PRH Chapter 1

Part 1:Applicant

File Review

Access

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Debbie JonesDisability Program Analyst

Accommodation Support Contract

Humanitas, Inc.

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Overview

• Age & Income Waivers• Applicant File Review at the Center Level• Reasonable Accommodation Consideration

within the File Review Process• Accommodation Recommendation for Denial

and Justification Analysis/Documentation• Regional Review• Scenarios• Resources

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AGE & INCOME WAIVERSEligibility Due to Disability

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Disability Determination

• AC will not determine applicant is a person with a disability. The center clinical staff will do this.– The AC does not review health and medical information,

only places it in a sealed envelope with applicant file that is forwarded to center for review.

• Center reviews documentation of disability and if a person with a disability, the file review process continues. If the center determines that the applicant is not a person with a disability, then the center packages up the file and a summary of its findings and submits to the regional office for review.

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Disability Determination

• Regional Office Review Outcomes:– If the regional office concurs that the

documentation and/or supporting information submitted by the center does not support that the applicant is a person with a disability, then the applicant will be notified that s/he is not eligible for the program.

– If the regional office does not concur with the center’s findings, the center will be directed to resume the applicant file review process.

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APPLICATION OUTCOMESCenter options for applicant file reviews

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Only Potential Application Outcomes

• Enrollment• Applicant withdrawal• Recommendation for denial

– Direct threat– Cannot meet basic health care

needs– New information

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Applicant Withdrawal

Processing a withdrawal of application:• Applicant requests withdrawal

– Document request and return file to the following:

• Outreach and admissions if a recommendation of enrollment or denial has not yet been made.

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Applicant Withdrawal

• Center is unable to reach applicant– If the center has requested additional documentation about an

applicant and it does not receive that information, the center must make a decision on the information that is available to it.

– If the center is unable to reach the applicant to conduct clinically-related interviews, then the center would document the attempts to contact and the file would be returned to Outreach & Admissions.

– If the application has entered the regional review process, then the region will process the withdrawal, administratively or follow-up (whatever they choose to do).

• If a file has been returned to a center for completion of the file review process, then it must be returned to the regional office, regardless of inability to contact the applicant.

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APPLICANT FILE REVIEW AT THE CENTER LEVEL

Processing Applications to the Job Corps Program

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Applicant File Review Procedures

• An SOP describing center’s process for reviewing applicant files is required.– Should describe in detail how applicant file is

processed from the time it arrives on center through a final disposition.

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Applicant File Review Procedures

• Step 1: • File is received on center by the records staff

who:- Records the file in the records log and tracks its

movement

• Step 2:• Records forwards the sealed medical, health,

or disability-related information unopened to the Health and Wellness Manager (HWM).

• Step 3:• The HWM opens the sealed information and

conducts a health documentation review and initial direct threat review of the applicant’s file.

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Initial Review

• Step 4:• The HWM determines who else may need to

review the protected information based upon his

or her determination of “need to know.” This is

essentially your File Review Team.– Academic Manger would review IEPs, 504

plans, educational reports including special education assessment

– Center Mental Health Consultant (CMHC) reviews mental health-related information

– Center Physician review medical information– Center Dentist reviews dental information– TEAP Specialist reviews substance-related

information

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Assessments & Requalification

• Step 5:• The appropriate members of the file review team determine if a health care needs or a direct threat assessment is necessary or if there is a need to revisit the eligibility factors.

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Direct Threat

• A direct threat assessment should be completed whenever center believes that an applicant poses a direct threat to the health or safety of himself or others. – Poses a significant risk of substantial harm to the

health or safety of the individual or others; and– Cannot be eliminated or reduced by reasonable

accommodation or modification.

• Assessment done by clinician• See Appendix 609 (forms and guidance)

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Health Care Needs

• Center can recommend denial if determination is made that Job Corps cannot meet the health care needs of an applicant.

• Appendix 610 (future PRH release) will provide health staff with guidance on this process.

• Health staff should contact regional health specialists if questions about this process.

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New Information

• Neither the center file review team nor its individual members may revisit the determination that an applicant is qualified for admission unless: – There is new information presented that the AC

could not have reasonably known at the time the applicant’s qualification for admission was established, and

– This new information indicates that the applicant offered enrollment may not meet one of the EARs.

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Requalification of Eligibility

• If the center becomes aware of new information that the AC could not have reasonably known (i.e. health information, interview, etc.) that indicates that the applicant may not be eligible, then the center would – revisit the set of questions from Exhibit 1-1 about that

particular EAR. You may not apply additional qualifications.

– determine eligibility based upon the responses to the same set of questions asked previously by the AC.

