PartnerLink and the DHS/DCYF Online Manuals will be unavailable from 2 PM Friday, May 22, 2026 until 8 PM Saturday, May 23, 2026 due to system maintenance.

MFIP Employment Services Manual

Skip To: Main Content | Subnavigation |

MFIP Employment Services Manual

MFIP EMPLOYMENT SERVICES MANUAL 05 - MFIP Employment Services: First Steps 5 MFIP Employment Services: First Steps

Find in Table of Contents:

01 - Table of Contents
02 - Glossary
- 2.3 Glossary: A...
- 2.6 Glossary: B...
- 2.9 Glossary: C...
- 2.12 Glossary: D...
- 2.15 Glossary: E...
- 2.18 Glossary: F...
- 2.21 Glossary: G...
- 2.24 Glossary: H-K...
- 2.27 Glossary: L...
- 2.30 Glossary: M-N...
- 2.33 Glossary: O-Q...
- 2.36 Glossary: R...
- 2.39 Glossary: S...
- 2.42 Glossary: T-Z...
03 - Financial Eligibility
- 3 Financial Eligibility
- 3.3 Applying for MFIP
- 3.6 Household Size
- 3.9 Income and Asset Limits for MFIP
- 3.12 MFIP Benefit Amounts
- 3.15 Budgeting Methods for MFIP Benefits
- 3.18 One-Time Changes in Income in MFIP
- 3.21 Closing an MFIP Case
- 3.24 Cost-Effective Health Care
04 - Participants' Rights
- 4 Participants' Rights
- 4.3 Rights to Appeal
- 4.6 Data Privacy
- 4.9 Sharing Information in the Welfare System
- 4.12 Special Types of Private Data
- 4.15 Participants' Rights to Review Information
- 4.18 Participants' Program Rights in MFIP
- 4.21 Civil Rights
- 4.24 Americans With Disabilities Act
- 4.27 Limited English Skills
05 - MFIP Employment Services: First Steps
- 5 MFIP Employment Services: First Steps
- 5.3 Referrals to Employment Services
- 5.6 Time Frames to Start Employment Services
- 5.9 Participant Choice of Providers
- 5.12 Participants Moving Within Minnesota
- 5.15 Employment Services Overview
- 5.18 Participation Requirements
- 5.21 Child Under 12 Months Old Exemption
- 5.23 Minnesota Paid Leave Exemption
06 - Continuous Assessment
- 6 Continuous Assessment
- 6.3 Definition & Purpose of Assessments
- 6.6 Using Findings From Assessments
- 6.9 Timing of Assessments/Screenings
- 6.12 Initial Assessment
- 6.15 The Employability Measure
- 6.18 Vocational Assessments
- 6.21 Observation Checklist
- 6.24 Mental/Chemical Health Screening/Assessments
- 6.27 Special Learning Needs Screening
- 6.30 Comprehensive Review
07 - Employment Plans
- 7 Employment Plans
- 7.3 Purpose of Employment Plan
- 7.6 Electronic & Paper Plans
- 7.9 Plan Types
- 7.12 Time Frames to Initiate/Review Plans
- 7.15 Hourly Requirements for Plans
- 7.18 Holidays and Excused Absences
- 7.21 Reduced Hours Plans
- 7.24 Contents in Employment Plans
- 7.27 Goals
- 7.30 Order of Preferences for Activities
- 7.33 Accommodating Disabilities
- 7.36 Core & Non-Core Activities
08 - Family Violence Waiver
- 8 Family Violence Waiver
- 8.3 Family Violence Overview
- 8.6 The Family Violence Referral Form
- 8.9 Rights for Non-Citizens
- 8.12 Requests for a Family Violence Waiver
- 8.15 Verifying Family Violence
- 8.18 Time Limits & Family Violence Waiver
- 8.21 Family Violence Specialists
- 8.24 Employment Plans & Family Violence Waiver
- 8.27 Non-Compliance & Family Violence Waiver
- 8.30 Ending a Family Violence Waiver
- 8.33 Child Under 12 Months & Family Violence
- 8.35 Minnesota Paid Leave & Family Violence
- 8.36 Resources for Addressing Family Violence
09 - Teen Parents
- 9 Teen Parents
- 9.3 Policies Specific to Teen Parents
- 9.6 Education Requirements
- 9.9 Options for 18- & 19-Year Old Parents
- 9.12 Roles of Employment & Social Services
- 9.15 Social Services Assessments
- 9.18 Online & Distance Education
- 9.21 Employment Plans Focused on Education
