DIRECTIVE	:	TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 24-98
TO	:	ALL STATE JTPA LIAISONS ALL WAGNER-PEYSER ADMINISTERING AGENCIES ALL STATE WORKER ADJUSTMENT LIAISONS ALL ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER SYSTEM LEADS
FROM	:	DAVID HENSON Director Office of Regional Management
SUBJECT	:	Promising and Effective Practices Network (PEPNet) - Fourth Round

1. Purpose. To provide States an opportunity to recommend youth employment/training programs that meet the PEPNet criteria of effectiveness in youth and workforce development.

2. Reference. Training and Employment Information Notices (TEIN) Nos. 17-95, 28-95, 14-96, and 24-97 (Promising and Effective Practices Network).

3. Background. The National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) is starting the fourth year of PEPNet. PEPNet was created to improve youth development programs and as a means to identify and recognize youth initiatives. Since 1996, PEPNet has successfully identified and recognized, in a national ceremony, 43 youth employment and training programs that met four quality standards:

   • Organization and Management - qualified, committed staff and leadership, collaboration with others, use of information to continuously improve services;

   • Youth Development - conscious, professional reliance on youth development principles to shape program activities;

   • Workforce Development - appropriate use of training, work experience, and education, successful connections to employers, consistent emphasis on connecting learning and work;

   • Evidence of Success - collection and use of data that reflect operational effectiveness and ability to achieve desired outcomes.

   NYEC seeks youth employment programs interested in improving services and being recognized as excellent youth development programs for 1999.

4. Application Eligibility. Any youth program or program component may be nominated. This effort is not limited to ETA-funded programs, although it is expected that most will be from the Job Training Partnership Act (including Job Corps), Bureau of Apprenticeship Training, and School-to-Work systems.

5. PEPNet Brochure. NYEC mailed brochures to thousands of programs in the youth employment/development field throughout the Nation inviting them to undertake an organizational self-assessment process, and to apply to be a part of PEPNet. Attached is a copy of the PEPNet brochure that explains the self-assessment and award process.

6. Application Procedures. Programs or program components desiring national recognition may submit the PEPNet application. Completed applications are to be provided to NYEC by April 30, 1999. Programs may request an application by using the form in the brochure. The brochure has been distributed to all ETA-funded programs.

7. Training on the Self-Assessment System.  NYEC is conducting one-day training to help programs learn about PEPNet's criteria of effective practice and how the self-assessment system can improve services to young people. Programs will also learn how PEPNet can help in the transition to the new youth system under WIA. To attend, select the most convenient training site and contact the person listed for that training to register. Training will be conducted at the following sites:

   March 15: Philadelphia, PA
   USDOL Region III and Philadelphia's PIC
   Contact: Dorothy Robinson (215) 963-3489

   March 22: Chicago, IL
   USDOL Region V
   Contact: Lennon Mitchell (312) 353-1532

   March 23: Atlanta, GA
   USDOL Region IV
   Contact: Toni Buxton (404) 462-2105

   March 24: Dallas, TX
   USDOL Region VI
   Contact: Cynthia Joseph (214) 767-2154

   March 25: Salt Lake City, UT
   USDOL Region VIII
   Contact: Sandy Goold (303) 844-1660

8. Review Panel and Process. NYEC is seeking a panel of youth employment practitioners, researchers, and policy makers to review PEPNet applications. Recommendations for the Review Panel should be faxed to NYEC by April 1, 1999, at (202) 659-0399. Panel members will review applications and select PEPNet programs in May 1999. In addition, the programs that apply to be part of PEPNet will receive comments on their application from the Review Panel. The comments will be sent to all the programs that submit the self-assessment.

9. Selection. Selection will take place by May and a recognition ceremony will follow in September 1999 to honor the selected PEPNet programs.

10. Learning Process. Applicants to PEPNet must be willing to participate in the learning process with others. This may include hosting visits, being part of workshops, and providing additional written material.

11. Electronic Accessibility. As information on PEPNet becomes available, it will be made accessible electronically via the Training Technology Resource Center (TTRC) on-line information system. TTRC is accessible by:

    • Calling 1-800-488-0901 (voice);

    • Via modem by dialing 1-800-767-0806; or

    • Internet: WEB URL: HTTP://WWW.TTRC.DOLETA.GOV.

12. Action. States are requested to: a) encourage administrators and operators of effective youth programs or program components to apply for recognition in accordance with the self-assessment process which is described in the attached brochure; b) encourage administrators and operators of programs interested in conducting the assessment to attend a training session being conducted by NYEC; and fax recommendations for the Review Panel to NYEC by April 1, 1999.

13. Inquiries. Questions should be addressed to Beverly Bachemin in OPR at (202) 219-7674 or Irene Lynn in OJTP at (202) 219-5305.

14. Attachment. The Promising and Effective Practices Network Brochure

NOTE: Attachment not available to DMS