Click on the link below to view, save, or print out the document.

Click on the link below to view, save, or print out the document.

Click on the link below to view, save, or print out the document.

Background: NASUA is a national organization through which State aging agencies promote social policy favorable to the aging. With the support of the Retirement Research Foundation, NASUA is developing information, strategies, and guidance for the development of workforce development policy. Benchmarks for Mature and Older Workers: The attached document is the first product of this effort and reflects the influence of the growing numbers of older workers on the labor market. The 18 benchmarks can be used to assess the strengths and weaknesses of workforce reform efforts. They are also a useful assessment tool for bringing Older Worker programs into State and local One-Stop systems. NASUA is currently developing a series of best practices policy and program models for replication and will also conduct a National Older Worker Conference this coming November 15 - 17 in Denver, Colorado. Action: Please share these benchmarks with partners and interested organizations.

References: Training and Employment Information Notice No. 28-96 (May 1, 1997): Study On Certification/Chartering Criteria For One-Stop Career Centers Background: On May 18, 1998, ETA released Version 3.0 of America's Job Bank (AJB). Jobseekers and employers now have access to an enriched set of services and improved search engines. Jobseekers can enter resumes, create and save cover letters, and save job searches for future use. Employers are able to search resumes nationwide, and to save these searches for future use. America s Talent Bank and America's Career InfoNet have been integrated into this version of AJB. The web address remains the same: http://www.ajb.dni.us. ETA Activities: ETA will continue to treat the issue of accessibility and accommodation to AJB as a high priority. The new AJB provides a text-based alternative to its heavily frames-formatted presentation. This allows visually- impaired customers (and others who find frames navigation difficult) to use their reader software with its computer-generated voice technology. Other steps are being taken to ensure universal access to electronic services through the promotion and development of assistive technologies. For example, ETA has been working with the National Federation for the Blind to develop a telephone-based voice response system as a means of accessing AJB. Congress has earmarked funds for this effort, and the States are beginning to implement this talking AJB system. Also, ETA has shared information with the workforce development system about two different computer workstation configurations developed by the Wisconsin Job Service for people with disabilities, and has promoted their use in other states. ETA is promoting knowledge development in assistive technologies that increase accessibility to services through a variety of means. At JETT*CON 97, assistive technology was one of six major thematic tracks, and the provision of universal access to workforce development services was addressed in workshops and seminars and showcased in exhibit hall displays. The July 1998 National One-Stop conference included an exhibit on assistive technology for making the One-Stop system accessible to all applicant groups. An article on assistive technologies for One-Stops was included in the most recent issuance of the One-Stop newsletter. Universality is one of the four Federal principles for the design of State and local One-Stop service delivery. As noted in the attached EOGL, ETA has established the One-Stop Disability Initiative in recognition of the fact that the One-Stop Career Center System presents unique challenges as well as opportunities to provide improved services to individuals with disabilities. Products and descriptions of assistive technologies are made available to the employment and training system through the One-Stop Disability Initiative Section of the One- Stop Home Page found at www.ttrc.doleta.gov/onestop/ds1stp.htm. Action Required: States are requested to ensure distribution of the Attachment, and to work within their agencies and with local service centers to make effective use of developments in the area of accessibility and accommodation for workforce development services. Inquiries: Questions should be addressed to your Regional Administrator.

Background: DOL has contracted with Social Policy Research Associates (SPR) to conduct surveys of customers satisfaction with services provided through the SYETP. The surveys are being conducted in response to a requirement from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that DOL develop a uniform survey to collect employer satisfaction and data on customer satisfaction from a representative sample of service delivery areas (SDAs). The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) plans call for surveying youth participants, work experience employers, and educational instructors. The survey information, which will provide a nationwide picture of customer reactions to service providers and experiences gained from the SYETP will be used to help ETA improve the performance of future summer programs. Plan for Conducting Survey: The contractor has randomly selected 40 SDAs to participate in the surveys using a statistical method for stratified sample selection. SPR staff will contact each SDA to obtain a list of the names and mailing addresses of participants, employers, and instructors. Using these lists, the contractor will select a sample of 60 participants, 20 work-experience employers, and 20 educational instructors. All responses to the survey questions will be completely confidential. Information will not be reported by SDA or by individual nor will any SDA or individual be singled out or identified. It is anticipated that the surveys and follow up contacts will take place August through November. SDA Sites: The attached list includes the sites which have been randomly selected to participate in this survey. Action Required: States are requested to: -- Inform the SDAs listed of their selection to participate in this project; -- Advise SDAs that SPR will contact them directly to gather the names, addresses, and other pertinent information necessary to conduct the surveys; -- Inform SDAs that any names and addresses provided will be used strictly for purposes of this customer satisfaction survey; and -- Offer support to the SDAs and provide assistance if necessary.

