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

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 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 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 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 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 announce three training sessions on program reporting and performance management. These events are intended to clarify the Department’s policy on common measures; review the final reporting changes necessary for each program in order to accommodate the common measures; provide a forum to discuss policy questions and raise issues with federal staff; support integration by targeting multiple programs and providing inclusive training; and provide information, clarification, materials and tools to states for their use in training local staff.

To provide information and resources to states and local areas to encourage the outreach and recruitment of homeless and runaway youth, including youth displaced by recent hurricanes, into employment and training programs funded under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth program.

To announce the release of the Special Tabulation of Census 2000 Data on Limited English Proficient Adults, and a Glossary of Translated Workforce Terms. These are planning and resource tools for states and local workforce areas to use in providing services to Limited English Proficient (LEP) groups in those areas.