WIA YOUTH ELIGIBILITY

Presented by: Brandon Carter

Agenda

Overview of WIA What is WIA? How is it funded? Difference b/t in and out of school

Youth Program Eligibility Objective Assessment Key Criteria of WIA Eligibility Errors WIA In-school Process Documenting Case Notes Local Policies and Resources

What is WIA?

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is a federally funded program designed to assist participants with finding and retaining

employment and to help employers find qualified workers.

*Since WIA is not an entitlement program, selection of participants takes into consideration many factors. These factors include, but are not limited to:

Qualifying for the WIA Program The potential to succeed in training The likelihood of successful performance outcomes

upon completion Reliability and consistent participation in the program

How is WIA Funded?

Congress appropriates new funds each year that are formula-allocated to states by the US Department of Labor

The WIA program year is July 1 through June 30

Most funds are formula-allocated to regions

WIA Youth Programs

Out-of-School Youth A youth who is the age of 16-21, a school dropout, or

who has received a secondary school diploma or its equivalent. They are considered basic skills deficient, unemployed, or underemployed.

In-School Youth A youth who is enrolled in high school and within the

ages of 14-21. The youth is considered basic skills deficient and their family income is below the poverty

guidelines. The focus is to increase longer-term academic and occupational learning opportunities.

*For PY14, you will only be recruiting high school Seniors

WIA Youth Eligibility Criteria

An eligible youth is an individual who: (1) is 14 – 21 years of age; and (2) is an individual who received a total family income or are members of a family that

received a total family income that does not exceed the higher of (a) the poverty line; or (b) 70 percent of the lower living standard income; and (3) meets one or more of the following criteria: Is an individual who is deficient in basic literacy

skills; a school dropout; homeless; a runaway; a foster child; pregnant or a parent; and offender; or requires additional assistance to complete their education or

secure and hold employment.

(Age+Income+Barrier=Eligible Participant)

Ages 14 through 21 Must be a citizen, U.S. national, lawfully

admitted permanent resident alien, refugee, or other immigrant authorized by the Attorney General to work in the U.S. Selective Service registration

In need of services and can benefit from the program/not an entitlement program

Veterans Priority of Service applies to those 18 and older; AND

(Age+Income+Barrier=Eligible Participant)

Low Income - Which is an individual who received a total family income or are members of a family that received a total family income that does not exceed the higher of (a) the poverty line; or (b) 70 percent of the lower living standard income; AND

One or more of the following: Deficient in basic literacy skills School dropout Homeless, runaway, or foster child Pregnant or parenting Offender

YINAA-Requires additional assistance to complete education or hold employment (locally defined in RWIB Management Policy #3)

WIA Youth Program (YT)Eligibility (cont.)

Up to 5% of the youth served by WIA Youth Program may be from households that do no meet the WIA income eligibility requirement under certain conditions and with specific authorization from RWIB.

*Do not use 5% rule without this office's permission!

Definitions of Program Eligibility Criteria Terms for Barriers Basic literacy skills deficient (WIA Section 101 (4)) – The individual

has English or Math skills at or below the 8th grade level on a generally accepted standardized test or a comparable score on a criterion-referenced test

School dropout (WIA Section 101 (39)) – An individual who is no longer attending school and has not received a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent

Homeless (Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act)- An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, adequate night-time residence

Runaway (WIASRD)- A person under 18 years of age who absents himself or herself from home or place of legal residence without the permission of his or her family

Foster Child (WIA Section 101 (25) (E)) – An individual who is in foster care for whom State or local government payments are made

Definitions of Program Eligibility Criteria Terms for Barriers Cont..

Pregnant or Parenting (WIASRD) – An individual who is either under 22 years of age and who is pregnant, or an individual (male or female) who is providing custodial care for one or more dependents under the age of 18

Offender (WIA Section 101 (27)) – An individual who is or has been subject to any stage of the criminal justice process, for whom services under this Act may be beneficial; or who requires assistance in overcoming artificial barriers to employment resulting from a record of arrest or conviction

Individual with a disability (WIA Section 101 (17)) – An individual with any disability as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

WIA Youth Program (YT)Requirements

Case managers must provide: Objective assessment Development of individual service strategy

(ISS) Preparation for post secondary and/or

employment opportunities Links to academic and occupational learning

opportunities

Purpose of an Objective Assessment

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) requires states to report performance outcome

goals & to monitor local program performance.

Local programs use standardized assessments to collect & report

student learning gains data.

This process ensures accurate & consistent monitoring of

program results among agencies & provides the baseline data

needed to document improvements in literacy skills.

