Adult Formula Grants Budget: The request for FY 2003 is $900,000,000, a decrease of $50,000,000 below the FY 2002 level.

Adult Formula Grants Means and Strategies:

Context: In PY 2003, the WIA Adult program will be starting its fourth year of operation. The strategic goals and means of the previous years provide a context for 2003. In PY 2003, ETA will monitor the states' performance and operations, determine which states are not achieving their performance goals, and provide customized technical assistance. ETA will also prepare recommendations and reports regarding the re-authorization of WIA.

• PY 2003 will be the final year of WIA prior to consideration of its reauthorization. Objectives for the adult program in PY 2003 will include improving data quality, improving services to working adults, and strengthening the One-Stop Center system. Program reviews will focus on financial and performance accountability and be undertaken in part to identify promising practices. ETA will encourage States and local areas to explore means for improving outcomes for a range of customer groups - including employed workers, former welfare recipients, and individuals with Limited English Proficiency. (1.1A)

• Based upon the input from GAO, the WIA Readiness Teams, partners, and contractor studies, ETA will complete plans to improve how the adult program and the One-Stop system respond to customers' needs and to improve the quality and timeliness of data in performance management systems. This will assure that the program can be managed in a more effective, efficient manner, that more adults will receive appropriate employment and training services, and that the GPRA employment goals will be met or exceeded.

     a. Strategies to improve the Adult program components of participant assessment, case management, eligibility determination, informed customer choice, and customized and responsive services involve using several means to assess current practices, identify promising examples, and develop methods for bridging gaps between current and exemplary practice. Through collaborative assessments, ETA and State and local partners will determine appropriate means of improving the aforementioned components, identify key risk areas, and work intensively with those areas with specific needs. Demonstration projects will be supported to implement more effective practices in some States and areas. By the end of PY 2003, a large majority of States and local areas will be providing sophisticated customized employment and training services at One-Stop Centers, through internet web centers, and with business, community-based, and faith-based partners' support.

      b. The strategy to improve the performance accountability system will parallel the process to improve the program components. ETA staff in national and regional offices will monitor the reports' timeliness and validity to determine which States meet the standard level of confidence; for those States which do not meet the standard, ETA will develop and provide customized technical assistance to assure they meet the standards. These efforts will provide a more reliable, valid, and accurate reporting system and assure more credible reporting to Congress and the public. During PY 2002, a joint workgroup is to review the performance accountability system for adults. The group's reports will serve as the basis for ETA consideration of improvements to the reporting and accountability systems. Improvements in the timeliness of data are expected to be implemented late in 2002, for applications in 2003. This menu will include measures on impact of customers served, broader customer satisfaction, comparisons benchmarked with related One-Stop Centers and competition. Potential improvements will be considered for inclusion in the recommendations for WIA reauthorization to the Congress. If approved and implemented, these changes will enable the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training to better measure and justify the program's impact, value, and benefits to Congress and the public. (1.1A)

• The PY 2003 WIA adult program objectives are: 1) ensuring timely, accurate, consistent and meaningful financial and performance data at the program level to facilitate informed management of adult program operations at all levels; 2) improving system response to customer needs; 3) improving the system of accountability for performance; and 4) strengthening the One-Stop Centers system and partnerships formed to improve services for jobseekers and employers. It is expected that the tasks required to implement these strategies will continue during PY 2003, and these areas are described above to the extent they are known. To support the last strategy, ETA will continue to enhance access to all adults to services available through One-Stop Career Centers by: 1) supporting outreach to low-income groups in schools and neighborhoods through community- and faith-based organizations, enlisting their assistance in assessment and referral of individuals to local One-Stop Career Centers; and 2) expanding access to services through enhanced use of Internet, telephone and other technologies to provide a broad spectrum of access points not dependent on a single method or medium. (1.1A)

• ETA will continue efforts begun in PY 2002 to identify reasons why adult jobseekers do not achieve a successful labor market transition as defined by WIA's core measures (jobs, retention, earnings, credential) and take steps to address the findings. (1.1A)

