ACTION BULLETINS (PY 2004)

AB - #46 Allowable Post-Exit Follow-up and Supportive Services for Youth Participants

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AB - #46
Retroactive to July 1, 2004




TO: Youth Program Operators

DATE: December 22, 2004

SUBJECT: Allowable Post-Exit Follow-up and Supportive Services for Youth Participants

PURPOSE OF BULLETIN:
The Alameda County Workforce Investment Board (ACWIB) has developed a policy and procedure about the allowable post-exit follow-up and supportive services for Youth participants. The purpose of this bulletin is to:

1. Define the allowable post-exit follow-up and supportive services under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; and
2. Provide the procedure for making an appropriate determination of need; and
3. List requirements for documenting the post-exit services provided to youth participants.

CITATION(S):
· Preamble to the Workforce Investment Act, Section 134(2)(3)(5b)
· Preamble to the Federal Register, pages 49319 – 49320, August 11, 2000
· Federal Register Subpart H – Supportive Services, Sections 664.440 and 664.450, Follow-up Services for Youth

BACKGROUND:
The Preamble to the Federal Register, dated August 11, 2000 states that the goal of the mandated Follow-up services is to ensure job retention, wage gains, and career or educational progress for participants who have been referred to unsubsidized employment . Youth participants must receive some form of follow-up services for a minimum duration of 12 months. The types of post-exit follow-up services provided and the duration of services must be determined based on the needs of the individual.
Youth participants with the following exit outcomes DO NOT require post-exit follow-up services, nor are they eligible for post-exit supportive services:

ü Illness or Medical Condition (YY and OY) – Exit Code 10
ü Unable to Contact (YY and OY) – Exit Code 11
ü Death (YY and OY) – Exit Code 12
ü Institutionalized (YY and OY) – Exit Code 13
ü Return to Secondary School (YY only) – Exit Code 16

In Section 134 of the Preamble to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, supportive services are defined as: (1) allowable for eligible clients enrolled in a case management component during program participation and after job placement , (2) may be provided to clients who are unable to obtain such supportive services through other programs and (3) may be provided when necessary to enable individuals to participate in Title I activities, such as the mandated follow-up services.

Post-exit supportive services are an adjunct to the mandated follow-up services and must include a review of the participant’s need for supportive services to meet the participant’s goals and that funding for the supportive service is unavailable through other funding sources.

The Federal Register further states that there is an expectation that the provision of post-exit supportive services will be limited and will be part of the Individual Services Strategy (ISS), clearly documented in the participant case file.

The Federal Register, Subsection H – Supportive Services, Sections 665.440 and 664.450 lists the following allowable post-exit follow-up and supportive services for youth:

Follow-up services for youth may include:
A. Leadership development;
B. Allowable supportive services;
1. Linkages to Community Services
2. Assistance with Transportation
3. Assistance with Child Care or Dependent Care
4. Assistance with Housing
5. Referrals to Medical Services
6. Assistance with uniforms or other appropriate work attire and work-related tools, including such items as eyeglasses and protective eye gear.
C. Regular contact with a youth participant’s employer, including assistance in addressing work-related problems that arise;
D. Assistance in securing better paying jobs, career development and further education;
E. Work-related peer support groups; and
F. Tracking the progress of youth in employment after training.


POLICY:
ACWIB concurs with all Federal rules, lists and policies regarding the provision of post-exit follow-up and supportive services to eligible youth participants in the WIA Title I programs as outlined above.

Post-exit Follow-up services must be provided to all youth with exit outcomes other than those excluded from the requirement (excluded exit codes: 10, 11, 12, 13 and 16).

Post-exit Supportive services, as an adjunct to follow-up services, can to be provided, if necessary, to sustain youth participants who exit the WIA Title I program with one of the following positive outcomes:

· Entered Employment, including the Military
· Entered Post-Secondary Education
· Entered Advanced Training, including Apprenticeships
· Attained Recognized Certificate/Diploma/Degree
(Only for Younger Youth whose exit outcome is “attain a HS diploma or equivalent”)

PROCEDURE:
Prior to using WIA Title I funds to provide post-exit supportive services the Youth program provider must document that:

1. The post-exit supportive service is necessary to sustain the positive exit outcome; and
2. The need for and type of post-exit supportive service is documented in the Individual Service Strategy (ISS); and
3. There has been a determination that the supportive service is unavailable from another funding sources; and
4. The post-exit supportive service is necessary to continue in the follow-up service component.

The attached Post-Exit ISS form has been modified to include documentation options to ensure the four (4) criteria above are met prior to provision of supportive services.

ACTION:
Implementation of the policy and procedure is mandatory. To successfully implement the policy and procedures the Youth Program Operators will:

A. Develop an internal policy and procedure for implementation of the ACWIB Action Bulletin at their site(s), including sub-contractors.
B. Inform the appropriate program staff (Case manager, partners, and sub-contractors) of the ACWIB Action Bulletin.
C. Utilize the ISS document to record the need and type of post-exit supportive services to be provided.
D. Ensure that only allowable supportive services are provided as an adjunct to follow-up services as outlined in this bulletin.


INFORMATION AND INQUIRIES:
For information and inquiries please contact Linda Slater, MIS Administrator at (510) 259-3802 or by email at LSlater@acgov.org


ATTACHMENT:
Individual Service Strategy – Action Strategy Plan – Youth Post Exit Services Form