- 9.24 Documenting/Tracking Education Activities
- 9.27 Child Under 12 Months & Teen Parents
- 9.29 Minnesota Paid Leave & Teen Parents
10 - Paid Employment
- 10 Paid Employment
- 10.3 Paid Employment Overview
- 10.6 Loss of Employment
- 10.9 Full-Time & Part-Time Employment: Described
- 10.9.3 Full-Time & Part-Time Employment: Documenting/Tracking
- 10.12 Self-Employment: Described
- 10.12.3 Self-Employment: Documenting/Tracking
- 10.15 Work for Rent Reductions
- 10.18 On-the-Job-Training: Described
- 10.18.3 On-the-Job Training: Documenting/Tracking
- 10.21 Paid Work Experience: Described
- 10.21.3 Paid Work Experience: Documenting/Tracking
- 10.24 Grant Diversion
11 - Unpaid Work
- 11 Unpaid Work
- 11.3 Unpaid work: Definition & Limits
- 11.3.3 Requirements for Unpaid Work Placements
- 11.3.6 Unpaid Work: Documenting/Tracking
- 11.6 Community Service: Documenting/Tracking
- 11.9 Providing Child Care/Community Service
- 11.9.3 Providing Child Care: Documenting/Tracking
- 11.12 Fair Labor Standards
- 11.15 Injury Protection Program
12 - Job Search
- 12 Job Search
- 12.3 Job Search: Description & Activities
- 12.3.3 Job Search Requirements
- 12.3.6 Job Search: Documenting/Tracking
13 - Education and Training
- 13 Education and Training
- 13.3 Education & Training Overview
- 13.6 English Language Learning
- 13.6.3 English Language Learning: Documenting/Tracking
- 13.9 Adult Education
- 13.9.3 Adult Education:Documenting/Tracking
- 13.12 Job Skills Training Related to Employment
- 13.12.3 Job Skills Training: Documenting/Tracking
- 13.15 Post-Secondary Training and Education
- 13.15.3 Post-Secondary Ed: Documenting/Tracking
- 13.18 Online Education and Training
- 13.18.3 Online Learning: Documenting/Tracking
14 - Social Services and Other Activities
- 14 Social Services and Other Activities
- 14.3 Role of Social Services in Plans
- 14.6 Social Services Activities
- 14.6.3 Social Services/Assessment/Other: Documenting/Tracking
- 14.9 Treatment & Rehabilitation Services
- 14.9.3 Treatment & Rehab: Documenting/Tracking
15 - Holding
- 15 Holding & Local Flag
- 15.3 When to Use Holding or Local Flag as MFIP Activities
- 15.3.3 Holding & Local Flag: Documenting/Tracking
16 - Child Care
- 16 Child Care
- 16.3 Child Care Assistance Sub-Programs
- 16.6 Roles and Responsibilities
- 16.9 Policies & Requirements
- 16.12 MFIP Child Care Assistance
- 16.15 Determining Hours of Authorized Child Care
- 16.18 Eligibility Periods & Required Reporting
- 16.21 School Breaks
- 16.24 Types of Child Care Settings
- 16.27 Two-Parent Families
- 16.30 Sanctions & Child Care Assistance
- 16.33 Inability to Obtain Child Care
- 16.36 Services to Help Families Find Child Care
- 16.39 Medical Restrictions & Child Care
- 16.42 Payment Policies
- 16.45 Overpayments in Child Care Assistance
- 16.48 Transition Year Child Care
17 - Family Stabilization Services
- 17 Family Stabilization Services
- 17.3 Family Stabilization Services Overview
- 17.6 Eligibility Criteria
- 17.9 Illness, Injury and Incapacity
- 17.12 Needed in the Home to Care for an Ill or Incapacitated Member
- 17.15 Special Medical Criteria
- 17.18 Developmental Disability
- 17.21 Mental Illness
- 17.24 IQ Below 80
- 17.27 Learning Disability
- 17.30 Family Violence Waiver
- 17.33 In the Country for 12 Months or Less
- 17.36 Applying for SSI or RSDI
- 17.39 Age 60 or Older
- 17.42 Unemployable
- 17.45 Qualified Professionals
- 17.48 Documenting Conditions
- 17.52 Enrolling in Family Stabilization Services
- 17.55 The Employment Plan