• ETA will continue to engage private-sector employers both as customers and partners in the workforce development system by communications through employer organizations and business liaisons within the State Workforce Investment Boards. ETA will strive to improve adult program services for the business customer by:
     1.Seeking to ensure that training for adults available in local areas is directly linked to employer-identified skill shortages, in part by improving employer participation in the development and use of Eligible Training Provider Lists in local areas and States;
     2. Through community audits, sectoral analyses, and other means, promoting training of adult workers in occupational areas identified by the business community as most in demand; and
     3. Improving services provided to employed adults by identifying and eliminating barriers to such assistance, and providing technical assistance to States and local areas on how such services can be integrated into the One-Stop service delivery system. (1.1A)

• ETA will also work across One-Stop partner programs to identify and eliminate disincentives for co-enrolling individuals in multiple programs, in order to improve program integration and outcomes for jobseekers. (1.1A)

• In regard to WIA implementation, ETA continues to work in close cooperation with its State and local partners in monitoring and overseeing the workforce development system and with its Federal partners in promoting unified planning at the State and local levels. The Department continues to improve comprehensive planning for services to adults and implementation of such programs by:
  1) supporting community audit projects that develop, collect and analyze information on economic and labor market trends in specific geographic areas, industries, or sectors, with a view toward improving real-time workforce investment information and services; and 2) assisting communities in developing comprehensive economic adjustment strategies to deal with dislocations with community-wide impact by continuing to work with other federal agencies to support such strategies. (Please Note: This is a cross-cutting strategy.)

• ETA will focus on increasing the capacity of the One-Stop delivery system to provide a full array of services under WIA Title I to the migrant and seasonal farm worker population. (1.1A)

• ETA will provide technical assistance directly or indirectly to the One-Stop Centers or Local Workforce Investment Boards (LWIBs) to increase the capacity of the One-Stop service delivery system to identify, recruit, register and provide employment and training services to migrant and seasonal farm workers in the LWIB's service area. (1.1A)

• ETA will coordinate with the ETA regional offices to identify, prioritize and facilitate the provision of technical assistance to the regional office's respective states. (1.1A)

• ETA will continue to increase the integration of WtW services and partner relationships into One-Stop Centers to ensure that WtW target populations continue to be placed and retained in unsubsidized jobs with advancement potential despite exhaustion of the WtW federal investment or further downturns in the economy. The number of WtW Formula and Competitive Programs judged to be fully integrated into One-Stop operations will increase by 15%. (1.1B)
  
  
• ETA will assure that the pathway from income maintenance (welfare) to workforce development (WIA and its business-driven outcomes) becomes irreversible by providing States and localities with the analytical, programmatic, and interagency tools they need to help participants find employment with wages and supports that make work pay better than benefits. (1.1B)
  
  
• ETA will make employment retention more attractive to participants and more feasible to employers through increased grantee use of tax credits, the Federal Bonding Program, and the provision of enhanced post-employment services. The use of the tax credits, the Federal Bonding Program, Individual Development Accounts, and post-employment training support payments by WtW grantees will increase by 15% during FY 2003. (1.1B)
  
  
• ETA will continue to focus intense attention on individuals with additional needs for retention in the labor market, such as non-custodial parents and ex-offenders. Six more states will implement full WtW and Child Support statewide partnerships and three more communities will begin operating Benchcard Pilot initiatives. The number of noncustodial parents served by WtW programs overall will increase by 15%. (1.1B)
  
  
• ETA will implement increasing numbers of partnerships, memoranda of understanding between agencies, and other public and private cooperative ventures so that a permanent infrastructure remains after the federal WtW investment runs out in 2004. Examples of these external partnerships and agreements include working with: the Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Child Support Enforcement to provide better outreach and service to noncustodial parents; the Justice Department to coordinate its Re-Entry Partnership and Court Re-Entry programs with WtW services to ex-felons and those with criminal records; the Department of Health and Human Services to increase the use of Individual Development Accounts and to implement the Pathways to Advancement program (PTA), aimed at increasing the quality and amount of entry-level upgrading of former welfare recipients placed into unsubsidized jobs; and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to ensure the availability of the MoneySmart financial education training through One-Stop Career Centers. Internal partnerships include working with ETA's Office of Career Transition Assistance to increase the use of tax credits, and with ETA's Office of Policy and Research to increase employers' use of the of the Federal Bonding Program. (Please Note: This is a cross-cutting strategy.)
  

