Iowa's cash assistance program under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant is the Family Investment Program (FIP). The PROMISE JOBS program provides work and training services to FIP participants. DHS contracts with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) to provide PROMoting Independence and Self-sufficiency through Employment, Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (PROMISE JOBS) services for most FIP participants. DHS's Bureau of Refugee Services (BRS) provides PROMISE JOBS services to refugees on FIP who are not U.S. citizens and who are not English proficient. Both FIP and PROMISE JOBS are funded with federal TANF Funds under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act and state general funds that are used to meet TANF Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirements.
All work eligible FIP participants must have a Family Investment Agreement (FIA). The FIA is an individualized agreement between the FIP client and the state of Iowa that outlines the family's needs, the services to be provided by PROMISE JOBS, the actions the family will take, and the time frames to be met by the family so that the family can become economically self-supporting. Since this is a FIP eligibility requirement, a family must meet with PROMISE JOBS and develop an FIA before they can start receiving FIP. Continued eligibility for FIP is contingent upon the family following the steps in their FIA and failure to comply may result in a loss of FIP.
PROMISE JOBS FIA activities may include but are not limited to: assessment, job readiness and job-seeking skills training, employment, basic education (high school completion, high school equivalency, and ESL), post-secondary education (short-term training and AA, BA, and BS programs), work experience, community service, Family Development and Self-Sufficiency (FaDSS) program participation and other family development services, and parenting skills training.
Supportive services provided by PROMISE JOBS include case management and the payment of child care and transportation needed to participate in certain FIA activities. PROMISE JOBS may also provide assistance with direct education costs, such as tuition for basic education and short-term training.
The link below provides a map of the SDR's and a link to the IWD website.