To inform states and local areas about the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) and how WIA youth programs can access its Education and Training Vouchers to assist foster care youth and those aging out of foster care complete post-secondary education and training.

To inform the state workforce agencies (SWAs) of special filing "relief periods" for Work Opportunity/Welfare-to-Work Tax Credits (WOTC/WtWTC) certification requests in Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas.

To help promote the availability of the new Medicare prescription drug coverage through the workforce investment system, provide links to helpful resource materials about the program, and provide contact information for referrals.

To announce a planned BTQ Nonmonetary Determination Evaluation Training Seminar to be held April 10 – 14, 2006, in San Diego, CA. We expect to offer two additional BTQ seminars during FY 2006. Dates and locations will be announced later.

To update state workforce agencies (SWAs) about the UI Integrity Professional Development Conference scheduled for April 4 - 5, 2006, in Chicago, Illinois; and to encourage staff participation in the conference.

To announce Workforce Innovations 2006 to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, July 11 – 13, 2006.

To provide a summary of selected ETA 581 data with associated charts and tables for the QE March 31, 2005.

To provide state workforce agencies (SWAs) information about the training and career development opportunity for Unemployment Insurance (UI) appeals staff scheduled for June 19 - 22, 2006, in San Diego, California; and to encourage staff participation in the conference.

To invite statements of interest and describe the goals of the second round of a national peer-to-peer technical assistance and training project, the National Business Learning Partnership.

To provide organizations interested in the Program Year (PY) 2006 national Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) grantee competition with information related to funding for the grantee transition period from July 1-September 30, 2006.