Wagner-Peyser Act (Employment Service/One Stop Centers) and America's Job Bank Budget:

Employment Service/One Stop:

• One-Stop Centers: The agency request level of $113,000,000 in FY 2003 is for One-Stop Career Center support. This request is $7,000,000 below the FY 2002 appropriated level.
  

• Wagner-Peyser Act Formula Grants to States: The agency request is $761,735,000, the same as the FY 2002 President's budget. In the year ending June 30, 2000 over 3.6 million individuals who received these labor exchange services found jobs, a 2.75 percent increase over the prior year. Employers continue to benefit from these services as well. For the same time period, the total number of job openings listed with the public employment service increased 20% with 10.2 million job openings listed. Enhanced funding for this program very simply puts more people to work.
  

• Re-Employment Services Grants for States: Funding at the current level of $35,000,000 would enable a sustained investment in this targeted activity. This level will enable States to provide the current level of services to claimants.
  

• ETA will continue to support and improve the comprehensive Labor Exchange Performance Measurement System to provide performance information in support of optimizing the delivery of labor exchange services to employers and job seekers. Program Year 2003 will be a critical milestone year for the performance measures in that baseline data from the new 9002 reporting system and the results of the new outcome measures will be fully available to help guide the system in continuous improvement. ETA will expect states to include expected levels of performance for the Labor Exchange Performance Measures, reached in agreement with ETA Regional Offices, in their five-year strategic plans. (1.1C)
  
  
• ETA will work with states to use re-employment services funds to provide intensive services to Unemployment Insurance claimants in need of reemployment assistance so they can return more quickly to work. States will provide early intervention, immediate referrals to suitable job openings, and staff-assisted, intensive services as needed. Additional funds will enable services to more Unemployment Insurance claimants and will enable increased positive employment outcomes. (1.1C)
  
  
• ETA will provide a broad range of technical assistance and training to facilitate effective delivery of Wagner-Peyser employment and workforce information services within One-Stop systems including brokering of best practices, development of models and tools for state and local use, increased use of on-line information and training for the system, release of program guidance in key areas, and on-site technical assistance where feasible and needed. Areas of focus will continue to be program/system performance and effective service delivery strategies that meet customer needs. (1.1C)
  
  
• With the strategic direction of the Workforce Information Council, ETA and states will make investments in state and local workforce information (labor market information) tools and service delivery strategies. This information is integral to helping employers more accurately articulate their skill needs and job seekers make career decisions and articulate the skills they have to offer employers. As part of this effort, ETA will continue to promote and support O*NET as the common occupation language for the workforce investment system which supports integrated service delivery and provides critical information on the skills and abilities associated with different occupations, which is an underlying component of almost every workforce development activity. (1.1C)
  
  
• With employer input and feedback, ETA will continue to work with the states to identify and develop strategies to better serve employers through One-Stop systems in order to increase the number of jobs listed with One-Stops and job seekers that enter employment. (1.1C)
  
  
• ETA will increase usage of the America's Career Kit Tools by both employers and job seekers by: 1) continually improving the products' value to customers based on customer input and feedback; 2) working with states to develop strategies to more effectively integrate the tools with service delivery in physical One-Stop systems; and 3) ongoing marketing of America's Job Bank to employers and job seekers. (1.1C)
  
  
  
  

  Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services Performance and Goals Goal 1.1D: Strengthen the registered apprenticeship system to meet the training needs of business and workers in the 21 st Century.* (DOL 1.1C)
  Indicator	Targeted Population	Program	1999 Performance	2000 Performance	2001 Performance	2002 Goal	2003 Goal
  Increase in number of new apprenticeship programs over established baseline.	Employer and Labor Entities	Apprenticeship Training	N/A	N/A	N/A*	10%	23%
  Increase in number of new businesses involved in apprenticeship over established baseline.	Employers	Apprenticeship Training	N/A	N/A	N/A*	10%	23%
  Increase in number of new apprentices over established baseline.	New Apprentices	Apprenticeship Training	N/A	N/A	N/A*	10%	27%
  Increase in number of new programs in new and emerging industries – at minimum Information Technology, Health Care and Social Services – over established baseline.	Employer and Labor Entities	Apprenticeship Training	N/A	N/A	N/A*	10%	20%
  * This is a new goal. ETA will establish a baseline for each indicator using the average of FY 1999, 2000 and 2001 data. ETA is moving toward 4-year goals, as explained in Appendix B.

  Note: Goals corresponding to the DOL FY2003 Annual Performance Plan are in parentheses.
  
  
  Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services Budget:
  
  The registered apprenticeship training program is an industry-driven training program voluntarily sponsored by joint employer and labor groups, individual employers and/or employer associations. The Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (OATELS) is responsible for the administration of the Registered National Apprenticeship System and is the registration authority for training programs and apprentices in 23 States. OATELS delegates this registration authority through its Federal-State partnership with State Apprenticeship Councils/Agencies (SACs) in 27 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
  
  OATELS Program Administration funding at $21,928,000 is limited to staff salaries and expenses.

  Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services Means and Strategies:

  • Continue to engage the Workforce Development system to expand registered apprenticeship.(1.1D)
    
    
  • Continue to review existing research from the registered apprenticeship system; engage current stakeholders; and gather input from new potential customers to participate in the registered apprenticeship system. (1.1D)
    

  • Continue to conduct labor shortage research to identify and develop partnerships involving registered apprenticeship training in a minimum of three–targeted industries. (1.1D)
    
    
  • Continue to develop four campaigns to convene four forums with business and industry organizations to expand registered apprenticeship. (1.1D)
    
    
  • Continue to ensure collaboration with the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to promote and expand the registered apprenticeship system. (1.1D)
    

  • Continue to seek input from faith-based and community-based organizations on effective means to address their issues. (1.1D)
    
  • Continue to identify promising practices with WIBs and registered apprenticeship to develop examples of how registered apprenticeship can participate with all states. (1.1D)
    
    
  • Continue to participate in other DOL education and training strategies and initiatives to inform and increase the participation of the registered apprenticeship system. (1.1D)
    
    
  • Continue to increase the registered apprenticeship system's participation in the various Department's education and training strategies and initiatives, e.g., OYS, OAS, JC, OWS, OTIS and OFAM. Major employment and training initiatives will include registered apprenticeship as a mechanism to develop a skilled workforce. A process will also be developed to engage more businesses to participate in the workforce development system. As part of this increased participation, the registered apprenticeship system will be involved in customer surveys and other instruments developed to improve the workforce development system. (Please Note: This is a cross-cutting strategy.)
    
    
  • Continue to develop customized training programs with One-Stop Centers for referrals to businesses and applicants for registered apprenticeship. (Please Note: This is a cross-cutting strategy.)
    
    
  • ETA will continue to engage the Departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Justice to leverage support for registered apprenticeship and maximize resources to provide businesses and workers with skill development for the 21^st Century. (Please Note: This is a cross-cutting strategy.)
  