- 17.58 Referrals to SSI & Disability Services
- 17.61 Sanctions
- 17.64 Returning Participants to Regular MFIP
18 - Time Limits and Extensions
- 18 Time Limits and Extensions
- 18.3 The 60-Month Time Limit Policy
- 18.6 Agency Responsibilities
- 18.9 Transition Period in MFIP
- 18.12 Extension Decisions
- 18.15 Sanctions & Extensions
- 18.18 Extension Categories
- 18.18.3 Employed
- 18.18.6 Ill/Injured or Incapacitated
- 18.18.9 Illness, Injury/Incapacity: Participant
- 18.18.12 Needed in the Home
- 18.18.15 Special Medical Criteria
- 18.18.18 Hard to Employ Extensions
- 18.18.21 Developmental Disability
- 18.18.24 Mental Illness
- 18.18.27 Learning Disability
- 18.18.30 IQ Below 80
- 18.18.33 Unemployable
- 18.18.36 Family Violence Waiver
- 18.21 Two-Parent Families & Extensions
19 - Sanctions and Non-Compliance
- 19 Sanctions and Non-Compliance
- 19.3 Non-Compliance
- 19.6 When Not to Sanction Someone
- 19.9 Good Cause
- 19.12 Sanction Types
- 19.15 Vendoring Benefits
- 19.18 Steps Before Imposing a Sanction
- 19.21 Notices of Intent to Sanction
- 19.21.3 How Participants Can Prevent Sanctions
- 19.24 Steps in Imposing a Sanction
- 19.27 Pre-60 Month Sanctions
- 19.30 Closing Cases for 100% Sanction
- 19.33 Face-to-Face Meetings for 100% Sanctions
- 19.36 Sanction Reviews and Outreach
- 19.39 Post-60 Month Sanctions
- 19.42 Two–Parent Families Post-60 Months
- 19.45 Ending & Correcting Sanctions
- 19.48 Dispute Resolution
- 19.48.3 Conciliation Conference
- 19.48.6 Fair Hearing (Appeal)
- 19.51 Child Support Sanctions
- 19.54 Dual Sanctions
21 - Refugee Services
- 21 Refugee Services
- 21.3 Voluntary Nature of Refugee Services
- 21.6 Who Is Eligible
- 21.9 Minnesota Agencies Providing Refugee Services
- 21.12 Descriptions of Refugee Services
- 21.15 Collaborating With Refugee Services
- 21.18 Links to Additional Information
22 - Fraud and EBT Misuse
- 22 Fraud and EBT Misuse
- 22.3 Fraud
- 22.6 EBT Misuse
- 22.9 Participation During Disqualification
23 - Manager's Chapter
- 23 Manager's Chapter
- 23.3 County and Tribal Duties
- 23.6 Tribes and MFIP and TANF
- 23.9 MFIP Data Supporting Systems
- 23.12 Workforce One
- 23.15 Family Violence
- 23.18 Duties to Coordinate Employment Services
- 23.21 Employment Services Agencies
- 23.24 A Choice of Providers
- 23.27 Non-Displacement
- 23.30 Criteria for Unpaid Work
- 23.33 Limited English Proficiency Plan
- 23.36 Qualified Professionals
- 23.39 MFIP Consolidated Fund
- 23.42 Medical Assistance and TANF Funding
- 23.45 Biennial Service Agreements
- 23.48 Local Extension Request
- 23.51 Performance Measures
- 23.54 Quarterly Reports
- 23.57 Grant Diversion Programs
- 23.60 Drug Testing
24 - Tools
- 24 Tools
- 24.9 Links MFIP Benefit Levels
- 24.12 What Is Needed in Employment Services Case File
- 24.13 Workforce One Electronic Document Storage REQs
- 24.15 List of Forms Useful to Workers
- 24.18 DHS Optional Forms
- 24.21 Helpful and Frequently Used Links
- 24.24 Exit Reasons for MFIP in WF1
- 24.27 Disability Criteria for SSI Benefits
- 24.30 Electronic Signature Guidance

5 MFIP Employment Services: First Steps

ISSUE DATE: 03/2026

In this chapter you can find information about:

· Referrals to employment services.

· Time frames for starting employment services.

· Participant choice of employment services providers.

· Participants moving into or out of a county.

· Employment services overview.

· Participation requirements.

· Parents with a child under 12 months old exemption.

PREVIOUS REVISIONS

Date	Notes
08/2020

Report this page