Education for Justice

FACT SHEET G-3

Fall 2011

MFIP:  EDUCATION AND TRAINING

 

 

Most parents on MFIP must look for a job and go to work.  If you want more education or training you may be able to get it.  You have to ask for what you want and show why it is a good plan.  Read this fact sheet, and call your legal aid office if you need help.

 

 

MFIP WORK ASSESSMENT

When you start MFIP, you meet with a job counselor for an “assessment.”  This means gathering information about you to see what will help you get and keep a job.  They look at your education, interests, work history, skills, and the job market to see if you are likely to find a “suitable job.”  A suitable job pays minimum wage, is safe and decent, and fits your physical and mental skills.  The counselor should ask you if you need update courses for a certificate or license.  If so, that should be in your job plan.  If you have not found a job after 6 weeks, you will be screened for mental health, chemical health and special learning needs.  Then your plan can be changed to deal with these needs.

 

 

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) CLASSES

Tell your job counselor if your English is not good enough to fill out applications, go to interviews, or follow job rules.  Your job counselor will get your English tested.  If your English ability is below a certain level (SPL6), you may be able to take up to 24 months of ESL classes.  Your job counselor will put you in intensive classes when they are available.  There are 2 kinds of ESL classes.

  • Functional Work Literacy Classes.  These classes teach you how to get and keep a job.   They are at least 20 hours a week.  You have to take this kind of class if it is available.  Two-thirds of your employment plan hours can be used for this kind of class.
  • Regular ESL Classes.  Up to ½ of your employment plan hours can be used for this kind of class.

 

 

HIGH SCHOOL & GED FOR PARENTS UNDER 20

If you are under 18, you must usually stay in school for a high school degree or GED.  If you are 18-19 you can choose to work or go to school.  If you choose school, the months will not count in your 60 month limit.  If you choose work, they will. 

 

 

HIGH SCHOOL, GED, ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (ABE) FOR PARENTS 20 AND OVER

If your reading or math below the 9th grade level, your job counselor must let you take ABE classes.  Ask for reading and math tests.  If your reading and math levels are above the 9th grade level and you want to take GED classes or get a high school diploma, talk to your job counselor.  Up to ½ of your employment plan hours can be used for classes. 

 

 

EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

If you want to do training or post-high school education, there are rules:

 

·        Your education program cannot last more than 24 months.

 

·        You must add other work activities to your plan if your school and study time does not give you all the hours you need.  You may use up to an hour of study time for each hour of class time to fulfill your hours.  You must have your instructor verify that it is reasonable.

 

·         Your job counselor has to okay your education and training.  You have to show several things:

-        you cannot get the job you want without the training

-          the education and training will result in a job with much higher wages

-        there are jobs available, and that this will help you get off MFIP

-        you can get admitted to your chosen education or training program

-        you will be able to complete the program

 

Fill out the “MFIP Education & Employment Plan” at the end of this fact sheet and bring it to your job counselor.  After your plan is approved, you have to go to classes and keep your grades up.

 

·        Once you finish, you have 6 weeks to find a job in your new field.  If you do not, you will have to take the first job that is offered to you.  You have to take the job even if it has nothing to do with the training or schooling you just did.

 

 

HOW TO GET EDUCATION AS PART OF YOUR MFIP PLAN

Get Help.  Check at the school or training program for an advisor who can help you fill out the form or get proof to show you need the plan.  Show them this fact sheet.

 

Get Proof.  Give it to your job counselor.  Include the following:

  • The job placement rate of the school or program you want
  • Job ads or research to show there are jobs that look for people with the training you want
  • A letter from the school or program saying that you meet their admission rules
  • Job listings or information from a career center showing how much money you would make
  • A letter from an employer saying that if you finish the program you have a good chance for a job

 

 

 

To find other Legal Aid Society materials, including any fact sheets mentioned in this document, go to www.lawhelpmn.org/LASMfactsheets.

Minneapolis Legal Aid – CLE

MN Legal Services Coalition

2324 University Avenue W. – Suite 101B

St. Paul, MN 55114

Don’t use this fact sheet if it is more than 1 year old.

Write us for updates, a fact sheet list, or alternate formats.

Fact Sheets aren’t a complete answer to a legal problem.

See a lawyer for advice.

 

© 2011 Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance.  This document may be reproduced and used for non-commercial personal and educational purposes only.  All other rights reserved.  This notice must remain on all copies.  Reproduction, distribution, and use for commercial purposes are strictly prohibited.

 

 

MFIP EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PLAN

 

 

 

 

NAME

 

DATE

 

 

 

I ask you to approve my education plan and postpone the job search for full time work.

 

 

1.  I would like to get a job as a

 

 

 

2.  To do this, I need training or education at

 

 

 

3.  I cannot get the job without more education or training because

 

 

 

 

4.  This plan will get me higher pay than I would have without training and more money than MFIP, because

 

 

 

 

5.  I can get into the program because

 

 

6.  I will finish this program because (talk about other education/training you did, work history, why you want

to do it, or changes in your life that will help you finish)

 

 

 

 

7.  There are jobs where I live now or will live that require this education or training.  For example,

 

 

 

8.  While I am in school

 

 

□

I will work

 

hours per week.  (Up to ½ the usual MFIP rule)

 

 

 

 

□

I cannot work because the training program I want to do is full time and lasts 12 weeks or less.