  
  
  

  National Programs Performance and Goals Goal 1.1E: Increase the capacity and quality of One-Stop system services for people with disabilities who are registered in the workforce investment area(s) receiving Work Incentive Grants Goal 1.1F: Increase employment and positive outcomes of adults registered under the Indian and Native American Program Goal 1.1G: Increase employment opportunities for senior citizens participating in the Senior Community Service Employment Program
  Indicator	Targeted Population	Program	PY 1999 Performance	PY 2000 Performance	PY 2001 Goal	PY 2002 Goal	PY 2003 Goal
  Percent more individuals with disabilities served than were served in the workforce area(s) in the previous program year under the adult, dislocated worker and youth programs (1.1E)	People with disabilities	Work Incentive Grants	*	N/A	N/A	5%	5%
  Of those with disabilities, percent more individuals with disabilities placed in unsubsidized employment after program exit than were placed in the previous program year (1.1E)	People with disabilities	Work Incentive Grants	*	N/A	N/A	5%	5%
  Of those placed in the first quarter after program exit, percent more individuals with disabilities employed in the third quarter after exit than were retained in the previous program year (1.1E)	People with disabilities	Work Incentive Grants	*	N/A	N/A	5%	5%
  Increase in average earnings change for individuals with disabilities over the average earnings change for individuals with disabilities in the previous program year (1.1E)	People with disabilities	Work Incentive Grants	*	N/A	N/A	$250	$250
  Employment at program exit (1.1F)	Indian and Native American Adults	Indian and Native American Program	51.9%^	^	54%	56%	56%
  Positive outcomes at program exit (1.1F)	Indian and Native American Adults	Indian and Native American Program	83.4%^	^	84%	86%	86%
  Percent of participants placed and retained in unsubsidized employment (1.1G)	Senior Citizens	Senior Community Service Employment Program	36.5%	33.8%	26%	37%+	37%+
  * This is a new initiative. 23 Grants were issued in PY 2000, so there is not any performance information for PY 1999. The indicators listed are new for PY 2002 and PY 2003.         ^ This goal was revised with the passage of WIA. The PY 1999 performance results reported are for JTPA .         + The indicator is effective beginning with PY 2002. The prior indicator was the ratio of unsubsidized placements to authorized positions.

  Note: Goals corresponding to the DOL FY2003 Annual Performance Plan are in parentheses.
  
  Work Incentive Grants Budget: The Department is requesting $20,000,000, the same as the FY 2002 appropriation request level, for new grant awards to state and local workforce investment programs working with other public and non-profit providers of services to people with disabilities. ETA will administer this competitive grant activity but will work closely with the Office of Disability Employment Policy and the President's Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities. ETA plans to use approximately $1,000,000 of the $20,000,000 to supplement a national contract supporting technical assistance and conferences to the workforce investment system on disability laws, regulations, issues and services.
  
  Work Incentive Grants Means and Strategies:
  
  
  • ETA will focus on data validity and program accountability by conducting desk analysis of quarterly report submissions, conducting annual administrative conferences for new grantees, refining grant SGAs based upon current workforce and grant experience, and reinforcing outreach and services to people with disabilities in the One-Stop system. (1.1E)
    
    
  • ETA will conduct technical assistance of grant activities that promote information sharing on policy developments and successful One-Stop strategies impacting employment and training services to people with disabilities. This will be accomplished through a variety of means including on-line information sharing, periodic conference calls and video conferencing calls, participation in multi-agency conferences related to systems change of disability program delivery, high-lighting successful strategies of other grants, promoting regional conferences and training of the One-Stop system, examining web-cast applications for information sharing and implementing other strategies which promote promising practices in serving people with disabilities in the workforce system. (1.1E)
    
    
  • ETA will evaluate Work Incentive Grant activities in order to assess systemic component of grant activity, develop a database of on-going Work Incentive Grant activities with common elements across grants (e.g., Has the grantee hired benefits planning specialists to work in local One-Stop Centers? If so, how many?), and to identify where additional technical assistance would be helpful to grantees. (1.1E)
    
    
  • ETA will provide information from promising practices website that is currently under development with Work Incentive Grantees to foster information on successful models of skill training and employment of people with disabilities. (1.1E)
    
    
  • ETA will coordinate with DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to assure coordination of respective grant programs and technical assistance related to WIA and the One-Stop Center system. (1.1E)
    
  
          
  Indian and Native American Program Budget: The FY 2003 budget request is $55,000,000, a decrease of $2,000,000 below the FY 2002 appropriation level.
  
