Welcome to the PROMISE JOBS Orientation!!

1. Welcome to the PROMISE JOBS Orientation!! This orientation will provide you with information about the PROMISE JOBS program and the services that are offered to you. Please be sure to listen closely and be sure your cell phones are turned OFF during this presentation. 600 South Pierce, Mason City, Iowa 50401 Ph: 641-422-1528 or 800-392-2230

2. What does PROMISE JOBS stand for? Promoting Independence and Self-Sufficiency through Employment Job Opportunities and Basic Skills. • What is Family Investment Agreement (FIA)? A Family Investment Agreement (FIA) is an agreement or contract between the client and DHS/PROMISE JOBS outlining steps the client will take to reach their goal of self-sufficiency.

3. In January 1997, the federal government imposed a five-year (60 month) lifetime limit on receiving public assistance. This means that after a FIP client has received public assistance for 60 months (consecutive or not) they are no longer eligible. • Each month for which you receive any FIP payment, counts as one of your 60 months. • PROMISE JOBS is a mandatory program for all Department of Human Services FIP recipients. • Your PROMISE JOBS worker will work with you to develop the steps that you can successfully complete to become self-sufficient and remain off of FIP assistance. FIP FACTS

4. 100% PARTICIPATION IS REQUIRED • We do not make the rules for this program. PROMISE JOBS is structured by both the Federal and State government. • Even if you are receiving a partial FIP grant, you are still mandated to participate in the PROMISE JOBS program. • Your cash grant can be affected if you choose, at any point, not to participate in PROMISE JOBS. • If you cancel your FIP assistance in the middle of the month, your benefits will not end until the end of that month, therefore you are required to participate in the activities until the end of that month. If you do not meet this obligation, you may • have chosen a Limited Benefit Plan. PARTICIPATION AND ACTIVITIES

5. Walk-Ins and Phone Calls PROMISE JOBS workers have several appointments, teach classes and have required trainings and/or meetings. If you do not have a scheduled appointment they may not be able to meet w/you due to these reasons. It is advised you contact your worker via phone regarding their availability first. • When leaving a voicemail please be sure to speak clearly and leave: • Your Name • Your Phone # • Reason for your call • We will make every attempt to return your call just as soon as possible. Please be advised it may take up to 2-3 business days depending upon our schedules.

6. Appointments & FIA Activities • Keeping your PROMISE JOBS appointments and following through with your FIA activities as scheduled, should be a priority. PROMISE JOBS asks the same of you as would an employer. You need to think of your FIA as your job responsibilities. In order to receive FIP you must follow through with the activities on your signed FIA. It’s your responsibility to schedule doctor appointments, and family obligations around PROMISE JOBS appointments, your job and class schedules. • Please remember that you may • be asked to provide written • documentation regarding • missed appointments or activities.

7. Appointments & FIA Activities • In most situations we do NOT consider the following to be good cause reasons to miss an appointment or deadline or for not participating in PROMISE JOBS activities: √ No transportation √No childcare √ Time spent in hospital with sick family members other than your children. √ Out of town trips or vacation √ Helping family or friends deal with a crisis √ Taking care of sick or disabled family members who do not live with you in your home √ Doctor’s appointments for self or child that could have been scheduled around PROMISE JOBS requirements.

8. When to Call… • Anytime there is a change in your current situation, be sure to contact your PROMISE JOBS worker immediately. • If you have a question concerning a notice you have received, be sure to contact the person whose name is on the notice. • If you cannot come in for an appointment or will be late, you will need to contact the worker who sent you the notice beforethat scheduled appointment. The same is true if you cannot provide requested verification/ documentation by the due date.

9. PROMISE JOBS provides transportation and childcare assistance to clients who are participating in the activities as approved in your FIA. Transportation allowance is not available clients for travel to and from work. Transportation amount is determined by state mileage rate or public transit rates. For assistance in choosing a provider that has been approved to receive payment from the state, please contact Child Care Resource and Referral or access the DHS website for a list of childcare providers.

10. Childcare Assistance PROMISE JOBS is only able to pay childcare providers who are approved by the Department of Human Services (DHS). PROMISE JOBS funded childcare is only to be used when participating in PROMISE JOBS activities. • The State of Iowa has to balance parents’ right to choose a child care provider for their children with the duty to ensure the safety of these children. • Parents who choose a child care provider that is not approved by the Department of Human Services risk the safety of their children, as well as the possibility that their child care provider will not be paid by the state. If a provider cannot pass the child abuse or criminal record checks, the participant has chosen an ineligible childcare provider and will be responsible for payment.

