section 407 of the Social Security Act (42 USC 607).

16. High School or GED Completion Attendance: An activity in the basic education component that involves attendance at a secondary school or in a course of study that leads to the completion of the GED.

17. Job search: An activity in the job search and readiness component that focuses on clients looking for and obtaining employment. It is designed to improve skills in locating and competing for employment in the local labor market and may include writing resumes, receiving instruction in interviewing skills, and participating in group and individual job search. There are two categories of job search: initial job search and regular job search. Initial job search may occur during the Pre-TANF program. Regular job search begins not later than the day after the Department finds the client eligible for TANF benefits.

18. Job search and readiness: A component designed to prepare clients to compete in the local labor market. Job search, life skills, drug and alcohol services, mental health services, and rehabilitation activities are the activities of the job search and readiness component.

19. Job skills training: An activity in the basic education component designed to provide classroom training in vocational and technical skills or equivalent knowledge and abilities in a specific job area.

20. JOBS Plus program (JOBS Plus): An activity in the paid subsidized employment component that provides TANF clients with on-the-job training and pays their benefits as wages (see the rules at OAR 461-190-0401 to 461-190-0426).

21. Life skills: An activity of the job search and readiness component. The activity develops employment-preparation skills and skills and attitudes that are commonly found in the workplace.

22. Mental health services: An activity in the job search and readiness component that provides mental health screenings and assessments, counseling, medication management, and support groups.

23. Microenterprise: An activity in the paid unsubsidized employment component in which the client is self-employed in a sole proprietorship, partnership, or family business that has fewer than five employees and has capital needs no greater than $35,000.

24. Non-core activities: Federally-defined countable work activities that include: job skills training directly related to employment; education directly related to employment; and satisfactory school attendance at a secondary level or leading to a GED.

25. On-the-job training (OJT): An activity in the paid subsidized employment component in which a client works for an employer for a contracted period. The employer trains the client and is reimbursed by the Department, usually at 50 percent of the wages of the participant, for those training costs.

26. Paid subsidized employment: A component in which clients are employed in a subsidized public or private sector job. JOBS Plus, work supplementation, and on-the-job training are the activities in the paid subsidized employment component.

27. Paid unsubsidized employment: A component in which clients are employed full- or part-time in an unsubsidized job and receiving TANF benefits. Unsubsidized employment is a job that is not subsidized by TANF or any other public program. The UN work program and microenterprise are the activities in the paid unsubsidized employment component.

28. Parents as Scholars (PAS): A JOBS program component that assists TANF parents who are or will be undergraduates to begin or continue their education at a two- or four-year educational institution (see OAR 461-190-0199).

29. Program entry: An activity that includes all the activities that prepare a client to actively participate in the JOBS program. Program entry activities include assessment and writing the initial case plan.

30. Progress (good or satisfactory): For federal reporting purposes, a client participating in an education or training activity makes good progress or satisfactory progress by receiving a passing grade or progressing toward completion of high school or GED completion at no less than the normal rate of a half-time student.

31. Providing child care services to a Community Service Program participant: An activity in the unpaid employment component.

32. Rehabilitation activities: An activity in the job search and readiness component that provides medical or therapeutic screenings, assessments, and treatment. This activity also includes medical management and support groups.

33. Sheltered or supported work: An activity in the unpaid employment component that gives clients intensive staff support, skill training, intervention and counseling that will enable them to function independently at work.

34. Stabilization, intervention, and other activities: A group of activities that are non-countable for federal participation purposes. These activities include child health and development, crisis intervention, domestic violence services, family stability activities (see OAR 461-001-0000), medical services, retention services, services to child welfare families, social security application, and stabilized living services.

35. Support services: Services that case-managed clients need to participate successfully in activities outlined in their case plan, seek and maintain employment, or remove barriers.

36. Teen parent: Custodial parent under age 20.

37. Transition services: Services included in a client's case plan when the client becomes employed or becomes ineligible for cash benefits because of an increase in income or resources.

38. Unpaid employment: A component in which a client is placed in an unpaid job to develop good work habits, training and knowledge to obtain employment. Employment may be in the private or public sector or through a work simulation program. Work experience, Community Service Program, providing child care services to a Community Service Program participant, and sheltered or supported work are the activities of the unpaid employment component.

39. UN work program: An activity in the paid unsubsidized employment component in which TANF clients work in unsubsidized employment and may also participate in another JOBS work site training activity.

40. Vocational Training: An activity and component of the JOBS program that provides JOBS participants with access to specific vocational training that will lead to a career with an appropriate wage level and opportunity for employment.

41. Work experience: An activity in the unpaid employment component in which the client works without pay at a job site to develop good work habits and basic vocational skills that enhance the likelihood the client will become employed. Work experience is available through private for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, or public agencies.

42. Work supplementation: An activity in the unpaid employment component. Up to six months of work-site training provided by an employer. The component and activity are both called work supplementation. In work supplementation, the Department subsidizes the wages of the participant by providing up to $200 per month to the employer.

Stat. Auth.: ORS 411.060, 412.006, 412.009, 412.049
Stats. Implemented: ORS 411.060, 412.001, 412.006, 412.009, 412.049

Previous Rules

Effective 01/01/07 this rule has been renumbered from 461-190-0110.