Florida Statutes 445.018 – Diversion program to strengthen Florida’s families
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(1) The diversion program to strengthen families in this state is intended to provide services that assist families in avoiding welfare dependency by gaining and retaining employment.
(2) Before finding a family eligible for the diversion program created under this section, a determination must be made that:
(a) The family includes a pregnant woman or a parent with one or more minor children or a caretaker relative with one or more minor children.
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 445.018
- Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
- minor: includes any person who has not attained the age of 18 years. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- services: when used in reference to individuals who are not receiving temporary cash assistance, means nonrecurrent, short-term benefits designed to deal with a specific crisis situation or episode of need and other services; work subsidies; supportive services such as child care and transportation; services such as counseling, case management, peer support, and child care information and referral; transitional services, job retention, job advancement, and other employment-related services; nonmedical treatment for substance abuse or mental health problems; teen pregnancy prevention; two-parent family support, including noncustodial parent employment; court-ordered supervised visitation, and responsible fatherhood services; and any other services that are reasonably calculated to further the purposes of the welfare transition program. See Florida Statutes 445.002
(b) The family is at risk of welfare dependency because the family’s income does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
(c) The provision of services related to employment, including assessment, service planning and coordination, job placement, employment-related education or training, child care services, transportation services, relocation services, workplace employment support services, individual or family counseling, or a Retention Incentive Training Account (RITA), are likely to prevent the family from becoming dependent on welfare by enabling employable adults in the family to become employed, remain employed, or pursue career advancement.
(3) The services provided under this section are not considered assistance under federal law or guidelines.
(4) Each family that receives services under this section must sign an agreement not to apply for temporary cash assistance for 6 months following the receipt of services, unless an unanticipated emergency situation arises. If a family applies for temporary cash assistance without a documented emergency, the family must repay the value of the diversion services provided. Repayment may be prorated over 8 months and shall be paid through a reduction in the amount of any monthly temporary cash assistance payment received by the family.
(5) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, a family that meets the requirements of subsection (2) is considered a needy family and is eligible for services under this section.