There is hereby established, as a work activity under Ohio works first, the job search and readiness program under which applicants for and participants of Ohio works first are trained in strategies and skills in obtaining employment and engage in self-directed, job search activities. County departments of job and family services shall develop and administer the program and may utilize the services of private or government entities under contract with the county department or the department of job and family services in operating the program.

A county department may assign a minor head of household or adult applying for Ohio works first to the job search and readiness program before the applicant’s eligibility for Ohio works first is determined.

An applicant or participant assigned to the job search and readiness program may not participate in the program for more than six weeks, unless the unemployment rate of the state is at least fifty per cent greater than the unemployment rate of the United States, in which case the applicant or participant may participate in the program not more than twelve weeks. An applicant or participant may not participate in the program more than four consecutive weeks. For one time only per applicant or participant, a county department shall consider the applicant or participant to have participated in the program one week after the applicant or participant participates for three or four, as specified by the county department, days during the week.