Background: The United States Employment Service (USES) has recently announced the completion and publication of the second in a series of documents developed to assist the counseling and placement function of the U.S. Employment Service. The first title in the series, "Tips for Finding the Right Job", addresses the needs of younger or unskilled worker entering the job market. The Job Search Guide: Strategies for Professionals was developed and released by USES in its ongoing effort to assist individuals in finding satisfying employment. The Guide is a unique document which provides, in one source, a variety of important job search information including specific steps that job seekers can follow to identify employment opportunities. A job seeker can use the information in this guide to develop job hunting strategies, learn skills and techniques for successfully completing the applicant screening process (e.g., filling out applications, answering interview questions, completing the employment tests), as well as identifying other resources that can be helpful in locating employment. The Guide contains a comprehensive listing of job search strategies for professionals. It provides, in detail, highly technical material to assist job seekers in a professional job search. It will assist unemployed managers, technicians and other professionals, many of whom have never been out of work, in taking a practical, realistic approach to job hunting. We request that you circulate this Guide among your colleagues and constituents. Since users' feedback will help make the Guide a more valuable reference book, any comments or suggestions regarding this publication would be most welcome. Distribution: Five complimentary copies of the Guide are being provided under separate cover to Regional and State Offices. The Job Search Guide: Strategies for Professionals is available from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, D.C. 20402-9325 (telephone: 202/783-3238) for $ 5.50. The stock number is 029-014-00247-0. GPO offers a 25% discount on quantities of 100 copies or more. Action Required: Please inform program staff of the release of the Job Search Guide: Strategies for Professionals.

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References: a. Training and Employment Information Notice (TEIN) No. 2491, Change in Selective Service Advisory Opinion b. Training and Employment Information Notice (TEIN) No. 17-90, Discontinuation of Selective Service System's Toll-Free Registration Information Number c. Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 4 89, Application of Selective Service Registration Requirements in Section 504 of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) d. JTPA, Section 604 Background: In the implementation of the Section 604 Selective Service registration prerequisite for participating in JTPA training, the Department previously recommended that States suggest to the SDAs and other sub-grantees that they confirm registration status and direct other registration questions by mail to the Selective Service System (SSS). The Selective Service in turn has been responding to these inquiries in the form of advisory opinion letters. On April 9, 1993, the Selective Service implemented a policy change in the language used in the advisory opinion procedures. According to Selective Service, the change reflects that Agency's view that the decision for determining the nature of a man's failure to register rests with the Agency dispersing the benefits, rights or training. As a result, the former advisory opinion letters have been neutralized to reflect only that data which is revealed in the SSS records. Advisory opinion letters have been changed to "Registry Status Information" letters. Examples of these letters are attached. Action: State JTPA liaisons should advise their SDAs of this revision regarding the Selective Service advisory opinion letters as soon as possible. Also, advise SDAs that rather than advisory opinion letters, Selective Service will be issuing Registration Status Information letters, based on the attached guidelines, which will be favorable or unfavorable. Upon receipt of the letter, SDA's are to determine the nature of the response. If the response is favorable per the SSS letter, and the individual is otherwise eligible, then services may be provided. If the response is deemed unfavorable, the individual in question may not be served.

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Reference: Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 11-92, dated May 19, 1993, transmitted the updated PYs 199211993 departure points. Background: Section 106(d) of JTPA provides that each Governor shall prescribe, within parameters established by the Secretary, variations in the performance standards based upon specific economic, geographic and demographic factors in the State and in service delivery areas/substate areas within the State, the characteristics of the population to be served, and the type of service to be provided. The Department has retained the six Title II-A and the Title III Secretary's measures originally implemented in PYs 1990/1991. Departure points have been revised to reflect most recent program experience in the poor economic environment. For PYs 199211993 standard setting, the attached worksheets supersede those worksheets currently in use. Policy Considerations: Initially, the Department did not update its performance standards levels in Program Year 1992 in order to maintain program management continuity amidst uncertainty about the passage of the JTPA Amendments and slow economic growth. However, a review of PY 1991 data showed a trend of declining SDA performance on the employment-related standards (i.e., the adult and welfare follow-up employment rates and the youth entered employment rate). There is little reason to believe that outcomes have declined because the quality of SDA services decreased. Rather, because of the program's sensitivity to the economic environment, the most likely explanation for the employment rates is the decline in job opportunities associated with slow economic growth. Although economic conditions are improving, they have not yet been accompanied by increased employment -- and slow employment growth is forecast for the near future. It is likely to be some time before job opportunities improve for JTPA participants, and lower program outcomes for the employment-related standards can, therefore, be expected to continue in Program Years 1992/1993. Consistent with these considerations, the following variables have been updated and are included in the attached tables: -- Departure points (core standards only), -- Tolerance ranges, -- Extreme values for outcomes/local factors, and -- Alternative performance ranges. Rationale for Adjustment worksheets: The Department's optional adjustment methodology provides Governors with a systematic adjustment approach which conforms to the Secretary's parameters for setting SDA/SSA standards. This adjustment methodology is continually being revised and improved in light of additional experience and more current data for standard-setting. The models for Title II performance measures were developed using SDA-level data from the PY 1991 JTPA Annual Status Report. The model for the Title III performance measures were developed using PY 1991 Worker Adjustment Program Report data. Title II-A and Title III worksheets: Worksheets are included to assist Governors in setting standards for the core measures and an optional average wage at placement (AWP) goal for sub state areas. National Departure Points: The national departure points for the core measures are: Title II-A -- Adult Follow-Up Employment Rate 60% -- Welfare Follow-Up Employment Rate 46% -- Youth Entered Employment Rate 41% -- Youth Employability Enhancement Rate 36% The following departure points remain unchanged: Title II -- Adult Weekly Earnings at Follow-Up $228 -- Welfare Weekly Earning at Follow-Up $207 Title III -- Entered Employment Rate 64% National standards or departure points have not been established for the non-core outcomes. The establishment of appropriate departure points for non-core outcomes is the responsibility of the Governors. How the Worksheets Were Developed: The worksheets were generated using a statistical technique called multiple regression analysis. This method estimates the factor weights presented on the worksheets. The weights represent the simultaneous influences of various participant characteristics and local economic conditions on SDA/SSA program performance. The models shown in the worksheets were reviewed by a technical work group composed of State, SDA and National representatives.

