2007 Minnesota Statutes

256J.45 ORIENTATION.
    Subdivision 1. County agency to provide orientation. A county agency must provide a
face-to-face orientation to each MFIP caregiver unless the caregiver is:
(1) a single parent, or one parent in a two-parent family, employed at least 35 hours per
week; or
(2) a second parent in a two-parent family who is employed for 20 or more hours per week
provided the first parent is employed at least 35 hours per week.
The county agency must inform caregivers who are not exempt under clause (1) or (2) that
failure to attend the orientation is considered an occurrence of noncompliance with program
requirements, and will result in the imposition of a sanction under section 256J.46. If the client
complies with the orientation requirement prior to the first day of the month in which the grant
reduction is proposed to occur, the orientation sanction shall be lifted.
    Subd. 1a. Pregnant and parenting minors. Pregnant and parenting minors who are
complying with the provisions of section 256J.54 are exempt from the requirement under
subdivision 1, however, the county agency must provide information to the minor as required
under section 256J.14.
    Subd. 2. General information. The MFIP orientation must consist of a presentation that
informs caregivers of:
(1) the necessity to obtain immediate employment;
(2) the work incentives under MFIP, including the availability of the federal earned income
tax credit and the Minnesota working family tax credit;
(3) the requirement to comply with the employment plan and other requirements of the
employment and training services component of MFIP, including a description of the range
of work and training activities that are allowable under MFIP to meet the individual needs
of participants;
(4) the consequences for failing to comply with the employment plan and other program
requirements, and that the county agency may not impose a sanction when failure to comply is
due to the unavailability of child care or other circumstances where the participant has good
cause under subdivision 3;
(5) the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of participants;
(6) the types and locations of child care services available through the county agency;
(7) the availability and the benefits of the early childhood health and developmental
screening under sections 121A.16 to 121A.19; 123B.02, subdivision 16; and 123B.10;
(8) the caregiver's eligibility for transition year child care assistance under section 119B.05;
(9) the availability of all health care programs, including transitional medical assistance;
(10) the caregiver's option to choose an employment and training provider and information
about each provider, including but not limited to, services offered, program components, job
placement rates, job placement wages, and job retention rates;
(11) the caregiver's option to request approval of an education and training plan according to
section 256J.53;
(12) the work study programs available under the higher education system; and
(13) information about the 60-month time limit exemptions under the family violence waiver
and referral information about shelters and programs for victims of family violence.
    Subd. 3. Good cause exemptions for not attending orientation. (a) The county agency
shall not impose the sanction under section 256J.46 if it determines that the participant has good
cause for failing to attend orientation. Good cause exists when:
(1) appropriate child care is not available;
(2) the participant is ill or injured;
(3) a family member is ill and needs care by the participant that prevents the participant
from attending orientation. For a caregiver with a child or adult in the household who meets the
disability or medical criteria for home care services under section 256B.0655, subdivision 1c,
or a home and community-based waiver services program under chapter 256B, or meets the
criteria for severe emotional disturbance under section 245.4871, subdivision 6, or for serious
and persistent mental illness under section 245.462, subdivision 20, paragraph (c), good cause
also exists when an interruption in the provision of those services occurs which prevents the
participant from attending orientation;
(4) the caregiver is unable to secure necessary transportation;
(5) the caregiver is in an emergency situation that prevents orientation attendance;
(6) the orientation conflicts with the caregiver's work, training, or school schedule; or
(7) the caregiver documents other verifiable impediments to orientation attendance beyond
the caregiver's control.
(b) Counties must work with clients to provide child care and transportation necessary to
ensure a caregiver has every opportunity to attend orientation.
History: 1997 c 85 art 1 s 35; 1998 c 397 art 11 s 3; 1998 c 407 art 6 s 81-83; 1999 c 86 art
1 s 59; 1999 c 245 art 6 s 53,54; 2000 c 488 art 10 s 14; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 10 s 29,30; 2002 c 379
art 1 s 113; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 1 s 61