Examples of an Authorized Objective Assessment

CASAS Comprehensive Adult Student

Assessment System Test items are written in the

context of everyday situations related to life and work.

The standardized tests are able to track longitudinal progress and to certify attainment of benchmark levels of proficiency.

Test results provide an international standardized benchmark system for certifying work-related basic skills and English-language proficiency.

TABE Administers can create item

analysis, individual student, and list reports

Compile test results on any demographic group to meet federal and state reporting requirements

Export data to other software applications to create custom reports, charts, and graphs, or to manage data in existing systems

Report on National Reporting System level gains, GED Tests readiness, and norm- and criterion-referenced information

WIA Youth Program (YT)Requirements (cont.) Program operators must procure (or make

available) the following youth program elements: Tutoring Alternative secondary school opportunities Paid and unpaid work experiences Summer employment opportunities Leadership development Occupational skills training Supportive Services Adult Mentoring 12 months of post program follow-up Comprehensive guidance and counseling

Key Elements of WIA Family--The term ``family'' means two or more persons related by blood, marriage, or decree of

court, who are living in a single residence, and are included in one or more of the following categories: (A) A husband, wife, and dependent children. (B) A parent or guardian and dependent children. (C) A husband and wife.

*The issue of guardianship concerning dependent children may be determined by decree of court or may be determined by a state or federal agency which has established or

assumed guardianship.

Key Criteria of WIA-(Age)

Dependent child (Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004)-A youth under age 19 (or under 21 and a full-time student), living in a single residence, and who is being claimed as a dependent on a parents or guardian’s income tax return Related by blood or adoption Shared the same principal residence as the parent/guardian

for more than half of the tax year (exceptions apply in some cases)

Met one of the following: younger than 19; younger than 21 if a full-time student for at least 5 months during the year; or totally and permanently disabled during any part of the year

Did not provide more than half of his or her own support during the year

A U.S. citizen or national, or a permanent resident

Key Criteria of WIA-(Income) Low-income (WIA Section 188(a)(5))

Receives or is a member of a family that receives cash payments under a Federal, State, or local income based public assistance program (WIA Section 101(25)(A))TANFRefugee AssistanceSSIDisability Assistance

OR

Key Criteria of WIA-(Income) cont.. Is a member of a household that receives (or has been determined within the 6-month

period prior to application for the program involved to be eligible to receive) Food Stamps (WIA Section 101 (25) (C) OR

Qualifies as a homeless individual as defined in the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (WIA Section 101 (25) (D) OR

Is a foster child on behalf of whom State or local government payments are made (WIA Section 101 (25) (E) OR

Received an income, or is a member of a family that received a total family income for the 6-month period prior to application that, in relation to family size does not exceed the higher of the poverty level or 70% of the lower living standard income level (LLSIL) (WIA Section 101 (25) (B)

Family Income EXCLUDES-

Unemployment compensation

Child support payments

Cash payments under a Federal, State, or local income-based public assistance program

Old-age and survivors insurance benefits (Section 202 of the Social Security Act)

Key Criteria of WIA-(Barrier) YINAA

What is it you are trying to accomplish with this participant?

Why are you using this barrier?

Who is the student that you are using this barrier on?

How do you plan to explain and justify this barrier?

Good Eligibility Practices

Eligibility documentation should support the eligibility determination

Process used should be easy for another to follow Another case manager could review your results

and come to the same conclusion Determination process is consistently applied

to all customers When co-enrolling customers, eligibility must

be determined for all programs at the same time

Common Eligibility Errors

Customer receives SNAP (food stamps) but file contains no documentation to support

Selective service status verification Date of Birth verification Missing or incomplete documentation of

family income “Family of one” determination based

solely on customer being disabled

Common Eligibility Errors Cont.. Income calculations

Mathematical errors Using net vs. gross earnings 6 month earnings not annualized

VOS/Client Folder errors Documentation in client folder does not match data

entered in VOS, for example Date of birth on ID in client folder does not match

date entered in VOS Documents are not signed or dated and no

witness identified.

Ways to Prevent Eligibility Errors Always refer to the WIA Eligibility Manual Peer review of eligibility Ensure client folder contains all documentation that

supports your eligibility determination by reviewing all eligibility documentation before making a client’s determination

If possible, review eligibility determination with an experienced case manager

Eligibility reviews are conducted by VCCS and LWIA staff monitors.

