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Background: Americans age 55 and older are one of our Nation's most valuable resources, and their productive and creative potential to American society should be fully utilized. Millions of these Americans actively contribute to our common good through their hard work, experience, and wisdom. Because Americans are living longer, healthier lives, our society could be enriched if we could draw even more effectively on the talents of these older Americans. Despite their qualifications, many people 55 and older experience serious difficulty finding work if they lose a job or desire new employment. As a Nation, we are witnessing a dramatic growth of the population of Americans 55 and older that will continue well into the 21st century. This will have profound impact on our workforce and our society. Our laws and government agencies are responding to these challenges, offering protections, programs, and services for older workers. Every day millions of older Americans look to the Age Discrimination Act, the Older Americans Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act to secure their basic rights. The Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services are at the fore, helping countless older workers through such efforts as the Senior Community Service Employment Program and programs of the Administration on Aging. Older Americans have earned our admiration and respect. They are role models for our Nation and protectors of our most important traditions and values. As we have all observed, older workers are as effective, or more so, than younger workers due to their unique skills, experiences and judgment. Therefore, it is important for, indeed in the self-interest of, employers to recognize and fully utilize this rich resource. Inquiries: Please contact your ETA Regional Office for further information regarding this National Older Workers Employment Week, 1998.

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References: Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended (29 U.S.C. 49); 20 CFR 652 and 20 CFR 653; JTPA Sections 202, 252, 262, 302, and 601, as amended by the Job Training Reform Amendments Act of 1992; Training and Employment Guidance Letters (TEGL) Nos. 4-88, 4-95, and 2-97. Background: The JTPA Titles II-A, II-C, and III allotments, and the Wagner-Peyser preliminary planning estimates, are for the program period July 1, 1998, through June 30, 1999. The Title II-B allotments are for the CY 1998 summer program. These allotments and preliminary planning estimates will be published in the Federal Register. The JTPA allotments and the Wagner-Peyser preliminary planning estimates are part of the Fiscal Year 1998 funds appropriated in the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998, P.L. 105-78. These appropriations include $955,000,000 for Title II-A, a 6.7 percent increase from the PY 1997 Title II-A level; $871,000,000 for Title II-B, the same as the CY 1997 Title II-B level; $129,965,000 for Title II-C, a 2.6 percent increase from the PY 1997 Title II-C level; $1,350,510,000 for Title III, a 5.0 percent increase from PY 1997; and $761,735,000 for allotments to States under Wagner-Peyser, the same as the PY 1997 level. JTPA/ES Wagner-Peyser Act Joint Planning and Coordination Provisions: As plans are developed in accordance with relevant statutory provisions and schedules issued by the Department, States are reminded that particular attention needs to be given to the Governor's statement of goals and objectives for JTPA, and joint ES Wagner-Peyser Act/JTPA planning initiatives consistent with Section 8(b) of the Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended. Program Emphasis: A detailed program emphasis statement is contained in TEGL No. 2-97, dated February 19, 1998. The program emphasis also includes ETA's Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) strategic goals and performance measures. Procedures: Notices of Obligation (NOOs) for the Title II-A, II-C, and III programs will be issued by July 1, 1998, under the PY 1998 JTPA Grant Agreement. A second NOO will be issued to each State after November 1, 1998, for Title III, to increase or reduce the funds available to the State to reflect the amount of reallotted funds the State gains or loses, as discussed in TEGL No. 4-88. Title II-B Summer Youth Employment and Training Program (SYETP) funds were appropriated as Fiscal Year (FY) 1998 funds, not as Program Year 1998 funds. Separate NOOs for the CY 1998 Title II-B program were issued on February 9, 1998, under the current PY 1997 JTPA Grant Agreement. Thus, States will be required to submit a separate JTPA Title II Quarterly Status Report (JQSR) for these FY 1998 Title II-B funds. Additionally, States will draw cash under the Payment Management System (PMS) for Title II-B FY 1998 funds, and these II-B funds will not be combined with other Title II funds under PMS. Title II-A Allotments: Attachment I is a comparison of PY 1997 and PY 1998 JTPA Title II-A allotments by State. For all States, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, the following data were used in computing the allotments: -- Data for Areas of Substantial Unemployment (ASUs) are averages for the 12-month period, July 1996 through preliminary June 1997. -- The number of excess unemployed individuals or the ASU excess (depending on which is higher) are averages for this same 12-month period. -- The economically disadvantaged adult data (age 22 to 72, excluding college students and military) are from the 1990 Census. The allotments for the Insular Areas are based on unemployment data from the 1990 Census, or if not available, the most recent data available. A 90-percent relative share "hold-harmless" of the Title II-A PY 1997 allotments for these