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Reasonable Accommodation

• Step 6:• For Direct Threat Assessment:

– When completing the direct threat assessment, the reasonable accommodation committee (RAC) must convene to consider reasonable accommodation (RA).

• In this scenario, the RAC would only be comprised of those staff members with a need to know and would likely consist of the center clinician, the HWM/DC, and must include the applicant.

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Reasonable Accommodation

• Step 6 (Cont.):• For Health Care Needs Assessment:

– When completing the health care needs assessment, the reasonable accommodation committee (RAC) must convene to consider reasonable accommodation (RA) if condition rises to a level of a disability. Appendix 605 for definition of a disability.

• In this scenario, the RAC would only be comprised of those staff members with a need to know and would likely consist of the center clinician, the HWM/DC, and must include the applicant.

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RAC Recommendations

• Step 7:• In case of direct threat and health care needs

assessments, the RAC will submit its accommodations recommendations to the file review team.- See Appendix 605.

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File Review Team Consideration of Reasonable Accommodation

• Step 8:

Review RAC Recommendations• Direct Threat

– Consider if accommodations and/or modifications would remove the barriers to enrollment by sufficiently reducing the threat to below a level of direct threat or eliminating the direct threat.

• Health Care Needs– Consider if accommodations and/or modifications

would remove the barriers to enrollment and make condition manageable at Job Corps as defined by basic health services in PRH Exhibit 6-4.

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Accommodation Reasonableness

• Step 9:• Complete reasonableness review if the center

director believes that the provision of the requested/needed accommodations are unreasonable.- Unduly costly- Result in a fundamental alteration to the program

• Complete the Accommodation Recommendation for Denial and Justification Analysis Documentation Form (in draft and not yet released).

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Reasonableness Form

Reasonable Accommodation Committee ParticipantsName: Position:

Name: Position:

Name: Position:

Summarize the applicant’s input:

Identify the members of the RAC.

Summarize the applicant’s input.

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Reasonableness Form

Identify the accommodations believed to be unreasonable.

Accommodation Applicant Requested?

Unreasonableness Alternative Options

☐Yes No☐ ☐ Unduly costly ☐ Fundamental Alteration

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Reasonableness Form

Show calculated costs for each accommodations being recommended for denial or document why the accommodation requires a fundamental alteration to the program.

Cost Analysis or Fundamental Alteration

Ensure that the Center Director signs the form.

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Application Recommendation

• Step 10• Determine recommendation of application• Any applicant file recommended for denial for

- direct threat- health care needs- new information

will be forwarded to the regional office for a final

disposition.

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Reasonable Accommodation - Enrollment

Step 11• Whenever the center intends to enroll an

applicant, he or she must be engaged in an interactive process to determine reasonable accommodation needs prior to assigning the applicant a start date in cases where an applicant requests reasonable accommodation or information/ documentation in the applicant file indicates accommodation may be necessary.

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REGIONAL REVIEW OF APPLICANT FILES

Preparing your documentation

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Center Recommendation of Denial Form

If the center is going to recommend denial of the applicant, then it must complete the Center Recommendation of Denial Form. Identify the File Review Team (FRT) participants.

File Review Team Participants:

Name: Position:

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Reason for Recommendation of Denial

Identify the reason the center is recommending denial.Reason for Recommendation of Denial:

☐ 1. Applicant poses a direct threat to self or others that cannot be alleviated with reasonable accommodation. If so, the completed direct threat assessment form found in Appendix 609 of the PRH is attached to this document. Skip to Section C.

☐ 2. The health care needs of an applicant is beyond what the Job Corps’ Health and Wellness program can provide as defined as basic health care in PRH Exhibit 6-4: Job Corps Basic Health Care Responsibilities and cannot be eliminated or reduced by reasonable accommodation or modification. If so, the completed health care needs assessment form found in Appendix 610 of the PRH is attached to this document. Skip to Section C.

☐ 3. The applicant is ineligible for Job Corps due to the review of new information that the AC could not have reasonably known. Complete Section B only.

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New Information

If the center is recommending denial based upon new information, then complete this section of the form.

Ineligibility Determination:Check the EAR from PRH 1, Exhibit 1-1 for which the applicant was found to be ineligible for the program.

☐ A. Age ☐ H. Child Care

☐ B. Selective Service Registration ☐ I. Program Suitability

☐ C. Legal U.S. Resident ☐ J. Group Participation and Understanding of Rules

☐ D. Low Income ☐ K. Interference with Other Students’ Participation

☐ E. Education/Training/Family Needs ☐ L. Community Relations

☐ F. Authorization for Use and Disclosure of Health Information

☐ M. Court Involvement and/or Agency Supervision

☐ G. Parental Consent ☐ N. Maintenance of Sound Discipline

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Please list the specific question from Exhibit 1-1 which the applicant was determined to be ineligible and list the applicant’s specific response to this question.