Call your LWIA’s assigned Monitor or VOS/Policy support staff at the VCCS system office or LWIA staff

WIA In-School Process of Intake, Participation, and Closure

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Development and Implement Service Strategy (413)

Assessment (412)

Eligibility Data & Document Collection

Initial Intake Process

Closure & Follow Up

Complying with the Law

States and localities must implement a system of monitoring that insures compliance with all fiscal, administrative, and programmatic requirements of: WIA – the law and regulations Federal policies (TEGLs) Circulars and regulations State policies Local policies approved by local boards Other laws such as those related to

employment, non-discrimination, etc. Grant specific requirements

Documenting Case Notes

Dear Diary (DD)- Reports a past event. There is no planning related to this Case Note.

Opinion (O)- Should not be included in any case note. Not factual

Good Case Note (GCN)- Assists with the plan. Tells the reader who is doing what and when

Documenting with Strong Case NotesType Case Note

Lisa brought in pix of her baby. Says everything going well at the community service site. No complaints. She likes it okay and hopes this will help her to get a job.

I agreed to review Stan’s resume and provide feedback. I will email him comments by 8/15.

Donna still doesn’t know what job she wants to do. She dismisses anything she is qualified to do and wants to do stuff she will never get.

Marcy called me. She is depressed about being unemployed. She said she is looking but can’t find anything.

Alice agreed to review her Facebook page and delete all pictures that are unprofessional and review posts. It will be cleaned up by Monday the 31st.

Vanessa says she is thinking about getting her GED. She said she knows she needs to get a diploma to be able to have more opportunity on a job.

Joe agreed to go to attend a job search workshop series and create a stronger resume, cover letter, and telephone script. He will attend the session beginning on August 3rd.

Documenting with Strong Case Notes cont..Type Case Note

Andrew’s cell phone was stolen and he needs one for his job.

Russ called to tell me that his car broke down so he didn’t go to work yesterday. He did call his supervisor in advance.

Carlos did not complete his financial aide agreement as promised. He never follows through.

Ronald has completed his occupational skills training and has competitive tools for job search. I will set appointment for him with business services unit by Friday to begin creating a job search plan.

Janet seems to be interested in applying to Express Shipping. She knows it will be hard to get in. Completed child care application.

Sarah recently had her baby. We discussed the impact of the baby on her plan to work. Sarah agreed to talk to her sister about being a back up babysitter. She will ask her tonight.

Talked to Dave at his work experience site. He called to get his gas voucher. Everything is status quo.

Documenting with Strong Case Notes cont..Type Case Note

Frieda agreed to take the Career Scope and them come to see me so we can discuss the results. The Career Scope is set up for Thursday afternoon.

Patty doesn’t assume responsibility for all the absences at the work experience site last week and now she has lost that position. The supervisor told her not to come back. Patty was angry at the supervisor and she said she isn’t ready to try to find another site.

Margie was late to work again . The employer called and his is upset. I talked to Margie. She seemed sorry, and said her alarm didn’t go off. :-/

Naiia who doesn’t have a job, has a smart phone, an ipad, and just got a dog. She doesn’t have the money for those things but then wants us to pay for her gas.

Resources for Further Development!Listed below are important resources for your work:

•Virginia Workforce Connection websiteCommonly referred to as VaWC.Provides information on jobs, wages, skill requirements, industry and occupational trends, and potential training opportunities. Use this site to match job seekers to employers. Includes the VaWC Systems Manual in the Resource section.https://www.vawc.virginia.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx

•Virginia Workforce NetworkCommonly referred to as VWN.Provides WIA eligibility guidelines, WIA performance and common measure references and Virginia Workforce Letters that provide administrative guidance that is deemed necessary to implement the WIA in Virginia.http://elevateva.org

•U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration websiteCommonly referred to as DOLETA.Provides resources, tools and information on jobs, careers, and business and industry employment trends. This site has a very good search function.http://www.doleta.gov/The DOL website, under WIA, Youth, has excellent Toolkits for Case Managers and many other reference materials. http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/uswf_nav.cfm#toolkits

•Glossaries – Definitions of commonly used terms can be found at the following site.http://vwn.vccs.edu/resources/workforce-professionals/administrative-guidance/

oVirginia WIA Eligibility Guidelines: Eligibility DefinitionsoVirginia WIA Performance/Common Measure References: WIA terms and definitionsoVirginia Workforce Letters: VWL #11-02, WIA Service Code Definitions and Limitations

•Manuals – TOOLKIT Frontline Workers.pdf and Elements of a WIA Youth Program.dochttp://vwn.vccs.edu/job-seekers/youth-programs/

Local Policies and References for a Successful

Program WIA Eligibility Documentation* VWL 11-11 Income Guidelines* Local Priority of Service

Guidance Local Eligibility Guidance

* Both can be found on the VOS (VaWC) website

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!Brandon CarterYouth Development Specialist-Capital Region Workforce Partnership