areas and a minimum allotment of $75,000 were also applied in determining the allotments. Title II-A funds are to be distributed among designated SDAs according to the statutory formula contained in Section 202(b) of JTPA, as amended by Title VII of the JTPA Amendments of 1992. This is the same formula that was used in the previous program year. Title II-B Allotments: Attachment II is a comparison of CY 1997 and CY 1998 Title II-B allotments by State. The data used for these allotments are the same data as were used for Title II-A allotments, except that data for the number of economically disadvantaged youth (age 16 to 21, excluding college students and military) from the 1990 Census was used. For the Insular Areas and Native Americans funding, the allotments are based on the percentage of Title II-B funds each received during the previous summer. Title II-B funds for the CY 1998 SYETP are to be distributed among designated SDAs in accordance with the statutory formula contained in Section 252(b) of JTPA, as amended by the JTPA Amendments of 1992. This is the same formula that was used in the previous program year. Title II-C Allotments: Attachment III is a comparison of PY 1997 and PY 1998 JTPA Title II-C allotments by State. The data used for these allotments are the same data as were used for Title II-B allotments. The allotments for the Insular Areas are based on unemployment data from the 1990 Census or, if not available, the most recent data available. Title II-C funds are to be distributed among designated SDAs according to the statutory formula contained in Section 262(b) of JTPA, as amended by Title VII of the JTPA Amendments of 1992. The Title II-C formula is the same as for Title II-B. This is the same formula that was used in the previous program year. Title III Allotments: Attachment IV shows the PY 1998 JTPA Title III allotments by State. The total appropriation includes 80 percent allotted by formula to the States, while 20 percent is retained for the National Reserve account, including funds allotted to the Insular Areas. The unemployment data used for computing these State allotments, relative numbers of unemployed and relative numbers of excess unemployed, are averages for the October 1996 through September 1997 period. Long-term unemployed data used were for CY 1996. Allotments for the Insular Areas are based on the PY 1998 Title II-A allotments for these areas. Title III formula funds are to be distributed to State and substate grantees in accordance with the provisions in Section 302(c) and (d) of JTPA, as amended. Reallotments of these Title III formula funds, as provided for by Section 303 of JTPA, as amended, will be based on completed program year expenditure reports submitted by the States and received by October 1, 1998. The Title III allotment for each State will be adjusted upward or downward, based on whether the State is eligible to share in reallotted funds or is subject to recapture of funds. ES Planning Estimates: Attachment V shows the ES preliminary planning estimates for PY 1998. These preliminary estimates have been produced using the formula set forth at Section 6 of the Wagner-Peyser Act, 29 U.S.C. 49(e). They are based on averages for the most current 12 months ending September 1997 for each State's share of the civilian labor force (CLF) and unemployment. Final planning estimates will be published in the Federal Register, based on Calendar Year 1997 data, as required by the Wagner-Peyser Act. The total planning estimate does include $18,000,000 or 2.363 percent of the total amount available which is being withheld from distribution to States to finance postage costs associated with the conduct of Employment Service business for PY 1998. The Secretary of Labor has set aside 3 percent of the total available funds to assure that each State will have sufficient resources to maintain statewide employment services, as required under Section 6(b)(4) of the Wagner-Peyser Act. In accordance with this provision, $22,312,050 is set aside for the administrative formula allocation. These set-aside funds are included in the total planning estimate. Set-aside funds are distributed in two steps to States which have lost in relative share of resources from the prior year. In step one, States which have a CLF below one million and are below the median CLF density are maintained at 100 percent of their relative share of prior year resources. All remaining set-aside funds are distributed on a pro rata basis in step two to all other States losing in relative share from the prior year but which do not meet the size and density criteria for step one. Ten percent of the total sums allotted to each State shall be reserved for use by the Governor to provide performance incentives for public ES offices; services for groups with special needs; and for the extra costs of exemplary models for delivering job services. Action: a. States should allocate the JTPA allotments as follows: -- (1) Title II-A allotments according to the requirements contained in Sections 162(e) and 202(b) of JTPA, as amended. -- (2) Title II-B allotments according to the requirements contained in Sections 162(e) and 252(b) of JTPA, as amended. -- (3) Title II-C allotments according to the requirements contained in Sections 162(e) and 262(b) of JTPA, as amended. -- (4) Title III allotments according to the requirements contained in Sections 302(c) and (d) of JTPA, as amended. b. States should initiate planning for PY 1998 consistent with the program emphasis statement discussed in TEGL 2-97. Planning should also be consistent with provisions of JTPA Federal Regu- lations and the Wagner-Peyser Act.

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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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