Background: HHS and DOL are convening a series of conferences to share with other welfare reform stakeholders an informational "road map" on how to succeed in moving welfare families to self-sufficiency. The information presented will be based on research and evaluation findings and will include models of promising practices for helping families move from welfare to work. These meetings will also be a vehicle to discuss organizational change in an effort to foster the transformation of State agencies and other institutions serving welfare recipients. Conferences: Promising Practices Conferences are currently scheduled for the following dates and locations: September 16-18, 1998 Renaissance Denver Hotel 3108 Quebec Street Denver, CO 80207 October 27-29, 1998 The Westin Atlanta Airport 4736 Best Road College Park, GA 30337 November 4-6, 1998 The Sheraton San Marcos One San Marcos Place Chandler, AZ 85224 Audience: The conference is designed for welfare reform and welfare-to-work practitioners; stakeholders including representatives from Federal, State, and local agencies (e.g., welfare, food stamps, transportation, labor, mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, child care, child support enforcement, housing, legislators, executive branches); workforce development representatives (JTPA/PIC/SDA/ES/etc.); community-based organizations; educational organizations; faith-based organizations; Chambers of Commerce; advocacy groups; the business community (employers) and service providers (e.g., child care, mental health/substance abuse, domestic violence). Registration: Conference announcements and registration forms have been mailed to all stakeholders. Registration for the conference is $150.00 per person. The deadline for the early registration fee for all conferences is August 17, 1998. After August 17, the registration fee will be $200.00 per person. Action: States are asked to encourage the participation of State and local stakeholders, particularly on behalf of State formula and competitive grantees in their jurisdiction. States may also share this information on the conference with other appropriate State officials interested in welfare reform, welfare-to-work, and workforce development issues.

Background: Since 1966, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has administered, through contract, the Federal Bonding Program. Initiated as a small demonstration project, this innovative activity delivers a unique helping service that is not duplicated by any other program in the U.S. to secure the job placement of ex-offenders and other high-risk job applicants. The FBP functions as a job placement tool by providing employers with a special incentive to hire the hardest-to-place jobseekers. Program Redirection: This year, ETA is undertaking a major redirection of the FBP to a Federal-State partnership. This decision is based on several considerations: o The FBP has been administered for many years as a demonstration effort at the national level. It has a proven track record and needs to move forward to sustainability; o The declining availability of national JTPA program resources compels ETA to undertake some very stringent cost-cutting measures and to manage available funds more creatively; o The administration of the FBP as a Federal-State partnership will allow ETA to continue to maintain a Federal presence and retain the Federal character of the program while, at the same time, permitting States to play an active role in determining how this very worthwhile activity can best fit into their overall workforce development plans; and o The redirection of the FBP from a demonstration initiative to a Federal-State partnership will eliminate the program's reliance on a small national contract and will allow States and localities to tie fidelity bonding services more closely into allied efforts to assist the hardest-to-place jobseekers. Funding: During Program Year (PY) 1997, ETA utilized resources from the previous program year to support the FBP at a slightly expanded level to aid in the move to the Federal-State partnership. ETA is providing funding at a fixed reduced level to the FBP in PY 1998. Under the existing contractual arrangement, a limited bond allocation has been issued to each of the States to assure that a small Federally-financed floor is available to provide continuity in the program. States can use their own resources to supplement Federal funding to provide fidelity bonding to ex-offenders and other hard-to-place applicants. The project staff has been engaging in activities designed to facilitate the transition to partial State and local funding for bond issuance. Instructions as to how to proceed were issued to State Employment Service Directors and State Bonding Coordinators. Action Required: States are encouraged to carefully examine resources that might be available for this purpose.

Click on the link below to view, save, or print out the document.

Click on the link below to view, save, or print out the document.