Identify the new information that the AC could not have reasonably known that was the basis for revisiting eligibility (i.e. document name and where the document was located, applicant stated during a specific interview, etc.).*

Summarize your findings.

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Reasonable Accommodation

If recommending denial due to direct threat or exceeds basic health care needs, then the question about reasonable accommodation consideration needs to be answered.

☐Yes No☐ The applicant requested accommodations or there is documentation of a disability present in the file.

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Considering Accommodations

Is the applicant in agreement with the accommodation decisions and is the accommodation reasonable?

Reasonable Accommodation Considerations:

Accommodation Applicant Accepts Reasonable*

☐Yes No☐ ☐Yes No☐

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Remember!

• If the center believes that an accommodation requested by the applicant is unreasonable or requires a fundamental alteration to the program, then the center must complete the Accommodation Recommendation for Denial and Justification Analysis/ Documentation Form and attach to this document (i.e. Center Recommendation of Denial Form).

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RAC Participation

Reasonable Accommodation Team Participants

Name Position Date

☐Yes No☐ Did the applicant participate in the RAC meeting?

Via what medium did the applicant participate?

☐ Phone ☐ Video conferencing

☐ Face-to-face meeting on center

☐ Other – Describe:

Identify the RAC participants and method of applicant contact.

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File Review Team Findings

Summarize the applicant’s input:

☐ The file review team rationale for recommendation of denial may be found in the attached completed direct threat assessment.

☐ The file review team rationale for recommendation of denial may be found in the attached completed basic health care needs assessment.

Finally, certify the reason for recommendation of denial and that the required documentation is attached.

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Regional Review Outcomes

• When files are received at the regional office, there is administrative review to ensure that required processes are followed; then a clinical review to make sure health documentation supports clinician's recommendation and that decision is clinically sound.

• If denial recommendation is rejected by the Regional Office, applicant must be scheduled for arrival based on the date on which the application first arrived on center.

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SCENARIOS/REVIEWLet’s Practice!

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Scenario #1

• AC certifies that applicant meets all admissions criteria and file is forwarded to the center for review

• Applicant allegedly commits a crime after he receives a conditional offer of enrollment, and center learns of existing charges when health and wellness manager calls applicant to talk about a health care need

What should happen next?

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Disposition

• Center received new information that the AC could not have known– Revisit eligibility criteria for court history

• Applicant “may” not be eligible for enrollment

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Scenario #2

• 18-year-old male wants to study cement masonry or painting

• He was referred to Job Corps by his social worker as both parents are terminally ill and the social worker is seeking a residential placement for him, when his parents are no longer able to care for him

• He is described as having moderate impairment of functioning in most social areas and has obsessive rituals from OCD and conversion symptoms, with frequent anxiety attacks along with aggressive and antisocial behavior.

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Scenario #2

• The conditionally enrolled applicant came to the center with his mentor for a meeting with the HWM to review his basic health care needs.– The applicant verbalized that he wanted to complete his

high school before entering JC but the case managers and adults around him are advocating for him to come into the program now. He is in a special education day class and wants to stay in his class and would rather not come to JC now.

What should happen next?

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Disposition

• Since applicant expresses no desire to enroll in Job Corps, – the health interview should stop– the applicant no longer meets the program suitability

requirement which requires the applicant to want to earn a high school diploma or GED and participate in career technical training (the applicant must indicate a desire to obtain both academic and career technical training).

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Review

• What are the three reasons that a center may recommend denial of enrollment?

• When must the RAC convene during the applicant file review process?

• Where should the center staff send an applicant file where the applicant wishes to withdraw and the file has already entered into the regional review process?

• Who at the center level determines unreasonableness?• Who may deny requested accommodations?• Who makes the recommendation of denial of

enrollment?

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RESOURCESJob Corps and Partners

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Regional Disability Coordinators

• Boston Region – Lisa Kosh

lisa.kosh@humanitas.com • Atlanta and Philadelphia Regions – Nikki Jackson

nikki.jackson@humantias.com • Dallas Region – Laura Kuhn

laura.kuhn@humanitas.com• Chicago and San Francisco Regions – Kim Jones

kim.jones@humanitas.com

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Regional Nurse Specialists

• Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco Regions - Melissa Cusey, RN

macuse1029@sbcglobal.net or

cusey.melissa@jobcorps.org

• Boston, Dallas, and Philadelphia Regions – Shannon Bentley, RN

shannonbentley_rn@yahoo.com

Job Corps Disability Web Site

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Job Accommodation Network (JAN)askjan.org

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Questions?