  Indian and Native American Program Means and Strategies:
  
  
  • Performance Management:
  
  
  
  1.Expand the current peer-to-peer technical assistance efforts to be more comprehensive and to include peer reviews. This will improve grantee staff capability and allow for a better exchange of best practices.
  2.Expand INA grantee participation in available ETA and other related training opportunities to improve grantee capability.
  3.Promote grantee linkages with Workforce Investment Boards to allow full utilization of available resources and, where appropriate, eliminate duplication.
  4.Expand the knowledge and scope of other available resources for grantee utilization. (1.1F)
  
  
  • Accountability:
  
  
  1.Establish the capability of 100% electronic reporting and communication in the grantee community for reporting efficiency.
  2.In conjunction with ETA efforts, finalize and distribute a grantee self-validation tool.
  3.Identify reasons for negative outcomes to allow grantees to improve performance.
  4.Improve the efficiency and scope of federal monitoring efforts and feedback to grantees. (1.1F)
  
  
  Senior Community Service Employment Program Budget: The FY 2003 budget request for the National Sponsors' portion of SCSEP is $343,289,000. The request for the State Grants' portion is $96,911,000. The total SCSEP budget request is $440,200,000, a decrease of $4,900,000 below the FY 2002 appropriation level.
  
  
  Senior Community Service Employment Program Means and Strategies:
  
  
  • Technical Assistance:
  
  
  1.Provide technical assistance material to grantees, including handbooks, TAGs, etc;
  2.Establish computer-based long distance training for local SCSEP project directors;
  3.Provide technical assistance and training for under-performing SCSEP grantees; and
  4.Continue the integration of local SCSEP projects into the WIA One-Stop system. (1.1G)
  
  
  
  • Performance Accountability:
  ETA will establish systems to collect required data, including development of appropriate standards and measures. In PY 2003 the emphasis will be on bringing all grantees into the new systems.
  1.Provide incentives and recognition to high performing grantees (i.e., those that make the elevated unsubsidized placement goals);
  2.Begin implementation of the Older American Act corrective action steps, which include mandatory corrective action plans and reduced funding; and
  3.Recapture and reallocate unexpended funds (e.g., from poor performing grantees) to higher performing grantees. (1.1G)
  
  

  Customer Satisfaction Performance and Goals Goal 1.1H: Increase customer satisfaction with services received from workforce investment activities in connection with the One-Stop delivery system
  Indicator	Targeted Population	Program	PY 1999 Performance	PY 2000 Performance	PY 2001 Goal	PY 2002 Goal	PY2003 Goal
  Score of participant satisfaction with services on the American Customer Satisfaction Index.	Registered participants in WIA Activities	WIA Adult and Youth Activities	*	78	69	70	71^
  Score of employer satisfaction with services on the American Customer Satisfaction Index.	Employers	WIA Adult and Youth Activities	*	71	66	68	69^
  *This is a new WIA goal based upon a weighted average of negotiated levels of performance for all States. ^The PY 2003 goals have not yet been negotiated with the States, so the goal reflected is preliminary and continues the trend established by the PY 2000 – 2002 goals.

  Note: Goals corresponding to the DOL FY2003 Annual Performance Plan are in parentheses.
  
