PURPOSE

To set forth operational policy and procedure regarding the provision of supportive services under all programs administered by the CWP.

POLICY

Supportive services are defined as those services or activities provided either directly to, or on behalf of, customers that are necessary to reduce or eradicate barriers to obtaining or retaining employment and/or maintaining training participation. 

The following principles should guide decisions regarding supportive services.  Specifically:

• Supportive services should be viewed individually and creatively to enable the customers to fully participate in education and training activities contained in his/her individual employment plan.
• Decisions regarding appropriate support should, to the fullest extent possible, be made by the staff person most familiar with the customer, in most circumstances the career agent.  Rationale for decisions should be well documented in the customer’s plan.  
• Supportive services expenditures should be based on careful consideration of the North Central Region’s economic reality; supportive service availability is solely dependent upon funding allocations.

PROCEDURE: 

To receive supportive services a customer must

• Be determined eligible for CWP programs;
• Identify a need that will prevent him/her from successfully accessing training or accepting or retaining employment, documented in the employment plan by the career agent,
• Be engaged in program activities, documented in his/her plan on CTWBS or other MIS system,
• Be ineligible for, or unable to obtain, supportive services from any other source.

Appropriateness for supportive services must be documented by the career agent, supervisor, or program manager.  Requests for payments or reimbursements should be made by the career agent and should follow the CWP supportive services authorization procedure on the authorization form. Where possible, documentation should be completed at least 1 week prior to the receipt of services.

Qualifying for supportive services in no way establishes an entitlement to such services nor does it obligate or commit CWP to approve or provide supportive services of any type beyond initial determination.

Supportive services may include, but are not limited to:

• Transportation including mileage, gas vouchers or cards, taxi, and bus passes; mileage allowance is .55 per mile.
• Clothing, footwear, hair care, and personal appearance/hygiene products for adequate presentation at job interviews, work or a training environment with documentation of actual expenses
• Training stipend allowance to support short-term (6 weeks or less) training programs; Stipend will generally be no more than $50 per week for full time activities with attendance documentation; NOTE:  prior approval of CWP is required for stipend payments;
• Need-Based Payments for dislocated workers who have received an ITA through WIA for training and exhaust their unemployment benefits prior to completion of the program.  For Dislocated Workers, weekly payments must equal the unemployment benefit and cannot exceed the maximum supportive service benefit of $5000 (10 weeks @ $500 per week). For WIA Adults, the weekly payment will be $200 for a total of 10 weeks or maximum $2,000.  NOTE:  prior approval of CWP is required for needs-based payments, which are limited subject to fund availability.
• Childcare allowance required to participate in a training program or accept employment that is not covered under another public program such as TANF or Care 4 Kids; child care assistance shall be no more than $75 per week, per child for customers enrolled in full-time activities.  Children must be 13 years of age or younger.
• Specialized assistance not otherwise specifically listed herein required to participate in services or accept or retain employment with actual documentation of expenses.

Supportive services cannot exceed $5000 for any one customer enrolled in program activities.

Child Care Assistance Provisions:

The rate for childcare assistance is as follows:  The per-day rate for childcare allowance is $15 for a full day or $75 per week, per child, for full-time activities (30 hours of class).  The childcare provider must be authorized by the CWP, or the WIA contractor, and must bill for provision of service on a weekly basis and with documented attendance.  The employment plan must document that childcare assistance is not available through any other source such as TANF or Connecticut’s Care 4 Kids program.   Childcare assistance is subject to funding availability.

Cancellation of Supportive Services:  This statement of policy and some or all categories of supportive services under it may be cancelled or changed, in whole or in part, by CWP at any time and without notice, effective immediately or at such time as CWP may determine.  Exceptions may be made to this policy by CWP when doing so is in the best interest of CWP or its customers.