Workforce Investment Act (WIA) PY 2009 Technical Assistance Conference In-School Youth

1. Workforce Investment Act (WIA) PY 2009 Technical Assistance Conference • In-School Youth • Out-of-School Youth • Summer Employment

2. Agenda • Welcome and Introductions • Overview of • Workforce Investment Act • RFP Process • Questions and Answers • Grant Writing Tips

3. Housekeeping • Please keep questions until the end. • If unclear what saying, waive and I will try to rephrase. • Not use acronyms – but if I do, waive and will explain. • Questions and Answers will be posted to the web site (www.nhworks.org) • Restroom location • Sign-in sheet being circulated

4. Overview of ProcessFunding Background • US Department of Labor • State of NH - NH Department of Labor • Workforce Opportunity Council/Youth Council • NH Department of Education

5. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) • Federal to-be-determined tracking and reporting requirements are yet to be established. • Releasing this Request for Proposal so that funding awards can be made with recruitment commencing on May l or later, subject to funding approvals by the Youth Council.

6. ARRA - Continued Anticipate significantly increased level of public, media, and federal auditing scrutiny of how ARRA funds are utilized. Through the State Department of Information Technology, all bid offerings, RFP’s, awarded contracts and other public documents related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be posted on the central website http://www.nh.gov/recovery as well as at www.nhworks.org/recovery

7. Purpose of Workforce Investment Act (WIA) • The purpose of WIA Youth is to provide workforce investment activities, though statewide and local workforce investment systems, that increase the employment, retention, and earnings of participants, and increase occupational skill attainment and, as a result, improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the nation

8. Overall Goals • Attain employment and training skills that lead to employment for economically disadvantaged youth with barriers, age 14-24 (inclusive) that are enrolled in education at point of entry into the WIA-Youth program

9. Differences in Request for Proposals Youth Served: • In-School Youth (ISY) connected to education entity at point of eligibility certification (ages l4-24) • Out-of-School Youth (OSY): Youth NOT connected to educational entity at point of eligibility certification (ages l8-2l) • Summer Employment (can be either ISY or OSY) Time Periods for Services • SYP: ISY – during summer vacation; OSY-5/l/09-9/30/09 • ISY/OSY: 7/l/09-6/30/10 with a year of follow up services

10. Differences in Request for Proposals Programmatic Components • SYP: Academic and Work Experience; other elements desirable • ISY/OSY: 10 Essential Elements (focus dropout prevention/recovery in an employment and training context) Performance Outcomes • SYP: Work Readiness Attainment • ISY/OSY: Age Appropriate Performance Measures as determined by US DOL.

11. Eligible Applicants • Interested Applicants • School Districts • Community Based organizations • Post-secondary institutions • Faith-based organizations • Private for Profit Companies • Must be registered with the NH Secretary of State

12. Contract Period • PY09: • In-School Youth and Out-of-School Youth 5/1/09-6/30/10 training and follow-up 7/1/10-6/30/11 • Summer Employment (5/l/09-9/30/09) • In-School Youth services offered during school vacation period only • Potential for renewal for PY10

13. Match Requirements • PY09: • In-School and Out-of-School Youth Minimum of l5% of requested WIA Youth federal dollars must be cash or in-kind match contribution that applies directly to the WIA-funded youth. • Summer Employment: No match requirement

14. Application Submission • Revolving application deadline: Original and 6 copies are due at noon the last Thursday of each month. When funds are fully obligated, notice will be posted on www.nhworks.org • To: Bonnie St. Jean at Dept. of Education, 2l South Fruit Street, Suite 20, Concord • Proposal Inquiries accepted through March 20 in writing; responses posted at www.nhworks.org

15. Funding • Anticipate funding at $2M to fund collectively proposals from the three groups. It is anticipated a minimum of 45% of the funds will be authorized for out-of-school youth proposals.

16. Reduction of Grant Amounts • Elements of proposal are ineligible for funding • Insufficient amounts remain under the allocation • Reduced grant would prevent duplicative federal funding

17. Program Description and Eligible Activities • Recruitment -- Youth ages l4-24 • Eligibility Criteria • Economically Disadvantaged (6 month period) • $14,302 Hillsborough, Rockingham or Strafford Counties • Family of four $12,617 balance of state • Individual income: youth with disabilities or youth a ward of state (i.e. foster care) • And documentable barriers

18. Documentable Barriers • Deficient in basic literacy skills (less than 9th grade math or reading) • Homeless, a runaway, or a foster child, • Pregnant or a parent, • An offender OR • The sixth barrier is defined by the state.

19. 6th Barrier • One or more years behind modal grade for one’s age group, with particular emphasis on those two or more years behind modal grade. • Below average academic test scores relative to students in his/her class with particular emphasis on those in the bottom 25% of the test score distribution. • Above average number of absences during the past school year in comparison to other students in the school. • Placed on probation, suspended from school or expelled from school one or more times during the past two years. • Member of an economically disadvantaged family. Criteria for determining one’s economic status is that used in local WIA programs. • Lives with only one or neither of his/her natural parents. • Mother has not graduated from high school. • Closest friends have limited educational expectations, i.e. they do not expect to graduate from high school or have already dropped out of school. • Substance abuse.

20. Focus – Neediest Youth • Youth in foster care • Youth aging out of foster care • Youth Offenders • Children of incarcerated parent(s) • Migrant youth • Youth with disabilities

21. Assessment • After being certified eligible by DOE; • Assessment of • In-School and Out-of-School Youth: Academic levels, skill levels, service needs (work readiness, basic skills, occupational skills, prior work experience, employability, interests, aptitudes, supportive service, and developmental needs) • Summer Employment: Academic and work readiness required; other assessments desirable) • Develop an Individual Service Strategy.

22. Enrollment • In-School Youth and Out-of-School Youth considered enrolled in program when commence assessment (after certified eligible); • Summer Youth considered enrolled after development of Individual Service Strategy and client starts training components.

23. Program Services (Summer Employment Program) Commence after completion of assessment and Individual Service Strategy at minimum: • tutoring, study skills training, and instruction, alternative secondary school services, with high academic standards, as appropriate; • Summer employment opportunities that are directly linked to academic and occupational learning; • Other elements are desirable

24. Summer Employment Program • Academics and Private Sector • Job site visits and issue resolution • Academics and Public Works (reimburse employer up to $3.62) • Contracts with employers and payment • Job Site Visits and issue resolution • Academics and fully subsidized

25. Program Services (ISY&OSY) • ISY and OSY Year-Round: Commence after completion of assessment and Individual Service Strategy • Ten Essential Elements • tutoring, study skills training, and instruction, alternative secondary school services, with high academic standards, as appropriate; • as appropriate, paid and unpaid work and work-based learning experiences, • Summer employment opportunities that are directly linked to academic and occupational learning;

26. Program Services – continued ISY/OSY • occupational skill training aligned with career majors/paths, as appropriate (training providers must be approved by NH Post Secondary Education Commission or NH related licensing board); • leadership development opportunities,; • supportive services and transition links; • adult mentoring; • follow up services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation, as appropriate; including post-program placement; • comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral, career awareness and exploration, as appropriate

27. Minimum Programmatic Requirements (pages 6-7) Please reference charts for minimum programmatic expectations.

28. Ineligible Activities • Foreign travel (no field trips to Canada) • Costs incurred prior to approved contract start date • Costs not directly related to attainment of program goals • Casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course or swimming pool.

