Collaboration requires workers in the 2 systems to reach out to each other and build personal working relationships.

MFIP employment services agencies and counties are welcome to set up direct communication between the refugee and MFIP employment services agencies about shared participants. A release of information is required to make this happen.

To find out if an MFIP participant is also open in Refugee Employment Services: Ask the participant if there is anyone else helping them.

Knowing this would make it possible to:

· Coordinate employment plans.

· Be aware of activities that could be recorded on Workforce One.

· Know when employment placements occur.

To refer an MFIP participant who is eligible for, but not already receiving refugee services to Refugee Employment Services:

1. Look up the providers in your community: Refugee Resettlement Network Agency Contact List 2019-2021.

2. Call the refugee employment services agency and ask them about their referral process and contact information for referrals.

3. Complete the referral process as described by the agency.

4. This might require completing the Refugee Employment Services Referral (DHS-3166R) (PDF) form and submitting by mail, fax or email as instructed.

There is no Workforce One interface for RES referrals.

Refugee services agencies use the Minnesota Refugee Information System (MRIS) to enroll participants and report job placements.

Refugee Employment Services activities can be incorporated into MFIP employment services plans.

· Hours spent in refugee employment services can count toward meeting MFIP hourly requirements.

· Have the MFIP plan spell out the total number of hours required, but do not sanction participants for not completing Refugee Employment Services activities. Instead have them meet the MFIP hourly requirements through other activities.

· Code the activities in Workforce One in the appropriate activity types, such as job search, education, employment, etc.

· For activities that do not fit a specific MFIP activity, code them in Workforce One as “Other” or “Social Services”.

Refugee services require little documentation, because there is not the same focus on verifying and accounting for hours and activities as MFIP.

In some cases, however, documentation gathered through refugee services may be useful to MFIP employment counselors to meet verification requirements. This might include:

· Logs used by the Refugee Employment Services agency for job search.

· Case notes or written information that the Refugee Employment Services counselor records about job search and other employment services activities.

· Notes from a phone call between the MFIP and Refugee Employment Services counselors about activities and hours.

· Monthly Status Update Form is sent to county eligibility workers and may contain information about employment status, wages, and hours of employed participants receiving Refugee Employment Services.

· These monthly reports do NOT use the MFIP status update form or format.

If a participant starts a job through Refugee Employment Services:

· Update the MFIP employment plan to include that job.

· Open the employment activity in Workforce One.