DEED: The Agency and Its Activities

Minnesota Family Investment Program - Employment Services - Annual Program Summary

Purpose
This program provides support for families that helps them move from welfare to unsubsidized employment.

Customers and Services
Customers are families currently on welfare. For most welfare recipients, participation in employment programs is mandatory and benefits are limited to 60 months in a lifetime.

Participants receive an assessment and employment plan which outlines mutually agreeable steps necessary to become self-sufficient. They are expected to take responsibility for supporting their families within time limits or their benefits will be reduced. Participants remain eligible for an incentive until they earn up to 115 percent of the poverty level. Child care and medical services are also available to help participants transition off welfare into work. The program operates in all 87 counties in Minnesota and on 11 Indian reservations. Employment services providers include WorkForce Center partners, community action agencies, educational agencies, county agencies, and other nonprofit entities.

Measures - Reporting period is state fiscal year (SFY), July 1 - June 30

Funding Source and Allocation
Shared federal and state funds have been allocated through the Department of Human Services (DHS) for distribution to counties to operate the employment services component of the program, which is jointly administered by DHS and DEED through an interagency agreement.

Statutory Authority
-- Minnesota Statute, Chapter 256J.49; U.S. Code, Title 42, Section 603, Public Law 109-171

Contact Information
Bruce Borgh, Program Coordinator
Phone: 651.259.7532; TTY: 651.296.3900
E-mail: Bruce.Borgh@state.mn.us
Website: www.deed.state.mn.us/cbs/mfip/

This information current as of January 2008. For more information on DEED programs, see the State of Minnesota budget pages.