DPSS ePolicy

DV Assessment - DV Services Provider (e.g., direct referral, mid-quarter reporting, reverse referral, this includes third-party DV assessments).

When conducting DV assessments, the DV services providers are to determine on a case-by-case basis if the DV participant is to be granted a DV GC waiver of program rule(s)/requirement(s); and/or time limits (clock stoppers/extenders). GC is established when it is determined that the DV circumstance significantly impairs the DV participant’s ability to participate in WtW, be regularly employed or to fully participate in WtW activities. This includes barriers created by certain CalWORKs/WtW Program rules that place the victim and/or child(ren) at risk of further abuse. The DV services provider must examine, based on discussion with the participant, and determine if the participant’s DV circumstance meets any of the qualifying conditions for granting a DV GC waiver of WtW Program rule(s)/requirement(s); and/or time limits (clock stoppers/extenders). Examples of qualifying conditions include but are not limited to:

1. They self-identify or disclose that they are a past/present victim or survivor of domestic abuse, such as physical violence, mental and emotional abuse, sexual assault, stalking, sexual harassment, and the abuse prevents or significantly impairs the participant’s ability to be regularly employed or to participate in WtW activities (20/30/35 hours per week);
   
2. They are concerned about their safety and/or the safety of their children;
   
3. They are fleeing their abuser and are in temporary housing or experiencing homelessness;
   
4. They are getting divorced or ending a relationship with an abuser;
   
5. They have entered a shelter;
   
6. They are a party to a restraining order or divorce action against the abuser;
   
7. They and/or their child(ren) are undergoing counseling to cope with the effects of abuse; or
   
8. Any other circumstance which prevents the survivor from fully participating in WtW activities.
   
   Note: If the DV services provider determines GC exists, the DV GC waiver determination must be accepted as long as the DV circumstance continues to prevent or significantly impair the participant’s ability to participate in WtW, be regularly employed or to fully participate in WtW activities (20/30/35 hours per week). Refer to revised GAIN ePolicy (Chapter 1411 - Domestic Violence Good Cause Waivers Policy) for additional directions on actions that need to be taken by the SSS GSW/CCM when the DV services provider determines GC exists.

In addition, the DV services provider will assess the participant’s individual need for DV services (e.g., identify safety concerns, assist with legal problems, develop safety plans and service plans, offer crisis services and counseling services for adults and/or children, etc.). This includes assessing the need for incorporating additional safety protections into the WTW 2 Plan when safety is a concern. 

The following are scenarios when an assessment of the DV participant’s ability to participate in WtW, be regularly employed or to fully participate in WtW activities would be conducted by the DV services provider:

1. DV direct referral for DV services (third-party DV assessment was offered but not requested by the DV participant, but the assessment was later conducted as a result of the participant requesting DV services);
   
2. DV direct referral for third-party DV assessment when it was requested by the DV participant; 
   
3. DV reverse referral when initiated by the DV services provider (DV assessment was conducted during the Intake process); or
   
4. DV assessment conducted during mid-quarter reporting period.

Third-party DV assessments must be offered to participants when the DV services provider has determined that GC does not exist. 

Note: Develop/amend the WTW 2 Plan to incorporate DV services if the participant agrees to use the DV services as their WtW activity. The DV services activity must be added in CalSAWS under DV services activity type and Services 2 activity number and will remain open for the duration of Services 2, Family Law (FL) and/or Immigration Law (IL) services.

A contracted employee that provides direct case management services to GAIN/REP participants in the WtW Program.

A contracted employee who administers supervisorial support for CCM staff who provide case management services to GAIN/REP participants in the WtW Program.

DV services include, but are not limited to, emergency housing, crisis services, individual/group counseling, parenting classes, legal services, FL and IL services.

A DV services provider is contracted to provide DV services to CalWORKs WtW GAIN/REP participants.

DV GC is granted when a past/present DV circumstance temporarily prevents or significantly impairs the participant’s ability to participate in WtW, be regularly employed or to fully participate in WtW activities at the required participation hours per week; and/or when a past/present survivor of DV is unable to comply with certain program rule(s)/requirement(s) because it may place the victim and/or child(ren) at risk of further abuse. 

Note: GC in this term description is used to provide basic instruction to assist the SSS GSW/CCM in identifying one of various factors for evaluating for GC. GC here does not refer to GC Program Status on the CalSAWS WtW/REP List/Detail pages.

RR is used by the County-Contracted DV services providers whenever a participant begins receiving services at their facility without receiving a direct referral from DPSS.

SSS includes DV, Mental Health (MH), and/or Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services provided to WtW participants to assist them in overcoming barriers and achieving economic mobility. Referrals for the SSS needs are completed by the SSS staff. The need for the SSS may be identified by CalWORKs Eligibility/GAIN/REP/Vocational/Clinical Assessor staff. CalWORKs Eligibility/Vocational/Clinical Assessor staff, upon identification of the SSS need, will notify the GAIN/REP staff with the initiation of the SSS referral transfer request. Upon notification, the GSW/CCM must transfer cases to the SSS GSW/CCM for initiation of appropriate referrals. CalWORKs Eligibility staff will utilize the PA 1915, CalWORKs Specialized Supportive Services Referral form to notify GAIN/REP staff of the SSS need. Vocational/Clinical Assessor staff will utilize the Vocational/Clinical Assessment results to notify GAIN/REP staff of the SSS need.

The DV SSS referral is initiated by the SSS GSW/CCM when a WtW participant requests to be referred to a DV services provider for DV services and/or when a third-party DV assessment of the participant’s ability to be regularly employed/participate in the WtW Program is requested by the participant.

Document used to screen for DV, MH, and SUD needs, inform participants of available services and associated waivers. The screening tool for DV is the CSF 100, Confidential Domestic Violence (DV) Information form. CalWORKs Eligibility Workers (EWs), GSWs/CCMs, and SSS EWs/GSWs/CCMs are responsible for utilizing the CSF 100 form to facilitate discussion around DV and encourage self-disclosure of abuse at various stages of program participation by CalWORKs/WtW participants. This includes, but is not limited to, during CalWORKs application/renewal, WtW Program Appraisal/Orientation, Vocational Assessment, approaching the 60-Month Time Limit, Time Limit Review, and/or any time a participant self-discloses DV, even after the participant has timed-off, including when they are not complying or sanctioned.

Participants may receive supportive services, such as diaper allowance, child care payments, transportation funds, and/or ancillary supportive services to cover the cost of items and/or services necessary for participation in an approved WtW activity and/or to accept/retain employment. Staff are to refer to the existing policy as follows:

• Transportation payments for SSS participant instructions provided in ePolicy Chapter 1220 – GAIN Transportation Supportive Services Policy.
  
• Ancillary payments for DV participant instructions provided in ePolicy Chapter 1230 - Ancillary Supportive Services Policy.
  
• Child care services for DV participant instructions provided in ePolicy Chapter 1210.5 - Child Care Services for Victims of Domestic Violence (DV) Policy.

CalWORKs/WtW Program rule(s)/requirement(s); and/or time limits (clock stoppers/extenders) must be temporarily waived on a case-by-case basis when the DV circumstance temporarily prevents, or significantly impairs the participant’s ability to participate in WtW. This includes when the participant is unable to be regularly employed or fully participate in WtW activities, and/or when complying with a program requirement/procedure would unfairly penalize/place the participant and/or child(ren) at risk of further DV, such as but not limited to:

CalWORKs Program Rule(s)/Requirement(s) DV GC Waivers:

1. Paternity Establishment and Child Support Enforcement Cooperation (CalWORKs ePolicy 82-500);
   
2. Immunization (CalWORKs ePolicy 40-105.40); 
   
3. Late submission of the Redetermination or SAR 7 report (CalWORKs ePolicy 40-181.22);  
   
4. Income and Resource Deeming Requirement (CalWORKs ePolicy 42-431.1);
   
5. Homeless Assistance (CalWORKs ePolicy 44-211.51); and/or
   
6. Other program requirements may be waived on a case-by-case basis.

Note: GSWs/CCMs must refer participants to CalWORKs Eligibility staff for any of the above related CalWORKs Program rule(s)/requirement(s) waiver requests.

CalWORKs Program Rule(s)/Requirement(s) (Cannot be Waived):

1. Deprivation;
   
2. Assets;
   
3. Income limits; 
   
4. In-person photo identification requirement (e.g., when an applicant is not known to the system, such as a new applicant); 
   
5. Signature requirement; 
   
6. Citizenship or eligible immigration status; 
   
7. Potentially available income; and
   
8. Additional Minor Parent requirement, when applicable.

WtW Program Rule(s)/Requirement(s) DV GC Waivers:

1. Participation in WtW activities;
   
2. Mandatory WtW participation hours per week;
   
3. WtW GAIN Flow;
   
4. Orientation, Appraisal, and Focus 360 (formerly known as Job Club); 
   
5. Work/Education requirements; and/or
   
6. Time limits (clock stoppers/extenders) (CalWORKs ePolicy-Time Limit Requirements 42-300).

Note: Participants who request a DV GC waiver for time limits from CalWORKs Eligibility staff will be referred to the assigned GSW/CCM, or SSS GAIN Services Supervisor (GSS)/CS when the case is not assigned to GAIN/REP staff for assistance. GAIN/REP staff are to refer to instructions provided in Administrative Release 5430, PA 1915 - CalWORKs Supportive Services Referral.

An agreement developed between the GSW/CCM and participant outlining the WtW Program activities the participant shall engage in and necessary services that will be provided to the participant. DV participants granted a DV GC waiver when participating with a modified plan must not be sanctioned for non-participation when it is determined that their DV circumstance impairs their capacity to participate in the WtW activities, including participation in DV services.