Background

1. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009Changes in Employ Florida Marketplace to Support Youth Program Activities

2. Background • The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was signed into law on February 17, 2009 • ARRA provides over 42 million dollars for the State of Florida WIA youth program • Training and Employment Guidance letter (TEGL) 14-08 provides guidance on implementing Recovery Act funding

3. Significant Changes to Youth Activities( These changes only apply to ARRA funded Activities) • Increases the age eligibility to a maximum of 24 • Work readiness indicator is the only indicator to assess the effectiveness of summer employment

4. Use of ARRA Youth Funds • The WIA ARRA state grant extends to June 30, 2011. However, USDOL encourage states to spend at least 80% of these funds by June 30, 2010 • ARRA funds may be spent over the course of two summers and the non-summer months in between • Costs associated with ARRA funds are allowable on or after February 17, 2009 (the effective date of ARRA passage) • Youth activities under WIA are allowable activities • The law and regulations for WIA Youth funds apply unless otherwise stated in TEGL 14-08

5. Priority of Service for Veterans • Veterans between the ages of 21 and 24 have a relatively high incidence of unemployment immediately following release from the military • Local boards are required to provide priority of services for veterans and eligible spouses as required in 20 CFR part 1010

6. Special Reporting for ARRA Youth Participants • Any youth served with ARRA funds will be included in a separate Youth ARRA report • Any youth served with only ARRA funds participating in summer employment only, will only be included in the ARRA report and the work readiness indicator will be the only measure that applies to such youth ( Performance indicator is the percentage of participants in summer employment who attain a work readiness skills goal) • If a youth served with ARRA funds does not participate in summer employment or is served beyond the summer months, s/he would also be included in the regular WIA reports and be included in the full set of WIA Youth measures.

7. Special Waiver for Work Readiness Florida was approved a waiver to allow the work readiness measure to be the sole measure for out-of school youth, ages 18-24, who are served with ARRA funds in work experience activities beyond September 30(October through March 2010)

8. New Customer Groups • New customer groups are displayed in a special ARRA (Stimulus) section on the WIA eligibility page • New WIA applications for individuals 14 to 24 displays the youth application in which both formula and ARRA eligibility information is displayed Note: There is no distinction between Younger Youth and Older Youth

11. New Customer Groups • Existing WIA applications for individuals 14-21 have ARRA eligibility “set to match formula eligibility” • Existing WIA applications for low income adults age 22-24 are modified to reflect a youth application. However, it is not automatically set to meet the Youth ARRA eligibility . Staff must go into the application Wizard to set the eligibility for this existing customer group

12. Modifying Youth Eligibility Record for Existing Participants Age 22-24 • The modified application displays additional youth prompts necessary for setting youth eligibility • Records associated with Participation and Enrollments will require staff with assigned privileges to make appropriate changes • Staff is required to make appropriate changes and to verify eligibility documentation when maneuvering through the Wizard

13. Modifying Youth Eligibility Record for Existing Participants Age 22-24 • Click on the Wizard on the WIA application link to make appropriate changes and to verify eligibility documentation. Staff must add barriers and ‘next’ through the wizard to reset eligibility Youth Application Data Prompt Areas: • Education • Barriers • Assistance • Youth Barriers • Eligibility

21. Participation Update • Records with Participation and Enrollment associated may require staff with Local Administrative privileges to make appropriate changes Participation Screen Additional Prompts: • School status at time of Participation • Out-of-School Youth at time of Participation

24. Enrollment–Services/Activity Codes • The service codes and rules for ARRA customer groups are the same as for regular formula eligibility • Youth must have an Objective Assessment-Code 412 and an Individual Service Strategy (ISS)-Code 413

25. Special Provision for Assessment and the ISS Regional Workforce Boards have the flexibility to determine the type of assessment and ISS for youth served with Recovery Act funds during the summer months only (rather than the requirement in WIA section 129 (c)(1)(A) and (B) that each youth receive an objective assessment of the academic levels, skill levels, and service needs of each participant which includes a review of basic skills, occupational skills prior work experience, employability interests, supportive service needs, and developmental needs) and provide the type of assessment as deemed appropriate for each individual.

31. New Automation for ARRA Summer Work Readiness Youth • Yes/No check box in enrollment “Create Work Readiness Youth Goal” • When customer group “Youth ARRA All” or “Statewide Youth ARRA” are selected • Automation will not display when any other customer group is selected, including Formula Younger Youth or Older Youth Customer group

34. Changes in EFM to Support ARRA Youth Goals • System will allow for the automatic creation of the work readiness youth goal with the first youth service • No longer limited to Younger Youth • No requirement that first goal be BSD goal • Will allow for creation of additional ARRA youth goals when an individual continues beyond the initial Summer Youth Jobs activity

38. WIA Closure If the Customer Program Group = Youth ARRA (Stimulus) with only a work experience activity (Summer Employment), EFM will present an abbreviated closure. Since there are no performance metric other than the youth Goal Attainment, there is no need for staff to complete the school status, diploma, credential and employment prompts.

40. Special Provision for Follow-up Local Workforce Boards have the flexibility to determine if the 12 month follow-up requirement (that all WIA youth must receive some form of follow-up services for a minimum duration of 12 months per 20 CFR 664.450) will be required for youth served with Recovery Act funds during the summer months only (May 1 through Sept 30).

41. Questions or Additional Information Policy and Technical Assistance: • Barbara Walker, Government Operations Consultant II E-mail Address: Barbara.Walker@deo.myflorida.com Telephone Number: (850) 921-3864 • Tammy Bacon, Government Operations Consultant II E-mail Address: Tammy.Bacon@deo.myflorida.com Telephone Number: (850) 921-3868 • Mershal Noble, Government Operations Consultant II E-mail Address: Mershal.Noble@deo.myflorida.com Telephone Number: (850) 921-3317 • Clifftin Atkinson, Senior Management Analyst Supervisor E-mail Address: Clifftin.Atkinson@deo.myflorida.com Telephone Number: (850) 921-3338