The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 33 : Human Services

Chapter 011 : Reach Up

Subchapter 002 : REACH UP PROGRAM FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND WORK REQUIREMENTS

• § 1113. Employment preparation, readiness, and participation

  (a) Each participating adult in a family receiving a financial assistance grant shall participate in the process of planning and engaging in goal achievement. These goals may be related to family well-being, financial stability, employment, training, education, and addressing obstacles to employment. Participating families shall participate in establishing goals and steps to achieve goals, reviewing and revising goals as necessary, and setting new goals as each goal is achieved.

  (b) Program participation requirements shall become effective as soon as the participating adult becomes eligible for financial assistance.

  (c) A participating adult may meet program participation requirements, including the following activities, through one or a combination of work, education, training, and other activities that address the family’s goals and well-being:

  (1) employment, either full-time or part-time;

  (2) activities that develop and enhance the skills employers need their employees to have in the workplace, including:

  (A) career-specific training programs;

  (B) English language learning;

  (C) literacy and math skill courses; or

  (D) credential programs;

  (3) entrepreneurship and business development;

  (4) job search and career exploration, including:

  (A) engaging in work experience; or

  (B) participating in job shadow opportunities;

  (5) education, including obtaining:

  (A) a high school diploma;

  (B) technical training and vocation education; or

  (C) career-specific education;

  (6) building foundations for employment, including:

  (A) housing search efforts;

  (B) arranging transportation; or

  (C) arranging child care;

  (7) activities aimed at improving family and financial well-being, including:

  (A) financial capability classes and coaching;

  (B) mental health treatment;

  (C) treatment for substance use disorder;

  (D) working with children’s health and school professionals;

  (E) applying for Supplemental Security Income; or

  (F) working with the Division of Family Services; or

  (8) any other activity designated by the Commissioner in accordance with criteria established in rule pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25.

  (d) A participating adult shall be deemed to meet the program participation requirements if the adult is participating in activities that lead to employment based on goal setting and active universal engagement.

  (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, unpaid work activities that are not primarily education, job search, job readiness, or training activities shall not exceed the levels established by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Adjustments required to conform with the Fair Labor Standards Act shall be made pursuant to calculation standards established by the Commissioner by rule. (Added 1999, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2001; amended 2007, No. 30, § 10, eff. May 17, 2007; 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 27, eff. May 20, 2014; 2017, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2021, No. 133 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. January 1, 2024.)