Coordination of Services

Title II-A projects for adults age 22-72 may provide the following types of training and training-related activities:

Occupational skills training in the classroom, on-the-job training, customized training, remediation/GED preparation, employment competencies, case management, comprehensive assessment, and intake services. Participants attending classroom training for at least three hours per day and maintaining a 70% grade average or its equivalent receive supportive service payments to partially defray the cost of attending training and their child care expenses for children age 12 and below, if necessary.

Title II-C projects for youth age 14-21 may provide the following types of training and training-related activities:

Classroom training in occupational skills, customized training, remediation/GED preparation, youth competencies, alternative school, limited internships, work experience, case management, comprehensive assessment and intake services. Participants attending classroom training (except for high school students attending high school) for at least three hours per day and maintaining a 70% grade average or its equivalent receive supportive service payments to partially defray the cost of attending training and their child care expenses for children age 12 and below, if necessary.

Any person in the Service Delivery Area may apply for JTPA services; however, eligibility is based on need as determined by income and/or identified barriers to employment. The PIC follows detailed instructions for determining JTPA eligibility developed by the Georgia Department of Labor. Eligibility determination will be made by the staff of the Coosa Valley RDC which will be accessible to sites throughout the area or by staff members of the local technical institutes.

ADULTS PLANNED PERFORMANCE

Employment Rate at Follow-up
(13 weeks after leaving program) 70%
Average Weekly Earnings at Follow-up $ 330

Welfare Employment Rate at Follow-up 62%
Welfare Average Weekly Earnings at Follow-up $ 315

Adult Entered Employment with Fringe Benefits 70%
Customer Satisfaction Rate 87%

STATE ADVISORY BENCHMARKS PLANNED PERFORMANCE

The Worker Adjustment Program is designed to assist those who have lost their jobs through plant closure, mass lay-off, displaced homemakers, or have been unemployed for more than 15 weeks to obtain retraining for entry into the work force.

1. Types of Re-training and Other Activities

The following types of re-training activities may be provided: Remediation/ GED; classroom Occupational Skills; On-the-Job Training; Customized Training; relocation assistance and out-of-area job search. Participants in classroom training at least three hours per day receive support payments to partially defray the cost of attending training.

Primary occupational areas include trades, professions such as nursing or management, operatives, services, and clerical.

2. Training Duration and Estimated Cost

Generally training will be no less than two weeks and generally one year in duration. However, some participants in higher skilled occupations such as nursing may require in excess of two years of training. Average cost is expected to be approximately $4,500 per participant.

The STEP is operated during the summer months for economically disadvantaged youth age 14-21 to provide training and employment experience and opportunities.

1. Training Activities

Training is provided primarily through work experience in the public sector. Major occupations involved in this type of training include clerical, service (maintenance) and crafts. Also occupational training will be provided in the classroom primarily in the same areas as work experience and in electronic assembly. Those whose test scores indicate two years or more below grade level will be provided remediation. It will also be given to others whose assessment indicates they will benefit from remediation and/or academic enrichment. Participants are paid a training payment equal to the minimum wage depending on the STEP activity.

Orientation is required and addresses the participant's rights and responsibilities as well life skills training in areas such as job seeking and retention skills. Also required are citizenship skills training relating to skills and qualities such as teamwork, problem-solving, initiative, commitment to lifelong learning, self-esteem, leadership, and an ethic of civic responsibility. Limited internships in the private sector may be utilized for occupations relating to a youth's long-term employment goal. Private sector employers must be willing to contribute to the youth's long-term employment through activities such as mentoring, providing occupational skills or employment after training or school completion.

2. Training Duration and Estimated Cost

Training activities for out-of-school youth may begin on May 1st , while for in-school youth they begin after the school term has ended. Training activities may last from 4 to 20 weeks. Estimated cost per participant including administration and participant payments is $1,700.

3. Planned Service Levels and Target Groups

It is planned that approximately 765 youth will be served in the STEP projects. Those targeted for services include females, minorities, welfare recipients, and disabled.

4. Selection of Participants

Eligibility for STEP is based on income levels established by the JTPA. The Coosa Valley RDC follows detailed instructions developed by the Georgia Department of Labor to determine eligibility. All information provided by the applicant is verified by an outside source. Eligible applicants are referred by the RDC intake staff to training contractors for assessment and selection. Training contractors assess the educational and support service needs of the youth and then make the final selection of program participants. The training contractor uses a case management approach to obtained identified service needs from either JTPA or non-JTPA resources. The intake staff is accessible to sites throughout the area.

5. Performance Goals

The STEP does not have mandated performance measures as the other Title II programs; however, below are locally adopted measures: