1510.015.25  Employment, Training, and Language Training Requirements

Refugees who apply for, or receive Refugee Cash Assistance are required to register for employment services and must accept an appropriate employment, training, or language training opportunity.

Following are exemptions for this requirement.

1. A person who is attending full-time training that is determined appropriate using the guidelines established below.
2. A mother or other relative of a child under the age of 6 who is caring for the child.
3. A person who is of advanced age.  Such a person must be 65 years of age or older.
4. A person who has an illness or incapacity which prevents working.  If claiming an illness or incapacity which is expected to last for three months or more, verify this by medical determination.
5. A person who presence in the home is required because of illness or incapacity of another member of the household.
6. A mother or other caretaker of a child, when the nonexempt father or other nonexempt adult relative in the home is registered and has not refused to accept employment without good cause.

Inability to communicate in English does not disqualify a refugee from the employment and training requirement.

FSD must establish procedures to ensure close coordination between the local resettlement agencies and agencies that provides services, if they are not one and the same.  FSD and local resettlement agencies are to decide who should be exempt from participation in employment services.  However, emphasize the need for very few exemptions.

Refugees required to register for employment services must register with either a local agency receiving Refugee Resettlement funds or the local Employment Security Office.  Verify registration with either a Refugee Resettlement funded agency or Employment Security.  Such things as an Employment Security registration card or verbal contact can be used to verify registration.  Verification must be obtained prior to approval.  For those refugees registered with Employment Security, obtain verification at each reinvestigation.

Refugees may register with the Refugee Resettlement funded agencies in person, or by phone if difficult to get to their office.  These agencies will provide employment and social services and language training which are specifically adapted for refugees.  Thus it would be the benefit of the refugee to be referred to one of these agencies.  The area each agency serves is indicated on the list below.  You will note that the entire state of Missouri is served.  Thus all refugees can be registered with one of the agencies.  Often a refugee is already involved with one of these agencies.

The following agencies receive Refugee Resettlement funds and provide employment and social services and language training to refugees:

International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis
3654 S. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO  63118
(314) 773-9090

and

Metropolitan Employment & Rehabilitation Services
2545 South Hanley
St. Louis, MO  63144
(314) 647-5533

Don Bosco Community Center
531 Garfield
Kansas City, MO  64106
(816)691-2900

Jewish Vocational Services
1608 Baltimore
Kansas City, MO  64106
(816) 471-2808

Refugee & Immigration Services
1130 East Elm
PO Box 417
Jefferson City, MO  65101
(573) 635-9127