N.J. Admin. Code § 10:90-4.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 10:90-4.3 - Description of work activities

(a) Unsubsidized employment means employment in the private or public sector which is not subsidized in any way.

(b) Supported employment is an employment activity tailored to meet the needs of those recipients who demonstrate serious barriers to employment (such as learning disability or illiteracy, drug and alcohol problems, and/or physical/mental disabilities). Supported on-the-job employment opportunities and sheltered workshop approaches (modeled after successful programs in the mental health and developmental disabilities field) will serve persons with such barriers. When the participant is experiencing difficulties on the job, a job coach will interact with the participant and the employer to resolve problems that may affect their continued employment.

(c) Community Work Experience Program (CWEP) is to be utilized to provide work and training to enable the recipient to adjust to, and learn how to function in, an employment setting. Placements shall only be with a public, private nonprofit or private charitable employer. CWEP placements are directed towards organizations and agencies directly involved in useful public service areas such as health, recreation, child and adult care, education, environmental protection, social services, etc. A CWEP participant shall not be placed with a private for profit employer.

(d) Alternative work experience programs (AWEP) consists of work and training for WFNJ recipients on a temporary basis with a public, private nonprofit or private charitable employer that provides a recipient with the experience necessary to adjust to, and learn how to function in, an employment setting and the opportunity to combine the 20 hours per week work experience with 15 hours per week of education (which may include English as a Second Language), substance abuse treatment, vocational exploration and/or job training. An AWEP participant's work experience placement shall not be with a private for profit employer.

(e) On-the-job training (OJT) is an employment opportunity which includes training. The participant is hired by a private or public employer and receives training that provides knowledge or skills essential to the full and adequate performance of the job. At the end of the OJT, the participant shall be retained by the employer as a regular employee if the individual has made satisfactory progress during the OJT contract period.

(f) Job search and job readiness assistance are employment- directed activities in which participants engage in activities with the immediate goal of obtaining full-time employment. Job search is directed to the individual participant's needs and local job market conditions and may serve participants in either group, individual, or self-directed job-seeking activities, or a combination thereof. Job search is an appropriate up front activity for applicants as well as job ready recipients who have basic workplace skills and experience applicable to the labor market. Job readiness activities will also be combined with job search to enhance the effectiveness of job search activities for those in need of additional skills development.

1. Job search and job readiness activities shall be counted for a maximum of six weeks (four of which may be consecutive) unless New Jersey's unemployment rate is 50 percent greater than the unemployment rate of the United States, in which case this activity may be extended to 12 weeks.

(g) Community service programs are self-directed or scheduled preparatory work activities in which participants may provide an array of vital services designed to increase the common good and/or improve the condition of the community in which he or she resides. Examples include, but are not limited to, the provision of child care as a community service project; mentoring or tutoring activities conducted under the auspices of organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Americorps, Habitat for Humanity; physical or administrative labor performed on behalf of a community organization/group; and volunteer work in hospitals, battered women's shelters, libraries, schools or other such public institutions.

1. Community service programs shall be offered as a "bridge" activity to participants who are awaiting the start-up of a new or subsequent activity.

2. Community service programs may be offered to individuals who are employed part-time so that participants can meet the WFNJ and Federal work participation requirement.

3. Community service programs may be offered as an activity in other circumstances with DFD review and approval.

4. Community service programs/sites shall be approved by the county or municipal agency.

(h) Vocational educational training is an activity involving institutional or other classroom training conducted by an instructor in either a worksite or non-worksite setting. Participants receive instruction in specific occupational areas which reflect the current local labor market demand. Providers of this type of activity include, but are not limited to, community based organizations; private for profits; community/county colleges; Voc-Tech school; JTPA's; and adult high schools.

1. This activity shall not be utilized for more than 12 months for any individual.

i. When a WFNJ/GA individual is placed in this activity in compliance with the NJ SNAP ETP, the 12 month limitation shall not apply.

(i) Job skills training directly related to employment is an activity tailored for those recipients who demonstrate serious barriers to employment (such as learning disability or illiteracy, drug and alcohol problems, mental health barriers, and/or physical/mental disabilities) and may include such activity components as pre-employment job coaching and mentoring (modeled after successful programs in the mental health and developmental disabilities field).

1. The Division of Family Development's Welfare to Work Disability Case Management Initiative provides rehabilitation services to WFNJ recipients identified as having barriers to employment related to a disability. This initiative provides a range of services to eligible participants which include vocational counseling, career guidance and specialized skills training.

(j) Education directly related to employment is an activity involving a participant without a high school diploma or a general equivalence diploma (GED) in a course of study leading to a high school diploma or GED when combined with community work experience participation or other approved work activities, including employment.

(k) Post-secondary educational opportunities directly related to employment shall be offered to recipients with a high school diploma or GED, when combined with community work experience participation or other approved work activities, including employment.

1. Post-secondary education are those professional and educational programs offered at colleges, mostly community colleges, and other post-high school institutions that lead to recognized careers for which there is or will be a demand in the New Jersey job market as published by the New Jersey Department of Labor.

i. Post-secondary programs that may be of longer duration than two years in certain circumstances, shall lead to a recognized college credential such as a certificate, license, associate degree or other recognized college credential.

(l) Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence is an activity that shall be utilized in the case of a recipient who is a teenage parent or a recipient under the age of 19 who is expected to graduate or complete their course of study by their 19th birthday.

(m) Provision of child care services is an activity that involves the WFNJ recipient in the direct provision of child care services to another WFNJ individual who is participating in a community service program or other State approved employment-directed program.

(n) The TANF Initiative for Parents (TIP) Program is an activity that offers comprehensive in-home visitation and/or in-community parenting, nutritional and support services including, but not limited to, parent education programs, interactive parent-child sessions, fatherhood services, and nutritional education, in accordance with 10:90-5.16.

(o) Other work activities may be added to those set forth above in this section in order to comply with Federal or State laws and/or to maximize Federal funds.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:90-4.3

Administrative correction.
See: 29 N.J.R. 3729(a).
In (c) and (d), deleted "unpaid" preceding "work and training"; and in (j)1, deleted "significant" preceding "demand".
Amended by R.1998 d.42, effective 1/20/1998.
See: 29 N.J.R. 3971(b), 30 N.J.R. 389(a).
Amended by R.2003 d.226, effective 6/16/2003.
See: 34 N.J.R. 2713(a), 35 N.J.R. 2670(a).
In (g), added 1 through 3; added (i)1; deleted (j)1; added a new (k) and recodified former (k) through (m) as ( l) through (n).
Amended by R.2007 d.15, effective 1/16/2007.
See: 38 N.J.R. 1156(a), 39 N.J.R. 207(a).
In (i), inserted "mental health barriers,"; added new (n); and recodified former (n) as ( o).
Amended by R.2009 d.202, effective 6/15/2009.
See: 41 N.J.R. 364(a), 41 N.J.R. 2483(a).
In ( l), deleted "(See N.J.A.C. 10:90-4.4 for what constitutes satisfactory attendance.)" from the end.
Administrative change.
See: 44 N.J.R. 1529(a).