Reference: Training and Employment Information Notice (TEIN) No. 20-92. Background: These TAGs were prepared for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) by the Center for Human Resources of the Heller Graduate School at Brandeis University. The Center is one of the Nation's leading research, training, and policy development organizations in the fields of youth development, employment, and education. "Assessment for At-Risk Youth: A Practitioner's Guide to Definitions, Guiding Principles, and Implementation Strategies" has been prepared to help youth practitioners understand the importance of assessment and its basic components. The guide goes beyond the essential components of a comprehensive, integrated, quality assessment system by addressing key questions. The "Assessment for At-Risk Youth: A Decision Maker's Summary" serves as a companion piece to the Practitioner's Guide. It has been prepared to help line practitioners, managers, and policy makers understand what it takes to build and manage an effective assessment system that meets public accountability expectations and youth employability development needs. It complements the previously issued "Improving Assessment" TAG. The "A Guide to Program Design Options for Serving At-Risk Youth" synthesizes the major themes involved in youth program design and walks through the basic components of youth program planning and implementation. Advance copies of the TAGs were distributed at the DOL sponsored train-the-trainer sessions on Youth Assessment and Program Design Options held the weeks of September 27, October 18, and November 1. These TAGs are part of a series of technical assistance guides and training being developed to assist States and service delivery areas (SDAs) in the implementation of quality JTPA programs. In addition to these TAGs, the series will include technical assistance guides and training in critical program areas such as: Case Management; SDA Monitoring of Service Providers; Targeting, Outreach and Recruitment; On-the-Job Training; Financial Management; Procurement; and State Oversight. Distribution: Copies of the TAGs are being provided under separate cover to all State Liaisons for distribution to: -- SDAs (4 copies each); -- State Worker Adjustment Liaison (3 copies); -- State Employment Service Administrator (one copy); and -- State JTPA agency (balance of copies). The TAGs have been prepared in a loose-leaf format suitable for use in a three-ring binder. Computer disks are also being provided to the State Liaisons for the distribution of one each to the SDAs.

References: The Trade Act of 1974 as amended; regulations at 20 CFR 617; GAL 4-89, and Change l; Section C of APPENDIX A to GAL 15-90; and Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Audit Report No. 05-93-008-03-330. Background: The OIG recently completed an audit of the TAA Program in nine selected States. The OIG conducted the audit to determine if the TAA program assisted workers to find suitable employment and, where training was needed, how States managed their training efforts. States audited were Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The OIG concluded that ETA and the States did not know if the program is effective in assisting workers to return to suitable employment. The OIG felt that data necessary to evaluate the program are not available because clearly defined objectives, follow up and relevant performance measures are lacking. Among its recommendations, the OIG indicated that ETA should strengthen controls over the granting of waivers from the TAA training requirement if it is to meet the training and reemployment goals for workers implied by the Trade Act. Among the waiver issues cited by the OIG were: no evidence that waivers were periodically reviewed as required; lack of documentation showing special conditions or other justifications for waivers; and numerous cases in which waivers may have been granted for unreasonable time periods, were counterproductive, or may have been contrary to the intent of the program. The OIG also reported that States used waivers to allow participants to receive TRA payments, even though training may have been feasible and appropriate in many cases . This practice may be a disincentive for training and send mixed signals about the priorities of the TAA program. This GAL restates the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) guidance for issuance of TAA certifications waiving workers' participation in TAA training and administrative processes which States must have in place to ensure proper administration of the waiver of training requirements. States' Responsibility: States have a positive responsibility to ensure that certifications waiving workers' participation in TAA training are granted only when it has been determined that training is not feasible or appropriate. GAL 15-90 provides specific guidance to the States on how to make a determination on whether training is "feasible or appropriate" for a TAA applicant. A determination on whether training is "feasible or appropriate" is made by evaluating whether training suitable for the worker is available, the training is approvable under Section 236, and the worker is able to take full advantage of the training and complete the training. In addition, full funding for the training must be available and the training must commence within thirty days of approval. In addition, when a State agency makes a determination that the training requirement will be waived for an individual, the State agency must issue a written certification to the individual of such a finding. State agencies are also required to develop a procedure to review these certifications every 30 days or less to ensure that the conditions upon which the certification was granted continue to exist. If conditions under which a waiver certification was issued have changed, the certification must be revoked if it is determined that training is now appropriate. Finally, State agencies must also develop procedures for compiling and reporting on the number of certifications issued and revoked, by reason. Although State agencies are not required to forward copies of individual waivers to the Department, Regional staff responsible for TAA activities will check random samples of waivers during regular ETA reviews. Operating instructions on State responsibilities for providing certifications waiving workers' participation in TAA training are issued in Section C of APPENDIX A of GAL 15-90, dated August 21, 1990. Action Required: The OIG findings underscore the importance of implementing and adhering to administrative controls on the issuances of waivers. States must inform all appropriate staff of the content of this GAL and implement the following actions. a. Review the State TAA program and ensure that State certifications waiving workers' participation in TAA training are granted, documented and reviewed in accordance with the guidelines described in TAA program operating instructions at Section C of APPENDIX A to GAL 15-90. b. Determine what procedures and administrative controls, if any, the State needs to have implemented to ensure that waivers are being reviewed every 30 days to determine the current standing of the waiver. c. Implement corrective action or procedures, where needed, to ensure that the State is able to compile and report on certifications and revocations in a timely and accurate manner and that the State administration of TAA training waivers is in accordance with TAA program operating instructions at Section C of APPENDIX A to GAL 15-90.

