U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration

1. U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration Services 101“Getting Credit for the Work You Do“ ARRA Performance Accountability Forum Baltimore, Maryland June 17-18, 2009 Christina Eckenroth, O’Shell Howell, Denise Dombek

2. Objective This presentation addresses: • Point of Participation • Exit from Programs • Point of Inclusion in Outcome Measures • Co-Enrollment • Impact of ARRA

3. Discussion Scenario #1 Avery files for an unemployment insurance claim through his State’s on-line system using his home computer. In his State, the Unemployment Insurance system interfaces data with the State’s Employment Services system. This interface establishes a record of Avery’s personal information, demographics, and recent job history in the Employment Services system. Avery does not go into a local One Stop Center or use the State’s websites for his job search.

4. Discussion Scenario #1 Is Avery a Participant? • If yes, Self Service or Staff Assisted? Why? • In what program is he a Participant? If no, why not? • At what point would he become a Participant?

5. Who is a Participant? Individuals who are eligible for a program and receive any service, regardless of where or how the service is accessed, should be reported in participant counts TEGL 17-05

6. Discussion Scenario #2 Buford accesses his State’s Employment Services website from his home computer. He completes the basic registration information – name, address, job history, desired employment, veteran status, and education. Before using the system any further, his wife walks in the room and announces that they have won the lottery. Buford never returns to the State’s website or looks for work again.

7. Discussion Scenario #2 Is Buford a Participant? • If yes, Self Service or Staff Assisted? • At what point did he become a Participant? • In what program is he a Participant? If no, why not? • At what point would he become a Participant?

8. A Service Is: Any staff assisted or non staff assisted activity that allows an individual to benefit from the One-Stop System including core self service and informational activities.

9. Program Participation Occurs: Following a determination of eligibility (if required) Participation begins when the individual begins receiving a service funded by the program. If receiving multiple services, the date of participation may be the earliest date of service as the “date of participation” when reporting on the measures in each program.

10. Services that Lead to Participation • Services funded by WIA, Wagner-Peyser, or ARRA • Self Directed Services • Informational Activities • Services received in person or electronically • Staff Assisted Services

11. WIA Adult & DislocatedWorker/ Wagner-Peyser Act No changes to Participant, Exit, or Services anticipated WIA Youth Participant age increases to 24 years of age Type of assessment determines services strategy required Performance Reporting:ARRA

12. Services: ARRA Services provided are the same—different focus

13. ARRA Focus • Statutory requirement to provide services to low-income and those on public assistance • Efficiently and effectively assist to obtain employment in high growth, new technologies • Most in Need Youth • Strongly encourage services for Summer Employment Program

14. When a Service is included in Performance? • Core, intensive or training services made available to eligible participants and require significant staff involvement who exit the program. • These aforementioned individuals are included in the performance measures • Those WIA Adult and DW program participants who only receive self service or informational activities are excluded from performance

15. Self Service and Informational Activities • Those core services that are • made available to the general public; • Designed to inform and educate individuals about the labor market; • Designed to educate individuals about their employment strengths and weaknesses • Designed to educate the individual about the range of services appropriate to their situation and: • DOES NOT REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT STAFF INVOLVEMENT

16. Services that Do Not Begin or Extend Participation • Eligibility determination • Case management administrative activities to obtain information regarding employment status, educational progress, need for additional services, etc. • Income maintenance or Support payments • Visitors to One Stop Centers, etc., for reasons other than its intended purposes • Follow-Up Services

17. What Happens in Your State/Local Area? Discuss • Any services local staff might offer that do not lead to participation • Any regulations/policies/services that are confusing – Federal, State, Local? • What other challenges do you encounter in correctly recording participant counts and participation dates?

18. Youth Services: ARRA • Any youth activities under WIA are allowable activities for the Recovery Act funds. • Encourage focus of services on those youth most in need, including migrant youth.

19. Youth Services: ARRA Unless otherwise stated the laws and regulations for WIA Youth fund apply to the Recovery Act funds.

20. Summer Youth Employment: ARRA The period of summer employment will be from May 1 through September 30.

21. SummerEmployment:ARRA Summer Employment may include any set of allowable WIA Youth services that occur during the summer period as long as it includes a work experience component. Work Experience can be found under 20 CFR 664.460

22. Discussion Scenario #3 Edward is 18 years old, a high school graduate, who has been having a hard time finding work. He learns of the possible opportunities with the new Stimulus funds. He visits the One Stop Center on May 2nd and is enrolled in their new Summer Employment Program. Edward receives a work experience position at the new Wind Turbine facility, which begins May 20th. Edward excels with the work experience and is disappointed when it ends September 25th. He receives no further services but on September 30th secures employment in this field.

23. Discussion Scenario #3 Is Edward a Participant? • If yes, when does he become a Participant? • In what Programs is he included for reporting purposes? • If no, when would he become a Participant? • Is Edward an Exiter? • What Outcome Measures, if any, is he included in? • What follow-up services should be provided?

24. Discussion Scenario #4 Fiona is a 19 year old, unemployed, high school drop-out. She learns of new opportunities at the One Stop Center. She visits the local office on June 1st and enrolls in their Summer Employment Program. Fiona completes her work experience on September 28th and her case manager encourages her to return to school and tells her that education, counseling, and other services can be available. She enrolls in the WIA Youth program on October 2nd. She completes her program on April 1st and receives follow-up services until June 30th when she becomes employed.