11. Childcare If a change in your childcare arrangements occurs after you have signed your FIA, call your PROMISE JOBS worker immediately. If a change in your childcare affects your ability to participate in PROMISE JOBS activities call your PROMISE JOBS worker BEFORE you quit your job or quit school or fail to participate. Together we may be able to come up with a solution. For Childcare assistance after you are no longer on FIP, you will need to contact DHS for an application to determine if you are eligible for this assistance.

12. PROMISE JOBS Childcare & Transportation • It is your responsibility to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that you have reliable childcare and transportation. Reliable means you will NOT miss any PROMISE JOBS activities or days of employment due to the lack of childcare or transportation. • Lack of childcare is not acceptable as a reason for quitting a job or school, failing to attend an appointment or failing to participate in a PROMISE JOBS activity. You can contact Childcare Resource & Referral to find an approved childcare provider. • It is also your responsibility to have a back-up childcare provider in place in case your regular provider is unavailable. • If you have any questions regarding childcare or transportation you must discuss them with your PROMISE JOBS worker. • If you do not require transportation and/or childcare support services to participate in PROMISE JOBS, you must sign a waiver form.

13. Your Rights and Responsibilities PROMISE JOBS activities that you may choose to participate in: • Assessment • Basic Education (High School, GED) • Job Readiness Activities- • Soft Skills Workshop, Job Club Workshop, Monitored Job Search • Parenting Skills • Educational/vocational training beyond the high school/GED level • Unpaid Community Service • Monitored Employment

14. Your Rights and Responsibilities • As a Participant in the PROMISE JOBS Program, You Must: • Attend all meetings and give all information requested. • Call us and tell us before a scheduled meeting if you know you can’t be there. If you miss a meeting because you are sick, you may be asked to provide a doctor’s statement. • If you have problems in your life that make it hard to work with PROMISE JOBS, you must tell PROMISE JOBS. Your PROMISE JOBS worker can help you deal with your problems so you can get the training and employment you need to get off FIP. The steps to help you with your problems can be listed in your Family Investment Agreement.

15. Your Rights and Responsibilities • Participate in PROMISE JOBS activities to help you get and keep a job. • Accept suitable childcare arrangements. • Accept jobs that are offered to you as long as • transportation is available and the job; • does not result in a net loss of income; • meets federal and state health and safety standards; • does not violate your religious or ethical beliefs; • does not exceed your physical or mental capabilities.

16. Your Rights and Responsibilities • Notify PROMISE JOBS and the DHS Call Center as soon as you become employed.

17. Your Rights and Responsibilities • If you DO NOT participate you will have chosen a Limited Benefit Plan (LBP): If you choose a Limited Benefit Plan for the first time: Your FIP benefits will stop right away. You cannot get FIP for the following persons: • You • Your children • Your children’s other parent in the home • Any other child on the case who is in your care • You can change your mind at any time. If you want to get back on FIP, you must tell your DHS or PROMISE JOBS worker and you must: • Reapply for FIP • Sign your Family Investment Agreement (FIA). • The earliest your FIP benefits can begin is the date you sign your Family Investment Agreement.

18. Your Rights and Responsibilities • If you or the other parent in the home have been on a Limited Benefit Plan before, and choose another Limited Benefit Plan: • Your FIP benefits will stop right away. • You cannot get FIP for at least six months. • You cannot get FIP for the following persons: • You • Your children • Your children’s other parent in the home • Any other child on the case who is in your care You cannot get out of this Limited Benefit Plan until the 6-month ends. Period ends.

19. Your Rights and Responsibilities • After the 6-month period ends, if you want to get back on FIP, you must tell your DHS or PROMISE JOBS worker and you must: • Reapply for FIP, • Sign your Family Investment Agreement (FIA), and • Complete 20 hours of work or other approved PROMISE JOBS activity. • The earliest your FIP benefits can begin is the date you sign your Family Investment Agreement. But, DHS won’t send your check until you complete the 20 hours of work or other approved PROMISE JOBS activity. • If you are 16 or older, and don’t have a child of your own, and are not in school, OR you’re 17 or younger and have a child of your own, you must either set up and follow the steps of a Family Investment Agreement or enter a Limited Benefit Plan. If you choose a Limited Benefit Plan, and your parent doesn’t have other children in the home who get FIP or SSI benefits, your parent will no longer be eligible for FIP benefits.

