SECTION 811.23. Family Employment Plan

(a) Boards must ensure that prior to the development of an FEP Choices participants receive general information about services provided through the One-Stop Service Delivery Network that will assist them in obtaining employment, if the Choices participants did not receive this information during the WOA.

(b) FEPs are required for all Choices participants.

(c) FEPs shall be developed with applicants and former recipients who choose to participate in Choices services.

(d) A Board shall ensure that an FEP is developed during the assessment and:

(1) is based on assessments, as described in §811.22;

(2) contains the goal of self-sufficiency through employment to meet the needs of the local labor market;

(3) contains the steps and services to achieve the goal, including:

(A) connecting the Choices participant immediately to the local labor market;

(B) addressing potential barriers that limit the Choices participant's ability to work or participate in activities;

(C) arranging support services for the Choices participant or the family to address circumstances that limit the Choices participant's ability to work or participate, including services for substance abuse, mental health, family violence, and disability-related issues;

(D) developing specific post-employment service strategies with methods and time frames for reaching the goal of an identified self-sufficiency wage; and

(E) requiring Choices participants to notify the Board's service provider of changes in family circumstances that may preclude participation in Choices services;

(4) is signed by the Choices participant--unless the Choices participant is a mandatory Choices participant coded by HHSC as working at least 30 hours per week, earning at least $700 per month, and receiving the EID--and a Board's service provider;

(5) assigns required hours and sets forth the participation agreement for compliance with Choices program requirements. FEPs for two-parent families must include a description of how the required hours of participation will be distributed between one or both adults in the two-parent household; and

(6) provides information about the penalty process, good cause process, right of appeal, and the importance of immediately contacting a case manager should individual or family circumstances arise that prevent participation.

(e) A Board shall regularly ensure that progress toward meeting the goals of the FEP is evaluated and the FEP is modified as appropriate to meet job seeker and employer needs in the local labor market.

Source Note: The provisions of this §811.23 adopted to be effective November 18, 2003, 28 TexReg 10261; amended to be effective February 26, 2007, 32 TexReg 906; amended to be effective January 8, 2013, 38 TexReg 180