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Overview: This is one in a series of directives focused on the delivery of employment and training services to specific customer populations. On April 28, 1997, ETA issued Training and Employment Information Notice (TEIN) 17-96 to address services to persons with disabilities. On July, 23, 1997, ETA issued Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 1-97 to provide guidance regarding ETA's role in implementing the new welfare legislation of 1996. These directives are designed to assist States in meeting the challenges of providing quality services to a wide range of specific customer populations. The One-Stop Systems, in accordance with the principle of "Universality", are committed to providing all populations with equal access to an array of services, which include customer-oriented information on careers, the labor market, jobs, education and training opportunities. The challenge to the One-Stop systems is to manage service delivery systems that ensure all customers equitable access to the full range of services available through the One-Stop Career Centers. Background: It has long been acknowledged that MSFWs encounter significant barriers to completing basic educational objectives and to finding sustainable employment that meets the economic needs of raising their families. These barriers include problems of access to education and transportation, of understanding the English language, and of exposure to workplace hazards. ETA is committed to helping MSFWs overcome these barriers by maintaining a workforce development portion of the national strategy that addresses MSFW's employment and training needs. One part of ETA's strategy is the JTPA Section 402 program that dates back to 1964 when its forerunner was established under the Economic Opportunity Act. A second part of the strategy is carried out by the United States Employment Service (USES) which has been providing Wagner-Peyser (W-P) Act services to MSFWs since its inception. The W-P Act efforts were strengthened on June 10, 1980, when the Department of Labor (DOL) published regulations at 20 CFR part 653 which affirm that all available W-P Act services, such as job search assistance, counseling, testing, and referral services, are to be provided to MSFWs equitably, and to an extent that is comparable to that which the W-P Act service provider delivers services to its other customer groups. ETA Programs Serving MSFWs: ETA funds a variety of programs that provide services to MSFWs. An understanding of the services provided to MSFWs by each of these programs may be useful for program operators seeking to improve the delivery of resources to MSFWs. A brief description of services follows. The JTPA Section 402 Program: -- JTPA Section 402 is designed to help MSFWs and their families achieve economic self-sufficiency through non-agricultural or stabilized agricultural employment. The services authorized under this program include job training, basic and vocational education, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, social services referral and extensive outreach and recruitment. The Section 402 program also provides emergency supportive services to MSFWs and their families. These may include transportation, food assistance, housing and personal counseling. -- ETA's Division of Seasonal Farmworker Programs manages the program through grants awarded to public and private non-profit entities. There are currently 34 Section 402 grantees operating in 48 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. JTPA Section 402 Grantees frequently receive funding from other sources which enable them to offer a wide range of services, such as migrant health, migrant education and legal aid. A list of the current section 402 grantees is attached. The Wagner-Peyser Act Services and MSFWs: -- In fulfilling its purpose of matching individuals who are seeking employment with employers who are seeking workers, the W-P Act service providers support a range of services related to job seekers' needs, including those of MSFWs. These services include vocational counseling, job seeking skills workshops, referrals to training and supportive services, job development and placement, and complaint resolution for MSFWs. The W-P Act regulations discussed above under Section 3, provide that State W-P agencies shall make job order information conspicuous and available to MSFWs in all local offices and operate an outreach program to contact MSFWs who are not being reached by the normal intake activities conducted by the local offices and inform them of the available W-P Act services. These regulations also established the Monitor Advocate (MA) system within the States, and the National and Regional Offices of ETA, to conduct oversight and advocacy on behalf of MSFWs. The State MA oversees the delivery of specific MSFW services to ensure that the required equity measures are properly administered and enforced. A listing of Regional ETA and State Monitor Advocates is provided in Attachment III. -- In providing its services to MSFWs, each state agency performs targeted outreach to locate and contact MSFWs who may not be reached under ordinary local office outreach and intake procedures. Additionally, those Employment Service offices having a significant MSFW population within their service area, such as serving ten percent or more MSFWs, are designated to undertake especially vigorous outreach to the MSFW population. These W-P Act "Significant Offices" are listed on Attachment II. The JTPA Title II and III Programs: -- The mainline JTPA Title II program targets economically disadvantaged persons and those having encountered barriers to employment. Services available under this program include job search assistance, job counseling, remedial education and basic skills training, on-the-job training, supportive services, and