DEEDWorkForce CenterReception and Resource Area Certification Program (RRACP)Module 2Unit 1a: WorkForce Center System ILearning Objective 2

Learning Objectives 2WFC Programs and Services

Program referrals Programs and

Services

PROGRAM REFERRALS

Program Referrals

Since WIA is federally funded, it requires that any recipient (organization) receiving WIA funding is to refer customers to WIA programs.

Most programs provide some level of supportive services and possible training money. Eligibility is based on one or more of factors:

Income level Age Dependent status Disability Work status Veteran status Job termination reason Barriers to employment

Referring Customers to Programs

Knowledge of basic program information facilitates the referral process. When referring customers:

DO: Direct customers to the menu of programs and explain the basic services they

provide.DON’T: Ask customer if he or she is a member

of a targeted group unless it is self-disclosed

in conversation.

Discussion Point

1. How you identify members of a specific group?

2. How you refer customers to programs?

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

List of Programs and Services

Adult Basic Education Business Services Dislocated Workers Trade Adjustment

Assistance Displaced Homemakers Food Support and Training

Program Job Service Local resources Migrant and Seasonal

Worker Program

Minnesota Family Investment Plan

Rehabilitation Services State Services for the Blind Senior Community Service

Employment Program Unemployment Insurance Veterans Services Youth WOTC and Federal Bonding

Adult Basic Education (ABE)

The mission of ABE in MN is to provide adults with educational opportunities to acquire and improve their literacy skills necessary to become self-sufficient and to participate effectively as productive workers, family members, and citizens.

GED - General Educational Development diploma / Adult Diploma ESL - English as a Second Language Basic Skills Enhancement Work Readiness/Workforce Preparation Citizenship/Civics Education Family Literacy http://mnabe.themlc.org/Adult_Basic_Education2.html

Business Services

DEED encourages the creation and retention of high quality jobs through business growth, expansion and retention. Business development services help companies expand or relocate in Minnesota, find and train employees, promote international trade, and finance business expansions.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/bizdev/index.htm

Dislocated Workers and Trade Adjustment Assistance

Dislocated Worker Program (DW):DW Provides both training and employment services to Minnesotans who are--or about to be--unemployed due to layoffs and plant closings.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/dw/index.htm Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA):

TAA is available to workers who lose their jobs (or whose hours of work and wages are reduced) as a result of increased imports.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/taa/index.htm

Displaced Homemakers

The Displaced Homemaker Program provides pre-employment services to empower homemakers to enter or re-enter the labor market. Customers are women or men who have worked mainly in the home for a minimum of two years caring for home and family. Due to loss of family financial support (usually through death, disability, or divorce), these customers must support themselves and their families.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/wpd/dhp/

Food Support Employment Training

The Food Support Employment and Training (FSET) Program provides food support recipients who do not receive other cash assistance with services that will result in employment and self-sufficiency. In return for monthly food support, adults between the ages of 18 and 55 must comply with work requirements by participating in work or work-related activities.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/cbs/fset/

Job Service

A core partner in WorkForce Centers throughout the state, and is a program run by DEED. The mission of Job Service is to provide and support a labor exchange system which helps Minnesota businesses build and maintain a world class workforce and which helps workers and job seekers manage their participation in the workforce and enhance their self sufficiency.

Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Program

Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Program specializes in providing assistance to employees and employers seeking to obtain work or workers in agricultural and non-agricultural employment.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/migrant/index.htm

Minnesota Family Investment Program

The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) provides support for low-income families with children that helps parents move from welfare to unsubsidized employment. For most parents participation in employment services is mandatory.

MFIP is jointly administered by the Department of Human Services and the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/cbs/mfip/

Rehabilitation Services

Vocational Rehabilitation Services works with individuals who have disabilities and provides a variety of services.

Vocational planning Employment information Referral services

They also provide guidance in maintaining employment.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/rehab/index.htm

Senior Community Service Employment Program The Senior Community Service Employment Program

(SCSEP) provides part-time community service assignments for people 55 years of age or older who have earnings of less than 125 % of the federal poverty income guidelines. The community service assignments is used as a training opportunity to acquire skills or improve existing skills to gain unsubsidized employment in the private sector or other employment opportunities after completion of the community service assignment.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/oldwkr/index.htm

State Services for the Blind (SSB)

The mission of SSB is to facilitate the achievement of vocational and personal independence by Minnesotans who are blind, visually impaired or DeafBlind.

SSB is a branch of DEED and provides programs and services for Minnesotans of any age who have a vision loss that creates a barrier to their vocational or personal independence.

http://www.mnssb.org/

Unemployment Insurance (UI)

The mission of UI is to enhance workforce development and economic strength of Minnesota by providing unemployment insurance for individuals and employers.

The Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program provides temporary benefits to qualified persons out of work through no fault of their own. Benefit payments replace part of the income lost while a worker is between jobs.

http://www.uimn.org/

Veterans Services

Many state and federal programs exist to ensure that Minnesota veterans get specialized employment and training services.

Vocational rehabilitation services Individual, intensive employment assistance In-person orientation to WFC services Job search info., and resume/cover letters assistance.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/veterans/index.htm

Priority of Service: Means with respect to any qualified job training program, that a covered person shall be given priority over

nonveterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services provided under that program.

Discussion Point

1. How many of you use the Minnesota Veteran’s questionnaire?

2. What do you do with the questionnaire when it is completed?

Youth Development Services

Youth Services includes a core set of employment and training programs for economically disadvantaged and at-risk youth. 

WIA Youth Minnesota Youth Program Youthbuild Liaison to faith-based and community-based

organizations Liaison to high schools, students and parents.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/youth/index.htm

Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)

WOTC is a federal tax credit available to all private sector businesses. It is an incentive to employers to hire individuals in certain targeted groups who consistently experience high rates of unemployment due to a variety of employment barriers.

WOTC is a tool for job seekers in these targeted groups to help them obtain gainful employment so that they may acquire the skills and experience needed to be eligible for better, higher paying job opportunities.

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/wotc/index.htm

Minnesota Federal Bonding Service

The Minnesota Federal Bonding Service is a no-cost employee dishonesty insurance that protects employers against employee theft of any money or property for new or current employees who may be denied coverage by commercial carriers based on the following:

• Record of arrest, conviction or imprisonment • History of alcohol or drug abuse • Poor credit history • Dishonorable discharge • Lack of employment history

http://www.deed.state.mn.us/bonding/

Programs and ServicesKEY POINTS1. Under WIA, One-Stop Career Centers, or WFCs in

Minnesota, requires recipients of WIA funds to refer customers to WIA programs.

2. Most programs provide some level of supportive services and possible training money, and are eligibility based.

3. Work Opportunity Tax Credit and the Federal Bonding Program are incentives for employers to hire job seekers with barriers.

This completes Learning Objective 2 of Module 2, Unit 1a.

Learning Objective 1: WFC Fundamentals

Learning Objective 2: WFC Programs and Services

Leaning Objective 3: Resource Area