The Planning Guidance and Instructions provide a framework for the collaboration of governors, local elected officials, businesses and other partners to continue the development of workforce investment systems that address customer needs, deliver integrated user-friendly services, and are accountable to the customers and the public.

The proposed changes to this collection include a revision to the National Strategic Direction which introduces the information collection. This Strategic Direction was previously published in Training and Employment Guidance Letter 13-06. There are also minor technical and grammatical changes in the actual information collection, the State Planning Instructions.

A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, Attention: Janet Sten, Room C-4510 Telephone number: 202-693-3045 (this is not a toll-free number). Fax: 202-693-3015. E-mail: Sten.Janet@dol.gov or by accessing: http://www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

Comments should be submitted to Ms. Sten on or before July 7, 2008.

ETA is also soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension with changes of the collection for the Planning Guidance for State Unified Plans submitted under Section 501 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA).

The changes to this collection also include a revision to the National Strategic Direction. There are also technical changes in the actual information collection, the State Planning Instructions, to reflect statutory changes in other Federal agencies' programs that are included in the Unified Plan including the reauthorization of the Perkins Act.

The contact information and comment submission deadline for the Unified Plans is identical to those for the "Stand-Alone" Plans.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has provided planning guidelines and instructions to Native American grantees for the development of a strategic two-year Comprehensive Services Program (CSP) plan and Supplemental Youth Services Program (SYSP) plan for PY 2008-2009. Native American entities designated as a Section 166 grantee for PY 2008-2009 must submit a two-year plan for meeting the employment and training needs of Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians consistent with the purposes described in Section 166 of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The guidance includes the application of the Native American Talent and Economic Development (NATED) framework.

Training and Employment Letter 25-07

Guidance to Senior Community Service Employment Program Grantees

ETA has issued guidance to the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) with application instructions and procedures for PY 2008.

Training and Employment Guidance Letter 26-07

ETA has also informed SCESP grantees about the Department of Labor's equal treatment regulations at 29 CFR Part 2, Subpart D, which outline certain constitutional and other requirements related to the participation of faith-based organizations in DOL social service programs.

Training and Employment Guidance Letter 29-07

Guidance for National Farmworker Job Program Grantees and Housing Assistance Grantees

ETA has provided instructions to grantees for the preparation and submission of the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) grant plans under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Section 167 for PY 2008.

Training and Employment Guidance Letter 28-07

ETA has also provided instructions to grantees for the preparation of the Section 167 Housing Assistance annual grant plans for PY 2008.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has published an evaluation report which describes:

• the activities and achievements of the first Generation of WIRED regions in their efforts to move towards regional transformation;
• issues related to goals, strategies, activities, organizational structure and governance and how these have evolved over the first year of operations
• the involvement of the workforce investment system in these initial stages.

The report lays the groundwork for future analysis of the regions' collective efforts to transform their education, workforce investment and economic development systems that will be provided in future reports from the evaluation teams.

The White House Conference on Disaster Relief and Preparedness is part of a series of regional conferences hosted by the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives across the country and around the world. These events are designed to connect effective nonprofit organizations with resources to help strengthen and expand the services they offer.

Hosted by the White House and the Departments of Justice, Agriculture, Labor, Health & Human Services, Housing & Urban Development, Education, Homeland Security, Commerce, Veterans' Affairs, the Small Business Administration, and the Agency for International Development, the conference will feature information on Federal and State grant opportunities; basic legal responsibilities for public-sector grantees; practical guidance on the grant-writing process; and successful practices of other local organizations. In addition, each day will provide networking opportunities with government representatives and other faith-based and community organizations.

The conference is free, but pre-registration is required. Registration is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register online at www.fbci.gov by Thursday, May 15. To cancel a registration, please send an email to fbci@dtihq.com.

Please visit the conference section of www.fbci.gov to learn more about the conference workshops.

For more information, please send an email to fbci@dtihq.com, visit www.fbci.gov, or call 202-456-6708.

Thursday, May 29 and Friday, May 30
Day 1: 8:30 AM ? 5:00 PM
Day 2: 8:30 AM ? 1:00 PM
New Orleans, Louisiana

The LLSIL is used for several purposes under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Specifically, WIA section 101(25) defines the term "low income individual" for eligibility purposes, and sections 127(b)(2)(C) and 132(b)(1)(B)(v)(IV) define the terms "disadvantaged youth" and "disadvantaged adult" in terms of the poverty line or LLSIL for state formula allotments. The Governor and state/local workforce investment boards (WIBs) use the LLSIL for determining eligibility for youth, eligibility for employed adult workers for certain services and for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).

ETA encourages the Governors and state/local WIBs to consult WIA regulations and the preamble to the WIA Final Rule for more specific guidance in applying the LLSIL to program requirements.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the annual 2008 update of the poverty-level guidelines in the January 23, 2008 FEDERAL REGISTER. These 2008 Poverty guidelines may also be found on the HHS Web site.