Okaloosa County BOCC — April 19, 2016 — CareerSource Okaloosa 2016-2020 Plan for County Commissioners Review — reading text

may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral, as appropriate; k. Financial literacy education; l. Entrepreneurial skills training; m. Services that provide labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors or occupations available in the local area, such as career awareness, career counseling, and career exploration services; and n. Activities that help youth prepare for and transition to postsecondary education and training. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 108 | P a g e Leveraging Partner Resources to Provide Program Elements CareerSource may leverage partner resources to provide program elements that are available in the local area. If a local program does not fund an activity with WIOA title I youth funds, the CareerSource must have an agreement in place with the partner to offer the program element and ensure that the activity is closely connected and coordinated with the WIOA youth program if enrolled youth participate in the program element. Closely connected and coordinated means that the Career Planners must contact and monitor the provider of the non-WIOA-funded activity to ensure the activity is of high quality and beneficial to the youth participant. Pre-apprenticeship Program One of the types of work experiences listed under WIOA sec. 129(c)(2)(C) is pre-apprenticeship programs. The reference to pre-apprenticeship programs is new in WIOA. The definition is based on TEN No. 13-12 that defined a quality pre-apprenticeship program. CareerSource youth programs must coordinate pre-apprenticeship programs to the maximum extent feasible with registered apprenticeship programs, which are defined in WIOA sec. 171(b)(10), and require at least one documented partnership with a registered apprenticeship program. Quality pre-apprenticeship programs can play a valuable role in preparing individuals for registered apprenticeship and contribute to the development of a diverse and skilled workforce. Pre-apprenticeship programs can be adapted to meet the needs of participants, employers and sponsors they serve, and the specific employment opportunities available in a local labor market. Pre-apprenticeship training programs have successfully demonstrated that obstacles such as low math skills, poor work habits, lack of access to transportation, and lack of knowledge of sector opportunities can be overcome when coordinated training and support is provided to workers. Adult Mentoring The adult mentoring program element provides that mentoring must last at least 12 months and defines the mentoring relationship. It clarifies that mentoring must be provided by an adult other than the WIOA youth participant's assigned Career Advisor since mentoring is above and beyond typical case management services. Mentoring may take many forms, but at a minimum must include a youth participant matched with an individual adult mentor other than the participant's Career Advisor. Mentoring services may include group mentoring, mentoring via electronic means, and other forms as long as it also includes individual mentoring from an assigned mentor. CareerSource should use evidence-based models of mentoring to design the mentoring program. USDOL recommends youth programs provide rigorous screening, training, and match support for mentors, and frequent contact with youth and parents as the match progresses. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 109 | P a g e Financial Literacy Education The financial literacy program element is new under WIOA. Financial literacy is described in the allowable statewide youth activities in WIOA sec. 129(b)(2)(D) and the proposed section reiterates what was stated in the allowable statewide activities section of supporting financial literacy. CareerSource recognizes the importance of equipping workers with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve long-term financial stability. Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling The types of guidance and counseling services that fall under the program element Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling, includes referral to services provided by partner programs, as appropriate. When referring participants to necessary counseling that cannot be provided by the local youth program or its service providers, CareerSource must coordinate with the organization it refers to in order to ensure continuity of service. Leadership Development Opportunities An example of leadership development opportunities is included in WIOA regulations. It includes two new examples of appropriate leadership development categories that CareerSource may consider when assigning leadership development activities. One new example is civic engagement activities; the other is activities which put the youth in a leadership role. Positive Social and Civic Behaviors While WIOA included positive social behaviors as part of the description of leadership development opportunities, WIOA adds “civic behaviors” to the description of the leadership development program element. Examples of positive social behaviors include keeping informed of community affairs and current events. Individual Training Accounts for Youth Participants ITAs have become a proven tool to use for older and OSY to: a. Expand training options; b. Increase program flexibility; c. Enhance customer choice; and d. Reduce tracking, reporting and paperwork that come with dual enrollment. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 110 | P a g e As a result, ITAs have therefore become a critical component in WIOA to provide training services to older and OSY. WIOA does not add much discussion on the use of ITAs for youth participants. USDOL is proposing to allow ITAs for older OSY aged 18 to 24. This change will enhance individual participant choice in their education and training plans and provide flexibility to the youth program. ITAs also reduce the burden for staff by eliminating duplicative paperwork needed for enrolling older youth in both youth and adult formula programs. ITAs will benefit disconnected youth and reinforce WIOA's emphasis on increasing access to and opportunities for workforce investment services for this population. To the extent possible, the Career Planners must ensure that youth participants are involved in the selection of their educational and training activities. Entrepreneurial Skills Training Entrepreneurial skills’ training is a new program element under WIOA. While entrepreneurial skills training was previously listed as an example of a work experience in WIOA, under WIOA it is a separate program element. Supportive Services for Youth WIOA includes two additional examples of supportive services for youth which were not listed in WIOA youth regulations. Needs-related payments were listed as an example of an adult supportive service under WIOA but, can be critical to youth living on their own who participate in a youth program. WIOA lists needs-related payments as a supportive service at sec. 3(59). Assistance with educational testing can provide OSY with the opportunity to take high school equivalency tests, as well as other exams for occupational certifications and credentials, while accommodations may be necessary for youth with disabilities to participate in certain assessments and to have equal access and opportunity to participate in a variety of work-based learning activities. Follow-up Services for Youth WIOA requires that follow-up services for youth are provided for a minimum of 12 months. Follow-up services may be different for each individual based on his or her individual needs. Follow-up services provide the necessary support to ensure the success of youth post-program. Follow-up services are more than just a contact attempted made to gather information for reporting purposes. To meet follow-up requirements, Career Planners must do more than just make an attempt to contact the individual to gather reporting information. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 111 | P a g e Work Experience Priority WIOA sec. 129(c)(4), establishes a 20 percent minimum expenditure requirement on the work experience program element. Work experience is a critical WIOA youth program element, arguably the most important program element as signaled by the minimum expenditure requirement. Work experience helps youth understand proper workplace behavior and what is necessary in order to attain and retain employment. Work experience can serve as a stepping stone to unsubsidized employment and is an important step in the process of developing a career pathway for youth. Research shows work experience is correlated with higher high school graduation rates and success in the labor market. This is particularly important for youth with disabilities. Tracking the Work Experience Priority Under WIOA, the CareerSource youth program must use not less than 20 percent of the funds allocated to the local area to provide youth participants, both in-school youth and OSY, with paid and unpaid work experiences. In order to ensure the CareerSource WIOA youth programs meet this requirement, USDOL proposes that local WIOA youth programs track program funds spent on paid and unpaid work experiences and report such expenditures as part of the local WIOA youth financial reporting. Program expenditures on the work experience program element include wages as well as staffing costs for the development and management of work experiences. Like the 75 percent OSY expenditure requirement, CareerSource administrative costs are not subject to the 20 percent minimum work experience expenditure requirement. The work experience expenditure rate is calculated after subtracting out funds spent on administrative costs and is calculated based on remaining total local area youth funds rather than calculated separately for in-school and OSY. Work Experience Element The work experience program element uses language similar to WIOA regulation and includes the four work experience categories listed in WIOA sec. 129(c)(2)(C). In addition, the section eliminates the language under the corresponding WIOA rule that OJT is not an appropriate work experience activity for youth. WIOA sec. 129(c)(2)(C)(4) explicitly enumerates OJT opportunities as one type of work experience. Work experiences are designed to enable youth to gain exposure to the world of work and its requirements. Work experiences should help youth acquire the personal attributes, knowledge, and skills needed to obtain a job and advance in employment. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 112 | P a g e Summer Employment Opportunities for Youth Under WIOA sec. 129(c)(2)(C), summer employment opportunities are one of four suggested components of the paid and unpaid work experience program element. While the CareerSource WIOA youth program must provide paid and unpaid work experiences, they may take the form of a number of activities including: a. Summer employment opportunities and employment opportunities available throughout the year; b. Pre-apprenticeship programs; c. Internships and job shadowing, and d. On-the-Job Training. While summer employment opportunities are an