  
  Customer Satisfaction Means and Strategies:
  
  
  • Continue to provide training, tools and assistance to Workforce Investment Areas and One-Stop partner programs on quality and continuous improvement techniques, and uses of employer and participant customer satisfaction survey information. ETA will provide recognition to workforce entities that achieve identified levels of performance excellence. (1.1H)
    
  
  
  
  

  A PREPARED WORKFORCE                                               Outcome Goal 1.2: Increase Number of Youth                                               Making a Successful Transition to a Career Path    Programs Include:    Job Corps                                                                    Youth Activities Formula Grants    Indian and Native American Youth                                  Youth Opportunity Grants Total Budget: $2,550,625,000

  
  

  Youth Formula Grants Performance and Goals Goal 1.2A: Increase entrance and retention of youth registered under the WIA youth program in education or employment (DOL 1.2A)
  Indicator	Targeted Population	Program	PY 2000 Performance	PY 2001 Goal	PY 2002 Goal	PY 2003 Goal
  Of the 14-18 year-old youth who enter the program without a diploma or equivalent, the percent who will attain a secondary school diploma or equivalent by the first quarter after exit (DOL 1.2A)	Disadvantaged Youth Aged 14-18	WIA Youth Program	*	N/A	51%	52%
  Employed in the first quarter after program exit (DOL 1.2A)	Disadvantaged Youth Aged 19-21	WIA Youth Program	^	^	63%	65%
  Retention in employment in the third quarter after exit of those who were employed in the quarter after program exit (DO1.2A)	Disadvantaged Youth Aged 19-21	WIA Youth Program	77%	70%	77%	78%
  ^ This was a new goal for Program Year 2002.

  Note: Goals corresponding to the DOL FY2003 Annual Performance Plan are in parentheses.
  
  
  Youth Formula Grants Budget: Local areas use the funds to provide comprehensive, long-term services for youth that provide them with the necessary supports to assist them in developing into responsible adults and to transition to post-secondary education and training and to careers. The request is $985,951,000, a decrease of $125,095,000 below the FY 2002 appropriation level.
  
  Youth Formula Grants Means and Strategies:
  
  

  • ETA's federal staff and state staff will jointly determine the effectiveness of local youth programs. These staff will complete 50 site visits to local areas by June 30, 2004, providing technical assistance, guidance and identifying best practices. Success will be achieved once the 50 site visits are completed and local area directors and youth council chairs receive a report of findings and recommendations. (1.2A)
    
    
  • ETA will issue its annual program guidance to states and local areas implementing comprehensive youth services under WIA. The 2003 program emphasis will focus on strong academic and skills training components, leading to a high school diploma or its equivalent, advanced training and employment opportunities that lead to career paths, and follow-up services that lead to retention in employment. The guidance letter will be issued by April of 2003. (1.2A)
    
    
  • Each ETA region will conduct at least one youth technical assistance event that focuses on providing local communities and youth councils with strategies to build strong youth investment systems that promote attainment of diplomas/GEDs or advanced training leading to career opportunities. Seventy-five percent of participants will rate the quality of the information exchange at the conference as good to excellent. (1.2A)
    
    
  • ETA's national best practices strategy will continue to promote educational and skills training achievement for younger youth. ETA's national office, assisted by the regions, will maintain a web-base database of best practices and strategies. Success will be achieved when 90% of the users rate this service as effective. (1.2A)
    
    
  • ETA will convene a National Youth Summit of a representative group of Workforce Investment Act program participants. Attendees will act as focus groups to develop “what works” practices from a youth perspective. Success will be measured when 100% of states are provided with the results of the focus groups to incorporate into their customer satisfaction programs. (1.2A)
    
    
  • While in this last year of authorization under the Workforce Investment Act, the Department will place continued emphasis on improving the quality of services in order to equip our youth with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to effectively meet the changing needs of business and the new economy as well as a focus on the reauthorization of WIA. Because PY 2003 is the last year of authorization, the Department plans to analyze the experiences of state and local areas in the effective delivery of high quality, comprehensive youth services and assess how well these services met the challenge of preparing our most at-risk youth for post-secondary education and careers. Our goal is to determine the potential areas for improvement and issues that could be addressed through the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act. (1.2A)
  
  
  

  Cross-Cutting Programs and Issues
  
  ETA will facilitate the involvement of Faith-Based organizations, as partners, to expand educational, cultural, recreational and