Average Weekly Benefit Amount (AWBA) Utilization: On May 11, 1995, the Department published an interim final rule in the Federal Register (60 FR 25560), which amended Section 625.6 effective for all major disasters declared on and after that date. Among the changes, the amendments provide that the minimum weekly DUA amount will be 50 percent of the AWBA paid in the State for regular compensation, unless workers are customarily or routinely employed less than full-time prior to their unemployment due to the disaster. The attached listing sets forth the 50 percent of AWBA computation applicable for major disasters declared during the first quarter of FY 1996, from October 1 through December 31, 1995. Action Required: SESA Administrators are requested to provide this information to appropriate staff and insure that the correct AWBA is utilized in determining the weekly DUA amount.

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References: DINAP Bulletin 91-22. Background: Based upon suggestions made by the JTPA title IV-A grantees and DOL staff who participated in the Partnership Planning process, and continuing with DOL efforts to further streamline reporting requirements, several changes have been made for Program Year 1995. The new reporting forms and instructions attached to this bulletin contain changes which should reduce reporting errors and increase more timely submittals. The following report and planning forms, as approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), are effective immediately for PY 1995. Most importantly, frequency of reporting has been changed from quarterly to semi-annual. Grantees are not required to submit a first or third quarterly report for PY 1995. This bulletin summarizes the final OMB-approved reporting and planning forms and instructions for PY 1995 and PY 1996. Performance Standards and Revised Reporting and Planning Forms and Instructions: The following section summarizes the significant reporting and planning line item changes for each new form. A. Performance Standards 1. Optional Selection of Measures There will continue to be three performance measures used to assess grantee performance over the next two program years. The Entered Employment Rate (EER), the Positive Termination Rate (PTR), and the Employability Enhancement Rate (EEN). At the end of the program year, grantees will need to meet the final standards for two of the three measures to be considered "fully successful". Grantees serving more "job ready" participants and/or located in favorable labor markets will probably be more successful at meeting the EER and PTR measures. Those grantees serving less skilled participants and/or located on reservations or in rural areas with limited job opportunities may be more successful with the PTR and EEN measures. 2. Employability Enhancements (EEN) The EEN measure reflects a more complete count of those participants who have enhanced their job- specific skills or made learning gains as a result of program participation. Unlike the previous measure of positive terminations, this performance measure excludes job placements to assess more directly how well the grantee is able to address the skill needs of its clients. Use of this measure in combination with other performance indicators will encourage grantees to better prepare their participants for advanced training, education, and more stable employment. 3. Revision of Average Cost per Participant Guideline To encourage more intensive services to hard-to- serve clients, cost measures as a performance standard were eliminated several years ago. They were replaced with a suggested guideline of an average cost per participant, which could be exceeded with appropriate justification or explanation. In keeping with this trend of serving the hard-to-serve, section 401 grantees are reminded that the average cost per participant guideline has been raised from $4,200 to $4,400 for PY 1995, for purposes of planning and program review. Grantees exceeding this limit at the end of the program year will be asked to explain why its provision of services required higher per- participant expenditures. B. Instructional Changes for Each Form 1. Budget Information Summary (BIS) - Form 8600 Grantees are now required to report semi-annually rather than quarterly. Therefore, planning is only required on a semi-annual basis. Although quarterly columns remain on the new reporting form, the 1st and 3rd quarter columns are not required to be completed but may be utilized at the grantee's option. Revised the "Program Funds" section which shows total funds available so that grantees can add down the column. Eliminated line 5.a. "Community Benefits Projects ONLY" from old form. Tryout Employment has been eliminated. 2. Program Planning Summary (PPS) - Form 8601 Grantees are required to report semi-annually rather than quarterly. Therefore, planning is only required on a semi-annual basis. Although quarterly columns remain on the new reporting form, the 1st and 3rd quarter columns are not required to be completed but may be utilized at the grantee's option. Eliminated column (b) "Community Benefit Project". Re-numbered and clarified section I. B. "Total Terminations" category by differentiating "Indirect Placements" into two separate groups, those with and those without enhancements. This essentially eliminates those subcategories which have caused reporting errors in the past. Eliminated line H., section III. "JOBS program participant" in the old form. Line F., section III. "Handicapped" has been retitled "Disabled" (same definition, however). Line G., section III. "Reading Skills At or Below 7th Grade Level" has been changed to "Reading Skills At or Below 8th Grade Level" to be consistent with the definition in the Job Training Partnership Act. Section IV. "Community Benefit Project(s) Goals" on the old form has been eliminated on the new form. Tryout Employment has been eliminated. 