808.19 Initial 4 Week Job Search Period SR 04-26, 10/04 (FAM-A)

Individuals who are deemed appropriate for the Job Search Component of the NHEP must participate in an initial 4-week job search period. This 4-week period counts towards the 26-week job search requirement of the NHEP.

The purpose of the initial 4-week job search period is to:

• help prepare the individual for entry into NHEP activities or employment, by attending job search/job readiness workshops, arranging child care and transportation and addressing family circumstances;

• evaluate an individual’s participation in the 4-week job search period as part of the on-going assessment process; and

• refer individuals to existing job openings if ready to seek and accept employment.

Activities in the Initial 4-Week Job Search Period

All job search and job readiness activities are appropriate for the initial 4-week job search period.

NHEP participants who meet one or more of the following criteria may enter into another NHEP approved activity, instead of or in addition to, the initial 4-week job search, as specified in the Employment Plan:

• have worked less than 12 consecutive months, full-time, at one job;

• have received NHEP financial assistance for 30 months or more;

• could obtain wages from immediate employment in the local labor market, but the wages would not allow the family to be economically independent from NHEP financial assistance within 12 months of full time employment;

• are responsible for the care of 3 or more children in the NHEP financial assistance case;

• require a career change due to a documented medical condition;

• could be immediately available for vocational skills training which is starting within the 4-week period and the individual meets all other referral criteria for vocational skills training;

• are within 12 months from reaching the 60-month lifetime limit; or

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• request to be referred for services, and the agency providing the services accepts the referred individual to the program.

If the individual is not required to participate in the initial 4-week job search period, the NHEP team member must:

• refer or approve another activity (either barrier resolution, basic education or self-initiated education or vocational skills training); and

• at the completion of the activity, refer the individual to participate in the initial 4-week job search period.