25. Scenario 4 Discussion Is Fiona a Participant? • If yes, of what Program(s)? • When did she become a Participant? • If no, what would make her a Participant? • Is Fiona an Exiter? • What is her Exit Date? • What Outcome Measures will she be included in?

26. Youth Service Strategy • Pre and Post (test, assessment, check list, etc) is required • Summer employment and academic learning do not have to be directly linked

27. Youth Service Strategy: Locals Local areas have the ability to determine: • The type of assessment • Individual Service Strategies that will be used for youth served with Recovery Act funds during the summer months • The amount of time for follow up

28. Youth Summer Employment Eligibility: ARRA The work readiness portion of the skill attainment rate will be the only indicator used for youth that participates in “summer employment only”. (TEGL 17-05 attachment D) • How do you define measureable gain?

29. Youth Co Enrollment: ARRA Co-enrolling youth participants aged 18-24 with adult services is strongly encouraged.

30. Co-enrollment examples If the state’s information system is capable • Record co-enrollment across WIA, Wagner-Peyser, and Trade programs • Record a WIA participant also receiving Trade-funded services or Wagner-Peyser funded services, in the WIA reporting system

31. Additional Co-enrollment Examples • Record a Wagner-Peyser participant also receiving Trade- or WIA-funded services, in the W-P reporting system • Record a Trade participant also receiving Wagner-Peyser or WIA-funded services, in the Trade reporting system

32. Co-enrollment & Performance Services provided by partner programs can extend the point of exit • More services potentially means higher outcomes • Requires ability to track participants until they exit all services (program and partner) This highlights the essence of One-Stop-- integrated services

33. Multiple Program Participation Counting Participants in Multiple Programs • Earliest date of service • Can participate in several programs simultaneously • Counted as a participant in each of those programs • The participant won’t exit from the program unless there is a gap of no service for 90 days

34. Discussion Scenario #5 Darcy visits her local One Stop Center to gather labor market information to assist her in determining the best locations in the State for economic growth. She is provided several reports, charts, graphs, including contact information in each local area for additional information. She has a brief discussion with the local Center’s knowledgeable labor market staff and is off in search of her new job.

35. Discussion Scenario #5 Is Darcy a Participant? • If yes, Self Service or Staff Assisted? • At what point did Darcy become a Participant? • If no, why? • What next step would have been needed for her to become a Participant? • What outcome measures would Darcy be included in, if any?

36. Date of Exit Participant has not received a service funded by the program or funded by a partner program for 90 consecutive calendar days.

37. Exiting Participants An exit cannot be officially recorded until the 90 days has elapsed, but it’s still the last date of service!

38. The Exit Wrap Up • Participation and Exit Dates are always dates of service • No more hard exits

39. Exit across Multiple Programs Track participant services across the core One-Stop partner programs until the individuals exit all services

40. How to Prevent Unintentional Exits: Gaps in Service Three allowable circumstances - the condition must exist for at least 90 days: • Delay before beginning of training • Health/medical condition of participant or family member • Temporary move from the area that prevents participation

41. Discussion Scenario #6 • Georgia completes her case managed WIA Adult program services on November 1st. She continues to access Wagner-Peyser (core) services through the One Stop Center, attending job search workshops and getting assistance with her resume, until November 15th. She is offered employment on November 16th and does not use any services again. • What is her Exit date?

42. Discussion Scenario #7 • Henry, a WIA Dislocated Worker program participant, completes a series of workshops on November 15th. He is also Trade Eligible and enters training on November 16th, which he completes on June 1st. He receives no further services for 90 days. • What is his Exit Date?

43. What Happens in Your State? Discuss the challenges of recording the correct exit date • MIS system • Any polices/practices that impact correctly recording the exit date?

44. Common Exit Discuss Common Exit Describe • Barriers to common exits • How do you track a participant when exited from one program but continues to receive services from another?

45. Follow Up Services • Follow-up begins after the expected last service • Youth are required to receive at least 12 months of follow-up services, which are triggered at exit (the only exclusion is for summer youth employment) • Not intended to take responsibility away from case managers for WIA. Case managers do not have to wait 90 days, for instance, to begin providing follow-up services.

46. Road to Follow Up Services To ensure: • Job Retention • Wage Gains • Career Progress

47. Outcome Measures Exclusions • WIA Self Service activities • WIA Informational activities Not all Participants and Exiters are included in Program Outcome Measures

48. Other Exclusions • Institutionalized • Health/Medical or Family Care • Deceased • Reserved Forces called to Active Duty • Relocated to Mandated Program • Invalid/Missing Social Security Number

49. Self Service/Informational Activities Include as Participant, Exiter, or in Outcome Measures as indicated: WIAWPARRA Participant YES YES YES Exiter YES YES YES Outcome Measures NO YES YES – WP NO - WIA

50. Discussion Scenario #8 Callie walks into her local One Stop Center for the first time on February 1st. She walks around the Resource Room – taking note of the many computers available for use. The line at the front desk, though, is long and she doesn’t have time to wait. On March 1st, she returns and completes the registration paperwork and uses the Resource Room computers to search for work. On March 15th, she returns and meets with a case manager who enrolls her in the WIA Adult program. Callie completes her WIA program on July 15th. Later, she decides to update her resume again, and returns to the One Stop Center to use the Resource Room computers on September 15th. She finds a job and doesn’t use the services again.