29. Administrative Costs • Cannot exceed 9% of your program’s total cost.

30. Multiple-Site Applications • Separate applications for in-school, out-of-school youth, and summer employment proposals • Separate applications for regional areas: • Cheshire, Merrimack, and Sullivan Counties • Hillsborough county • Rockingham and Strafford counties • Belknap, Carroll, Coos and Grafton counties

31. Summer Youth Points Program Design - 25 Organizational Experience 25 Past Outcomes 25 Budget 25 Bonus: Occupational or work experience training in high demand occupations 10 Serving the neediest youth 10 ISY/OSY Points Program Design - 5 Program Components 10 Collaboration 10 Organizational Experience 20 Past Outcomes 40 Budget 15 Leveraged Resources & Sustainability 15 OSY ONLY: Bonus ~ Serving the neediest youth 25 Rating and RankingTied scores – highest outcomes for past performance; if still tied most cost efficient proposal

32. Forms and Certifications • A. Proposal Cover Sheet – authorized signatory • Budget Requests • B. Program Costs • C. Administrative Costs • D. Salaries and Fringes • E. Cash and In-Kind Contributions

33. Submission RequirementsIn-School and Out-of-School • What makes this application different? • Include a description of the program’s components as delivered in a week’s period of time.

34. Other Items • Letters to support collaboration and leveraging of resources • Job descriptions and resumes of personnel • Most recent financial audit

35. Additional items – non school applications • Certificate of authority • Organizational by-laws • Articles of Agreement • Organization’s Mission Statement • Certificate of Good Standing • List of Board of Directors • Certificates of insurance for workers compensation and general liability

36. Performance Measures • Performance Measures • Summer Youth

37. Performance Measures ISY and OSY • Three Areas • Older Youth (ages 19-2l) • Entered Employment Rate • Employment Retention Rate • Earnings Change in Six Months • Credential Rate

38. Performance Measures – ISY and OSY continued • Younger Youth • Skill Attainment Rate • Academic • Work Readiness • Occupational • Diploma or Equivalent Rate • Retention Rate

39. Performance Measures - Continued • Common Measures • Placement in Employment or Education • Attainment of a Degree or Certificate • Literacy and numeracy Gains • Dual Enrollment • Adult Measures • Dislocated Worker Measures

40. Reporting: DOL Quote “If you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen.” • Web based electronic reporting system – • Applications • Assessment • Individual Service Strategies • Services Provided (weekly notes) • Outcomes Training in May provided to contractors; There may be multiple sessions to accommodate contractor needs/funding decisions. On-going technical assistance and support provided by Dept. of Education staff.

41. Notes: • The Department will provide forms for use in program operation. If specific forms are desirable, please include in the proposal. • Proposal work experience must comply with age appropriate Youth Labor Laws. • Students are paid minimum wage ($7.25) (weekly unless other arrangements made with NH Department of Labor in writing); no stipends; contractor is employer unless indicated otherwise in proposal.

42. Attaining Enrollment Goals 90% of enrollment goals must be achieved or contract subject to renegotiation on a per participant cost • Summer Youth – July l, 2009 • In-School Youth/Out-of-School Youth: September 30, 2009

43. ARRA Miscellaneous • More information daily/weekly • NH Recovery logo needs to be on all public printed materials for contractors. • Compliance with Bacon-Davis Act • All contracts may need to go through Governor and Council; form l’s may not be an option for school districts. • Monthly invoicing by l0th and reporting • Green paper • US DOL Webinair scheduled for next week

44. Questions ? ? ?

45. General Tips to Enhance a Grant Proposal http://www.epa.gov/seahome/grants/src/writting/tips.htm#partner • Read the Request for Proposals (RFP) carefully! • Organize your proposal according to the RFP. • Pay attention to the point allocation before you begin writing. • Explain things -- don't DECLARE them! • Don't make assumptions of your reviewers. • Avoid jargon and A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S. • Don't simply reiterate buzzwords.

46. General Tips to Enhance a Grant Proposal http://www.epa.gov/seahome/grants/src/writting/tips.htm#partner • Be innovative .. new audiences, new techniques, etc. • Be passionate. • Be realistic. • Be specific. I would like this much in order to do this. • Show the funder the return on its investment. • Check grammar, spelling, and typos. • Ask someone else to review it. • Solicit partners! • If the funder says "no," ask why.