ACTION BULLETINS (PY 2004)

AB - # 51 Definition of Youth Barriers: Requires Additional Assistance

AB - # 51

Effective Date: May 1, 2005



ACTION BULLETIN




TO: Youth Providers

DATE: April 25, 2005

SUBJECT: Definition of Youth Barriers: Requires Additional Assistance


Purpose of Bulletin:

The purpose of this bulletin is to alert the Youth Providers that the barrier definitions for “Requires Additional Assistance to Complete an Educational Program” and “Requires Additional Assistance to Secure and Hold Employment” approved by the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) on December 9, 2004, will be in effect as of May 1, 2005.

The purpose for the two levels of eligibility determination is to ensure that the youth are “at risk and in need of service”. Primarily because services for older youth (aged 19-21) is focused on employment, post-secondary school or advanced training, while services for younger youth (aged 14-18) are focused on skill attainment and diploma attainment.

The WIB agreed that the new barrier definitions will positively effect the PY 2005/06 service strategies that focus on career pathways, serving at risk foster care or former foster care youth, and serving more “at risk” older youth by opening up barrier options for those youth who are at risk but not previously identified under the locally defined barrier options.

The addition of language to address former foster care or those hindered by disabilities improves the local area’s ability to meet the needs of these target groups.
The Alameda County Workforce Investment Board defined the barriers as follows:

Requires Additional Assistance to Complete an Educational Program shall be defined locally as: as an individual, aged 14 to 21 years of age, who on the date of application meets one (1) of the following documented criteria:
· Is deemed at risk of dropping out of school by school official
· Is a court/agency referral mandating school attendance
· Has chronic attendance or discipline problems
· Has a grade point average (GPA) of 1.5 or less
· Is attending an alternative school / education program
· Is credit deficient
· Is or was in the foster care system
· Has emotional, physical, learning or psychological impairments
· Has been referred to or treated by an agency for substance abuse problems
· Has unstable living conditions due to traumatic events like abuse, or neglect
· Lacks familial support to complete an educational program.

Requires Additional Assistance to Secure and Hold Employment shall be defined locally as: an individual who on date of application meets one (1) of the following documented criteria:

Is 17 or 18 years old, and has attained a high school diploma or equivalency, who
· Is an emancipated youth
(i) Has entered into a valid marriage, whether or not such marriage was terminated by dissolution; or
(ii) Is on active duty with any of the armed forces of the United States of America; or
(iii) Has received a declaration of emancipation pursuant to California Family Code 7122.
· Is or was in the foster care system
· Has emotional, physical, learning or psychological impairments
· Has been referred to or treated by an agency for substance abuse problems
· Has unstable living conditions due to traumatic events
· Lacks familial support to secure and hold employment.
· Has never held a job
· Has been fired from a job within the 12 months prior to application
· Has never held a full-time job (30+ hours per week) for more than 13 consecutive weeks; OR


Is 19 to 21 years of age who:
· Is or was in the foster care system
· Has emotional, physical, learning or psychological impairments
· Has been referred to or treated by an agency for substance abuse problems
· Has unstable living conditions due to traumatic events
· Has never held a job
· Has been fired from a job within the 12 months prior to application
· Has never held a full-time job (30+ hours per week) for more than 13 consecutive weeks.

Action:

Beginning May 1, 2005 all Youth providers must use the above barrier definitions to determine eligibility for WIA Title I programs. Appropriate documentation to meet the barrier definition must be included in the eligibility file. A new barrier checklist is attached to this Action Bulletin and should be used exclusively as of May 1st.

Information & Inquiries:

Linda Slater
MIS Administrator
(510) 259-3802
Lslater@acgov.org

Attachment:

Not applicable