References. DINAP Bulletins 94-13 and 94-19. Background. The referenced DINAP Bulletins provided information to grantees eligible for travel and per diem reimbursement for one person to attend the subject conference. These Bulletins further detailed allowable expenses and reimbursement procedures. Action Required. Grantees eligible for reimbursement must submit a reimbursement claim no later than August 31, 1995. Any claims submitted after August 31, 1995, will not be processed for payment. All reimbursement claims are processed by ACKCO, Inc. only. Questions. Grantees should direct all questions to Ms. Kathleen Telmont with ACKCO, Inc. The toll free number is: 1-800-525-2859.

References. P.L. 97-300, Section 4(8) (JTPA); and Internal Revenue Code, Section 51 (TJTC). Background. JTPA regulations at 20 CFR 632.4 provide for the use of either of two sets of data in determining economically disadvantaged persons and program eligibility: the Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines or the LLSIL. The attached Federal Register Notice (Vol. 60, No. 79) contains updated LLSIL and detailed instructions for their use, effective April 25, 1995. Action. Grantees will use one of the three tables on pages 20285 and 20286 of the Notice to find their 70 percent LLSIL for a family of four. Those grantees in one of the 25 Metropolitan Statistical Areas will use Table 3; grantees in Alaska or Hawaii will use Table 2; all other grantees will use Table 1. Grantees using Table 1 can find which region they are in by referring to the list on page 19242. Grantees using Tables 1 or 2 must also determine if they are in a metro or non-metro area; this information can be obtained from the grantee's State JTPA. Having found the applicable 70 percent LLSIL for a family of four on Tables 1, 2 or 3, the grantee can then find the 70 percent LLSIL for a family larger or smaller than four on Table 4. For example: a grantee in a non-metro area of Arizona is in the "West" region. On Table 1 its 70 percent LLSIL is 17,600. To find the applicable 70 percent for a family of six, the grantee finds 17,600 in column "four" of Table 4 and reads across that line to Column "six" to find 24,290. Grantees should note the disclaimer on page 20284 that the figures in this notice are valid only for eligibility determination under the JTPA and TJTC programs and should not be used for any statistical purposes. DINAP grantees are to disregard the instructions to Governors on page 20284 in the paragraph entitled "Use of These Data." Questions. Contact your DINAP Federal Representative.

Background: The SPIR requirements were published in the Federal Register on November 12, 1992. An advance unofficial copy of the attached document was forwarded to State JTPA Liaisons in mid-April 1993. A SPIR User Group meeting was convened in late April 1993, at which the unofficial data specifications and coding instructions were discussed in depth. While no data items have been added to the SPIR, based on these discussions, additional responses have been established for several existing items. These refinements have been made to insure that programmatic and performance standards concerns are fully addressed. SPIR Data Items for which Additional Responses have been Established: Item 12. Program of Participation 7 = Title II-A 5% exempt from performance standards 8 = Title II-C 5% exempt from performance standards Item 12a. Concurrent Participation 1 = Yes, JTPA II-a, 204(d), II-C, III 2 = Yes, JTPA 8% 3 = Yes, II-B 4 = Yes non-JTPA 5 = Yes, both JTPA and non-JTPA Item 39. Other Terminations 8 = Objective assessment only (exempt from performance standards) 9 = Objective assessment and entered unsubsidized employment only (exempt from performance standards) Item 40. Follow-up Group/Sample 1 = In adult sample and contacted 2 = In adult sample, but not contacted 3 = Not in sample 4 = In supplemental welfare sample and contacted 5 = In supplemental welfare sample, but not contacted Highlights of Additional Technical Adjustments and Refinements: Additional technical adjustments and refinements are summarized in the attached SPIR data specifications and coding instructions. Action: State Liaisons are requested to distribute this reporting guidance to all officials within the State who need such information.

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