3. Financial Status Report (FSR) - Form 8602 Line 9.a. "Community Benefit Projects ONLY" on the old form has been deleted on the new form. Tryout Employment has been eliminated. 4. Program Status Summary (PSS) - Form 8603 Re-numbered and clarified section I. B. "Total Terminations" category by differentiating "Indirect Placements" into two separate groups, those with and those without enhancements. This essentially eliminates those subcategories which have caused reporting errors in the past. Column (b) "Community Benefit Projects" on the old form has been eliminated on the new form. Line C. Section II. " On-the-Job Training/Tryout Employment" on the old form has been redefined to read "On-the-Job Training". Tryout Employment is not an allowable activity per the JTPA amendments of 1992. Section III. "Community Benefit Project(s) Status" on the old form has been eliminated on the new form. A new section III. "Linkages with Other Programs" has been added in the new form. 5. Annual Status Report (ASR) - Form 8604 Eliminated the "Community Benefits" column. Re-numbered and clarified the "Total Terminations" category by differentiating "Indirect Placements" into two separate groups, those with and those without enhancements. Expanded the EEN termination category on the second page of the report form to include multiple adult/youth employability enhancements. This allows grantees to report multiple enhancement counts for terminees. Revised the "barriers to employment" for the following line items: -- Reading skills at or below the 8th Grade Level; -- JOBS Program Participant has been moved to the "Linkages with Other Programs" category; and -- The "Handicapped" line item was retitled "Disabled" (same definition, however). Combined the two veterans categories. Eliminated the two categories of training duration, "Average Weeks in All (Specific) Training" and "Average Weeks in Section 401 Training". Added "Linkages with Other Programs" category, and included a space for the grantee to report on innovative programs or activities undertaken during the year. Revised the "Program Funds" section which shows total funds available so that grantees can add down the column. Moved the "Total Program Costs" category to a separate page to allow for separate submission in the event of revision or amendment. Eliminated Tryout Employment. General: In addition to the above-mentioned changes, there have been several definitional and editorial changes to the instructions which have clarified them significantly. While the above-mentioned changes refer primarily to the reporting of line items, grantees are advised that some of the column headings have been changed to obtain new data or data previously reported on other lines or columns on the old reporting forms. Action: Grantees should read the attached final instructions carefully and familiarize themselves with the new reporting requirements before submitting any of the required reports on the attached final forms to the program office (DINAP). Technical assistance on the new reporting requirements will be provided. Inquiries: Contact your DINAP Federal Representative Team.

Reference. DINAP Bulletins Nos. 94-18; 94-18, Change 1; 94-27; 95-03; and 95-09 (dated October 18, 1995 - renumbered 95-11). Background. The Congress is currently working on the Department's appropriation for Fiscal Year (FY) 1996. The final figure for PY 1996 JTPA title IV-A will most likely be substantially less than the final figure of $59,787,000 appropriated for PY 1995. This fact, coupled with the continuing effects of the 1990 Census data on the allocation formula, will mean that all section 401 grantees will continue to receive smaller grant allocations. Accordingly, the Department has made a policy change to alleviate the portion of this deficiency imposed administratively. Policy. It is the policy of the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration that all carry-in limits previously issued since 1991 for title IV-A funds are hereby withdrawn, including limits imposed on the transfer of IV-A funds from the now-expired 99-1/B-3 grants to the new B-5 grants which (for title IV-A purposes) became effective on July 1, 1995. It is further DOL/ETA policy that carry-in limits are suspended in general. Grantees which exceed the former limit will be required to explain why they did so. Grantees failing to provide an acceptable reason for exceeding the former (20%) limit, given the diminished availability of program funds, will have the former limit reimposed on a case-by-case basis. Action. Grantees wishing to transfer unexpended obligational authority from the expired 99-1/B-3 grant to the current grant must complete the attached grant signature sheet and a revised Budget Information Summary (BIS) for the summer or program year into which the funds are being transferred as soon as possible to the following address: U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Division of Indian and Native American Programs Room N-4641 FPB 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210 ATTENTION: MODIFICATIONS DESK Questions. Contact Greg Gross on (202) 219-7509.

