DIRECTIVE	:	TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 29-94
TO	:	ALL STATE JTPA LIAISONS ALL STATE WORKER ADJUSTMENT LIAISONS ALL STATE WAGNER-PEYSER ADMINISTERING AGENCIES
FROM	:	BARBARA ANN FARMER Administrator for Regional Management
SUBJECT	:	Consultation with our Partners: Initial Identification of Issues or Concepts for Program Year 1995 Demonstration Program

1. Purpose. To advise the employment and training community of the opportunity to assist in identifying program issues and concerns that may be appropriate for Title III demonstration grants.

2. Reference.s. Section 324 of the Job Training Partnership Act directs that not less than 10 percent of the Secretary's national reserve funds each year shall be used for demonstration programs. Such programs may be up to three years in length.

3. Background. During the current program year (July 1, 1994 to June 30, 1995), the Department will have issued Solicitations for Grant Applications for four demonstrations--job development broker, health care worker retraining, career management accounts, and specialized/targeted participants. In addition, the funds provided to States in response to natural disasters, and the nationwide demonstration in conjunction with UI profiling, are demonstration funds under Section 324(a)(2) and (4). The topic areas for such demonstration projects are not limited to those listed in the statute.

   As the employment and training community is called upon to respond to new job training initiatives, we anticipate that program operators will identify new and innovative approaches to service delivery. While it may not be feasible in the context of the present program structure and budget limitations to undertake such approaches at the local or State level, they could be suitable for a demonstration effort.

4. Request for Suggested Title III Demonstration Topics. The Employment and Training Administration is seeking suggestions of demonstration topics that have been identified by the State and local EDWAA project operators. The suggested demonstrations may address, but are not limited to, such areas as:

   CUSTOMER FOCUS: New approaches to identifying and meeting the needs of the customer;

   EXPANSION OF CUSTOMER OPTIONS: Methods to increase the availability of quality services and the number of qualified providers of such services;

   QUALITY OUTCOMES: Approaches to achieving quality-based outcomes;

   DATA COLLECTION IMPROVEMENTS:

   Means to improve the scope, quality and accessibility of data on labor market conditions and providers of services and their use in program implementation;

   Means to develop statewide and local customization of America's Labor Market System so that it supports Title III and other service providers in a one-stop setting;

   Means to develop State and local area consumer reports of employment and training service providers and test the "value-added" in utilizing these reports to achieve positive outcomes for participants and labor market gains;

   INCREASE OF SYSTEM CAPACITY: Practices to expand the capacity of the delivery system to serve more workers and improve its capability to provide high quality services to individual workers;

   IMPROVEMENT OF RAPID RESPONSE AND EARLY INTERVENTION: Techniques to increase the timeliness of outreach and intake activities in relation to dislocation events.

   INCREASE INVOLVEMENT OF PRIVATE SECTOR: Approaches to greater involvement of employers and employer community in EDWAA program planning, early intervention strategies, provision of training, etc.

   MAXIMIZE OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES: Models for leveraging other funding sources to develop complementary services and avoid duplication of services.

   INTEGRATION OF PROGRAM SERVICES/PROVIDERS: Models for reinventing service delivery under Title III through innovative approaches to realigning staff responsibilities in a one-stop environment.

   The suggested topic should state clearly the objective of the demonstration and indicate its benefit to the Title III program. A cost range and length of time necessary for the demonstration may also be suggested.

   It is intended that any suggested demonstration could be conducted at sites in three to five States to test not only the effectiveness of the service strategy but also its replicability in other Title III settings.

5. Approach.

   Suggested demonstration topics may be forwarded directly to:

   Eric R. Johnson, Program Manager
   Office of Worker Retraining
   and Adjustment Programs
   Division of Policy and Analysis
   Employment and Training Administration
   U. S. Department of Labor
   200 Constitution Avenue, N. W.
   Room N5426
   Washington, D. C. 20210

   Suggested topics should be limited to no more than three pages in length and submitted no later than July 15, 1995.

   Staff will compile the suggestions and review them to determine if there are particular areas of interest common to a number of suggestions. The compilation of proposed demonstrations will be shared with the Enterprise Council, for their suggestions and input. The Enterprise Council is a group of local, State and Federal program partners formed to guide ETA efforts to provide the information and support necessary for Title III grantees to move toward a customer-focused program. Grant solicitations will then be developed and announced for submittal of proposals addressing the selected demonstration topic areas.

6. Action. States should ensure that all interested parties in the State, including but not limited to, Substate Grantees, Private Industry Councils, employer associations, unions, universities and other research organizations, are aware of the opportunity to provide suggested demonstration topics.

7. Inquiries. Questions may be addressed to Joan Burchell on (202) 219-5339, extension 120.