District Of Columbia § 4-205.19d - Work participation requirements for TANF recipients.

“Job search and job readiness” means the act of seeking or obtaining employment or preparation to seek or obtain employment, including: life skills strategies and soft skills training, budget and credit counselling, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence support or services, mental health activities or rehabilitative activities for individuals who are otherwise employable as defined by the Work Verification Plan. Job search and job-readiness activities may count towards the work participation rates for a total of 6 weeks in a year, or 12 weeks in a year for states who meet the criteria established in section 403(b)(5) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, approved August 22, 1996 (110 Stat. 2123; 42 U.S.C. § 603(b)(5)).

“Vocational educational training,” not to exceed 12 months, means education programs that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations that are provided by an accredited education or training organization such as a vocational-technical school, community college, post secondary institution, or proprietary school. Courses offered by such programs can include adult basic education, English as a Second Language (“ESL”), and literacy courses; provided, that the courses are part of the vocational training curriculum and are directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in occupations that require training.

“Job skills training directly related to employment” means training or education for-job skills required by an employer to provide an individual with the ability to obtain employment or to advance or adapt to the changing demands of the workplace. This activity may include post-secondary education at an accredited university or college that leads to a bachelor’s or advanced degree that is directly related to employment.

“Education directly related to employment,” in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or general educational development certificate (“GED”) and needs specific employment training, means education directly related to a specific job or job offer. This includes adult basic education, literacy, GED, and ESL activities.

“Satisfactory attendance in secondary school or a general equivalence program” means regular attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate.

“Unsubsidized employment,” means full or part-time employment in the public or private sector that is not subsidized by TANF or any other public program.

“Subsidized private sector employment,” means employment in the private sector for which the employer receives a subsidy from TANF or other public funds to offset some or all of the wages and costs of employing an individual.

“Subsidized public sector employment,” means employment in the public sector for which the employer receives a subsidy from TANF or other public funds to offset some or all of the wages and costs of employing an individual.

“Work experience,” including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly-assisted housing, if sufficient private-sector employment is not available means a work activity performed in return for welfare that provides an individual with an opportunity to acquire the general skills, knowledge, and work habits necessary to obtain employment.

“On-the-job training,” means training in the public or private sector that is given to a paid employee while he or she is engaged in productive work and that provides knowledge and skills essential to the full and adequate performance of the job.

“Community service programs,” mean structured programs and activities in which individuals perform work for the direct benefit of the community under the auspices of public or nonprofit organizations.

“Providing child care services to an individual who is participating in a community service program” means providing child care to enable another TANF or state supplementary payment recipient to participate in a community service program.