literacy and bilingual training. -- The JTPA Title III program is designed to serve dislocated workers and thus may also provide a resource for MSFWs. Generally, this program serves workers who have received a notice of layoff or have lost their jobs and are unlikely to return to their previous industries or occupations. It offers the same basic set of services as the Title II program. Other ETA funded activity in support of MSFWs: -- State Rural Development Councils (SRDCs) function as catalysts for collaborative activities in rural communities, to strengthen relationships between rural advocates, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. Some SRDCs are non-profits, while others are quasi-governmental organizations. Offering a low-cost, efficient means of addressing rural issues, the SRDCs' agendas encompass a wide range of rural issues. These include development of rural infrastructures and addressing the State's rural transportation, rural health care, and rural workforce employment and training concerns. SRDCs do not provide services directly to clients. -- There are 36 SRDCs, which were created through agreements between the Governors and the Under Secretary for Rural Development in the US Department of Agriculture. A list of the 36 SRDCs in operation is attached. -- Services provided under a number of other ETA funded programs must also be made available to MSFWs. These include the Job Corps, Trade Adjustment Assistance programs, and programs registered by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. Integration of MSFW programs into the One-Stop Career Center System: In the past few years, the employment and training system has undergone a major restructuring at the State and local levels around the vision of the One-Stop service delivery concept. The expanded framework of the One-Stop system serves as an organizing vehicle for transforming job seeker accessibility to public employment and training opportunities by sorting through the confusing array of programs and systems. Each State's restructuring experience is unique and offers to others the benefits of its lessons and experiences. For further information, refer to Attachment V listing the One-Stop State Leads. To continue the advancement of ETA's commitment to serving MSFWs and to facilitate the integration of MSFW program services into the One-Stop Career Center System, ETA National Office representatives from the One-Stop/Labor Market Information Office, JTPA Section 402, USES, and the National Rural Development Council have established a work group to examine ways to improve services to MSFWs. The Regional MAs also have formed a work group to identify MSFW One-Stop service issues and coordinate MA recommendations with the national work group on transitioning MSFW customers into the One-Stop system. ETA's Office of National Programs issued a Bulletin to all Section 402 grantees encouraging their participation in the development of the One-Stop Career Center System in their States. A copy of that Bulletin is attached. A vital component of the integration strategy is the development of opportunities for information exchange between partners serving MSFWs. This process will continue to take place through a variety of forums. Some examples of effective collaboration One-Stops have developed with Section 402 grantees and State Rural Development Councils, as identified through these information exchanges, are presented in Attachment VII. As we continue to identify other examples of such collaboration, we will seek a means to share them with all appropriate partners. Action: -- State JTPA and Worker Adjustment Liaisons should provide the contents of this TEIN to their Service Delivery Agencies and SSAs. -- State Employment Security Administrators and One-Stop Career Center Leads should provide the contents of this TEIN to the State Monitor Advocate and to all local W-P Act offices and One-Stop Centers. -- Any comments, suggestions and problems with regard to the types of assistance needed by State and local partners to facilitate improved services to MSFWs in the emerging One-Stop Career Center System should be sent electronically to the following e-mail address: implement@doleta.gov. Inquiries: Direct all inquiries to the appropriate ETA Regional Office.

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Reference: Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 4-97 and Training and Employment Information Notice No. 25-96. Background: In September 1997, the Department sponsored focus group discussions to generate comments and ideas on how to improve the Private Sector Summer Jobs Program and to identify problems that need to be correct-ed, so that local program operators and private sector employers can better work together to promote the private sector program. The Department of Labor contracted with Coffey Communications, LLC to provide logistical support for these focus group meetings, which were held in three locations: Chicago, Illinois; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Phoenix, Arizona. Coffey Communications staff have developed a report based on the discussions at the focus group meetings. The report also provides guidance from discussions that ETA has initiated with local program operators and private employers on how to expand private sector participation in summer jobs programs for youth. It offers ideas and strategies that program operators have found useful in developing, implementing, and operating summer youth programs. Distribution: Copies of the report are being provided under separate cover by Coffey Communications, LLC to State JTPA Liaisons. A copy of this publication is also available via the Internet at WWW.WDSC.ORG/SUMMER YOUTH. Separate Cover: "Report on Focus Groups: National Private Sector Summer Jobs Campaign." (JTPA Liaisons only)

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