Background: The public employment and training system is poised for a period of significant change in funding and organization. The new sorting of responsibilities between and among the federal, State and local partners contained in both the current House and Senate legislation creates challenges and promising opportunities. ETA views technology as an indispensable component in helping our delivery system organizations to address the effects of these challenges, to exploit latent opportunities, and to accelerate the nation's movement to a world class public employment and training system. Both the President and the Vice President have stressed that technology will play a key role to both improve the education and training opportunities of all Americans and reduce the cost of government. With the reality of reduced budgets, all levels of government are being called on to deliver high-quality, easily- accessible services at a lower cost to the taxpayer, to position those services closer to the customer, and to retain the flexibility to respond to dynamic conditions in our labor markets. Conference Objective: With the potential of new employment and training legislation in the very near future, this particular conference provides an excellent learning opportunity for those engaged in critical workforce development activities. Specifically, JETT*CON provides ETA's State and local partners the opportunity: -- to learn how technology can be used to improve the operation and delivery of workforce development services, -- to see, touch, and feel these technologies first-hand, -- to become more knowledgeable consumers of technology. In addition, the commercial marketplace, and technology vendors in particular, will have the chance to gain a better understanding of and access to the emerging public workforce development marketplace. JETT*CON will provide a forum for ongoing discussion of our collaborative system-building efforts at all levels of government, with lively and provocative demonstrations on how today's and tomorrow's technology can be used in the delivery of public employment and training programs and services. In anticipation of block grants and program consolidation requirements, ETA has structured meetings and colloquia within the conference format to promote exchanges and networking between and among all system-building partners. JETT*CON provides a unique, integrated forum where all of ETA's system-building activities can conduct essential dialogues between organizations and experts, and share effective practices and experiences. Conference Overview: JETT*CON is a combination of three integrated, coordinated events: national conferences for three of ETA's system-building activities (i.e., One-Stop Career Centers, Enterprise/Pioneers, and America's Labor Market Information System), JETT*CON technology workshops and the JETT*CON exposition program. A one-page summary of the content of the concurrent national conferences is attached. JETT*CON's technology workshop and exposition program has been organized around integrated thematic tracks (see attached Registration Brochure for additional detail about these "tracks"). Several activities and events have been structured around each track, including: -- Educational Workshops -- an interactive, hands-on learning experience which focuses on the application of technology to that "track" and provides tools to assist consumers in choosing technologies and vendors. -- System Showcases and Presentations -- Examples of exemplary uses of technology drawn from the public employment and training system. -- Exhibits -- more than 70 vendors that provide technologies germane to workforce development. -- New Product Demonstrations -- selected exhibitors will be asked to present new and exciting products that are of benefit to the public employment and training community. In addition to these activities, Capacity Building will convene a meeting of their Technical Panel of Experts, and the Enterprise will hold a meeting of its governing council. ETA's electronic replacement of the outdated Dictionary of Occupational Titles, O*NET, will be showcased. The conference is being co-sponsored by several of ETA's national partner organizations (i.e., the American Association of Community Colleges, American Society for Training and Development, Human Resources Development Institute (AFL-CIO), and National Alliance of Business). Attendance: This conference is designed for leaders, policy makers, and practitioners of States and local governments engaged in planning for or implementing One-Stop Career Centers and local learning laboratories, developing labor market information delivery systems, engaging in system-building activities, and establishing or expanding programs of continuous improvement and quality services to benefit their customers. JETT*CON can accommodate about 1000 participants. This projection is based in part on the core JETT*CON educational component -- the workshops -- which need to remain limited in size in order to maintain the integrity of the learning experience and in part on the availability of breakout rooms (available for concurrent conference activities) and sleeping rooms. -- One-Stop and ALMIS -- Registration for the One-Stop and ALMIS national conferences will be by invitation. Registration packets, with a cover letter detailing how many conference slots are being made available, are being sent directly to each state. The One-Stop and ALMIS support teams will be contacting their state and local principals with full information on their respective parts of the conference program. -- Enterprise and Pioneers -- The national meeting for the Enterprise and Pioneers initiatives is based on a first- come, first-serve open registration. Slightly over four hundred (400) conference slots have been set aside for this purpose, and the attached registration brochure can be used to reserve these slots. Please contact the Enterprise support team for more information (202-501- 5440). Housing Information: Hotel space is being held until December 12, 1995. A limited number of guest rooms are available at the government rate ($114). Please contact each hotel directly for reservations (hotel contact information is contained in the registration brochure). Be sure to mention JETT*CON to secure the government rate. Action: Please share this information with appropriate staff who may be interested in attending JETT*CON. A copy of this directive is also being sent directly to each SDA/SSA.

