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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.

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To preserve the formatting of this document, it has been converted to PDF (Portable Document Format) to retain its original layout.

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.

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References: (a) Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) final regulations at 20 CFR Section 627.455 and 627.904; (b) TEGL No. 4-97, "Calendar Year 1998 Summer Youth Employment and Training Program"; and (c) TEGL No. 7-95, "JTPA Intertitle Transfer of Funds". Background: The JQSR for the Title II program under the JTPA, as amended, displays cumulative data on fund availability and accrued expenditures for Title II formula funded programs. OMB Approval and Reporting Burden: The JQSR data collection instrument and instructions have been approved by OMB according to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended. The JQSR report has been approved under OMB Approval No. 1205-0323, with an expiration date of 07/31/2000. Reporting Requirements: A separate JQSR must be submitted for each Program Year (PY) of funds for Titles II-A/II-C and each Fiscal Year (FY) of Title II-B funds, cumulative for the life of the funds. The JQSR is due in the Regional Offices no later than 45 days after the end of each PY quarter. A final JQSR is due once all funds allotted in a program year or fiscal year (II-B) have been expended but no later than 90 days after the expiration of the period of fund availability for a program/fiscal year s funds. The quarterly due dates are 11/15, 2/15, 5/15 and 8/15. Following are revisions which were made to the JQSR: (1) Line 5, Total Expenditures, was changed to add "SUM OF LINES 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, AND 20"; and (2) Section VII, TITLE II-A/TITLE III TRANSFERS, was added to report intertitle transfers on LINE 37. In preparing this report, transfers for Titles II and III should be reported in accordance with the instructions provided in TEGL 7-95 on JTPA Intertitle Transfers. In addition, all fiscal year transfers for Title II-B and program year transfers for Title III must be reflected in the overall total for Line 2, Column D, and Line 18, Column D of the JQSR. The approved instructions for completion of the JQSR are attached. In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, ETA continues to encourage States to transmit the JQSR data electronically. States may continue to submit this data on floppy disk or by electronic mail using the ASCII data format in Attachment II. Starting in the first quarter of PY 1998, States will be provided with the option to submit reports via the Internet in a Year 2000 compliant format. New reporting procedures will be forwarded once they are finalized. Action Required: State JTPA Liaisons are requested to distribute the attached JQSR instructions to all officials within the State who need such information to implement the JQSR reporting requirements.

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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.

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