20. Your Rights and Responsibilities • WE WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE PROMISE JOBS PROGRAM. • SIGNING THIS FORM MEANS THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING:

21. Your Rights and Responsibilities • We gave you a complete explanation of the program, and you fully understand the services that are available. • You have the right to get answers to your questions about the PROMISE JOBS program. • You must help design your FIA so you can get and keep a job. • You must follow through with the steps in your FIA. • You have the right to equal opportunity and fair treatment as a PROMISE JOBS participant. • You have the right to disagree with the decision that you must be referred to and participate in PROMISE JOBS. • You have the right to a hearing if you believe you have been treated unfairly.

22. Your Rights and Responsibilities IMPORTANT:If you lose your job without a good reason, your FIP benefits may go down or stop. If you are thinking about leaving your job, first find out what will happen to your FIP benefits. If you have an FIA, leaving your job may mean you are choosing a Limited Benefit Plan, so call your PROMISE JOBS worker. If you don’t have an FIA, call your DHS Income Maintenance worker.

23. Your Rights and Responsibilities In your folder, you should have two copies of the Rights & Responsibilities form. Once you have completed viewing this video: • Please sign both copies at the bottom of the back page and enter today’s date. • Return one signed and dated copy to your PROMISE JOBS worker and keep the other copy for yourself.

24. Employment When you get a job it is VERY important to report that job right away to your PROMISE JOBS worker and to the DHS Call Center. Both agencies will need you to report the following information. We will request you obtain documentation of this information from your employer(s) and provide to us as well. 1. Employer name 2. Start date 3. Rate of pay 4. Projected # of hours per week 5. Duration of placement if temporary employment

25. Employment Just because you get a job doesn’t mean you are no longer eligible for FIP or do not have to follow through with other PJ activities. 1. You need to contact your PROMISE JOBS worker right away to determine what activities if any you are responsible for. Your employment may replace your current or upcoming FIA activities. Your employment may or may not be your only FIA activity. You may be employed and doing other FIA activities as well. This will depend upon your employment hours, pay, family composition etc. 2. If we don’t hear from you and you don’t follow through with your current FIA activities you may be choosing a Limited Benefit Plan (LBP).

26. Losing or Ending Employment You must speak with your PROMISE JOBS worker BEFORE doing any of the following to determine if you have a valid and good cause reason: - Turning down a job offer for a job you applied for. - Quitting your employment. - Reducing your hours at work. The following are usually NOT considered valid reasons to quit a job… ● Illness or pregnancy unless a doctor has advised you in writing to quit ● You quit to go out of town ● You feel you are not doing a good job ● You have personality conflicts with co-workers and/or boss. ● You decide you don’t like the job duties. If you want to quit your job for another job that has been offered to you then you must speak with your PROMISE JOBS worker beforedoing so to determine if the new job is equal to or greater than the job you are wanting to leave. If you do any of these without good cause you can risk choosing a Limited Benefit Plan (LBP) and lose your FIP benefits for you and your family.

27. Family Development & Self Sufficiency Program What is FaDSS? • A voluntary program designed to provide support services to FIP families while they are working with PROMISE JOBS. • A great opportunity to build upon your family’s strengths to achieve self-sufficiency. • A partnership with a Family Development Specialist who works with you in your home. • Assistance to become independent of Iowa’s Family Investment Program (FIP). • A family driven program.

28. CAGE/TALE Substance abuse and domestic violence occurs in all cultures; people of all races, ethnicities, religions and classes. Your safety and the safety of your children is the number one concern. Your PROMISE JOBS worker can provide you with information on local services which include: • Safety planning for a domestic violence victim and children. • Information about legal rights and options, including concerns about child custody. • Organizations that will accompany and provide support during court hearings for domestic violence victims. • Other services that may be needed. All information is strictly confidential between you and your PROMISE JOBS worker.

29. Confidentiality As a PROMISE JOBS participant you have the right to confidentiality. PROMISE JOBS is able to speak with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Family Development & Self-Sufficiency program(FaDSS) regarding your case at any time. It is PROMISE JOBS policy that we are not able to speak to anyone else regarding your case without you signing a release of information.

30. PROMISE JOBS is a mandatory program if you are receiving FIP. • If you choose not to actively participate you may want to consider voluntarily closing your FIP case. You must contact the DHS Call Center and request cancellation. • You may still apply for food assistance and a medical card even if you are not on FIP. You can also re-apply for FIP later if your circumstances change.

31. Thank you for completing the PROMISE JOBS Orientation portion of today’s appointment. • Please sign the forms in your folder. Then return to the front desk and call your PROMISE JOBS worker to let them know you have finished and you are ready for the FIA development portion of today’s appointment.