References: Title V - NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance and Other Provisions of PL 103-182, North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. The Trade Act of 1974 as amended; regulations at 20 CFR 617; GAL 6-94; GAL 7-94; FM 19-94; and FM 1-95 and Change 1. Background: The office of Trade Adjustment Assistance (OTAA) has launched a capacity building strategy aimed at increasing the effectiveness of staff in local and State agencies that administer NAFTA-TAA benefits and training services across the country. OTAA is supporting this effort through a variety of projects and activities which are responsive to, and in support of, the States' NAFTA-TAA service delivery systems and focus primarily on effective customer satisfaction practices. OTAA staff has been meeting with State and Regional NAFTA-TAA and regular Trade staff to evaluate the effectiveness of the Trade program in the following areas; assisting workers find suitable employment, assisting States in identifying where additional training services might be needed, and how OTAA can continue to assist the States in delivering services. The focus of theses efforts is to allow the states to improve or enhance their NAFTA-TAA and regular Trade service delivery systems, improve services to Trade participants, and better evaluate program operations and effectiveness. The demand on the Trade program to process an ever increasing number of Trade impacted workers applying for TAA benefits as a result of NAFTA and the growth of regular Trade activity provides the impetus for State involvement with this type of capacity building activity. Without such action, the Trade program will continue to be hard pressed to provide accurate reports in a timely fashion, improve customer service, or ensure quality performance. In the short term, OTAA has developed materials to help the States address specific shortcomings previously identified in the Office of the Inspector General reports. New Resources Available: In consultation with Federal and community-based agencies responsible for providing NAFTA-TAA training and other re-employment services to NAFTA certified dislocated workers, NAFTA-TAA videos and posters have been developed by the Utah Department of Employment Security. The Videos and posters are available in both English and Spanish language versions and were developed as part of an ongoing project to create outreach tools which can be used by States in administering the NAFTA-TAA Program. The intent of this project is to build dislocated workers' awareness of the benefits that may be available to them under the NAFTA-TAA Program. a. The NAFTA-TAA Video: The video outlines the goals of the NAFTA-TAA Program and emphasizes the rapid response assistance and reemployment services available to workers who have been adversely affected by shifts in production to and/or imports from Canada or Mexico. The NAFTA-TAA Video was created as an outreach tool which can be used by States in Administering the NAFTA-TAA Program. Is was developed to provide information and contacts for service providers working in several areas of worker training and program development. The video guides the dislocated worker through the actions that must be taken in order to receive benefits. The video includes descriptions on: How Workers May File a Petition; the State and Federal Role in the Investigative Process; and the Eligibility Criteria set forth by the legislation. The video also describes in detail the four basic types of assistance that workers may receive: job training, income support, job search allowance and relocation allowance. The video may also be used as a training tool to help State staff become more knowledgeable regarding the NAFTA-TAA Program and its benefits. b. The NAFTA-TAA Poster. The NAFTA-TAA Poster was created to promote the availability of the NAFTA-TAA Program to dislocated workers. The poster should be made available to all local employment security agency offices. The poster will most likely be the first exposure dislocated workers will have to the NAFTA-TAA Program. It is designed to advise dislocated workers on the availability of the program and where to seek further information. The telephone number will refer workers to the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. However, States may want to add the telephone number where workers can contact local NAFTA-TAA staff. Additional Copies: Additional copies of these resource materials can be ordered (at cost) from Mr. Jan Passelin at the Utah Department of Employment Security at (801) 536-7800. Action Required: State Administrators are requested to: a. Convey the information in this directive to appropriate staff processing NAFTA-TAA certified dislocated workers and secondary workers. b. Request that appropriate State staff review the information contained in the outreach materials and provide the information on programs and resources to local office NAFTA-TAA staff and other service providers on an as needed basis. C. Take the necessary action to fully utilize the materials provided in the attachments. D. Encourage local officials to review the present NAFTA-TAA application processing and benefits delivery system to identify potential areas where these materials may be introduced to improve the States effectiveness in assisting NAFTA-TAA and regular Trade impacted dislocated workers. Inquiries: Inquires should be directed to Mr. Russell T. Kile or Ms. Heidi M. Casta at (202) 219-5555.