Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities

DWD Policy 2017-03, Change 2: Youth Eligibility states that “requires additional assistance to enter or complete an education program, or to secure and hold employment” for in- or out-of- school youth must be locally defined and does not include specific language for these definitions. WIOA allows States and/or local areas to define the requiring additional assistance criterion that is part of the Out-of-School Youth and In-School Youth eligibility. It clarifies that if this criterion is not defined at the State level and a local area uses this criterion in their Out-of-School Youth or In-School Youth eligibility, the local area must define this criterion in their local plan. Additionally, DWD and GWC will be issuing Local Planning guidance, which will include assurance from each local area (either within Local Plans or local policy) that these criteria are addressed. Review of local plans and regular monitoring and oversight of policies and procedures will also support compliance with this element. 

Some examples of local definitions are below: 

Region 5 Examples: 

• In-school Youth  

  • A Youth living in a household where a parent is incarcerated, has a criminal record, or has no high school education; or  

  • A Youth has experienced recent traumatic events, is a victim of abuse, or resides in an abusive environment, or suffers from serious emotional or medical problems; or  

  • A Youth who is in a household where a parent or spouse has been terminated or laid off in the past 6 months; or  

  • A Youth who has been referred to or treated by an agency for substance abuse/psychological problems; or  

  • A Youth who is an expectant father; or  

  • A Youth who has experienced the loss of a primary caregiver (parent or guardian) due to debilitating health issues, death, or military service; or  

  • A Youth who lacks transportation to school or work and/or does not have access to technology; or  

  • A Youth who is at risk of dropping out of high school due to failing a core subject/behind in credits/poor attendance/not passing proficiency exam or has had an out of school suspension or expulsion from school.  

• Out-of-school Youth  

  • A Youth who is unemployed and has been unable to obtain employment within the six weeks prior to program application; or is underemployed defined as part-time (less than 30 hours a week) and/or minimum wage; or  

  • A Youth who has never worked or who has never held a full-time job (30+ hours a week) for more than 13 consecutive weeks; or  

  • A Youth who has neither the work experience nor the credential required for an occupation in demand for which training is necessary and will be provided; or  

  • A Youth who has dropped out of a post-secondary educational program during the last twelve calendar months prior to program application; or  

  • A Youth who has been fired from a job within the 12 months prior to program application; or  

  • A Youth living in a household where a parent is incarcerated, or has a criminal record or has no high school education; or  

  • A Youth has experienced recent traumatic events, is a victim of abuse, or resides in an abusive environment, or suffers from serious emotional or medical problems; or  

  • A Youth who is in a household where a parent or spouse has been terminated or laid off in the past 6 months; or  

  • A Youth who has been referred to or treated by an agency for substance abuse/psychological problems; or  

  • A Youth who is an expectant father; or  

  • A Youth who has experienced the loss of a primary caregiver (parent or guardian) due to debilitating health issues, death, or military service; or  

  • A Youth who lacks transportation to school or work and/or does not have access to technology.  

Region 7 Examples: 

• In-school and out-of-school Youth 

  • Limited or no work experience; 

  • One or more parents have been incarcerated in the last twelve months; 

  • One or more parents dropped out of school; 

  • Mother or father is not employed; 

  • No one in the household is currently employed; 

  • Lacks transportation to and from work or school; or 

  • Lacks marketable skills that are in demand in the local labor market. 

Region 8 Examples: 

An individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment. Additional assistance is defined in Regional Policy 06-002 Eligibility as one or more of the following:  

• Currently receives free lunch.  

• Poor work history- having NOT worked full-time (32 hours per week or more) in unsubsidized employment for the same employer for 13 consecutive weeks in the past 12 calendar months. This information is collected on the enrollment application under the section “Limited Work History/Experience.” This can be verified using the signed application along with a detailed case note.  

• Unemployed or underemployed- the individual is not earning a self-sufficient wage (Earning $18.00 per hour and working less than 35 hours per week or an equivalent income).  

• Not receiving regular child support- the youth resides in a household where the non-custodial parent has not paid child support on a timely basis as established by the support order.  

Region 9 Examples: 

• In-school Youth 

  • Has poor attendance patterns in an educational program during the last 12 calendar months; or  

  • Has been expelled from school within the last 12 calendar months; or  

  • Has been suspended from school at least within the last 12 calendar months; or  

  • Has below average grades; or a GPA at or below 2.5; or  

  • A member of a household with a parent/guardian that has a criminal record; or  

  • Living in a household where a parent has no High School Diploma or its equivalent; or  Has poor work history, to include no work history, or has been fired from a job in the last 6 calendar months.  

• Out-of-school Youth  

  • Has dropped out of a post-secondary educational program during the past 12 calendar months; or  

  • Has poor work history, no work history, or has been fired from a job in the last 6 calendar months; or  

  • A member of a household with a parent/guardian that has a criminal record; or  

  • Living in a household where a parent has no High School Diploma or its equivalent; or  

  • Has poor work history, no work history, or has been fired from a job in the last 6 calendar months.  

  • Not receiving regular child support-youth resides in a household where the non-custodial parent has not paid child support on a timely basis as established by the support holder.  

Region 11 Examples:  

• A minor child currently residing in a household in which one or both legal parents are not currently residing. Documented by self-attestation.  

• Any child who does not have at least one parent who holds a post-secondary degree. Documented by self-attestation.  

• Any child who receives free or reduced lunches. Documented by letter from customer’s school corporation.  

• Any youth who has received or currently receives treatment for substance abuse, or currently resides in the household with a parent or legal guardian who has a documented history of substance abuse. Documented by verification from treatment/recovery program or police/court papers.  

• Any child who lives or currently resides in a domestic violence household. Documented by certified counselor, social worker, school social worker or authorized employee of a domestic violence program or other reputable institution such as the customer’s school or religious organization.  

• Any child who has a parent who is considered an offender. Documented by probation, parole office, police records, or authorized employee of an offender recovery program.  

• Any child currently participating in special education services or has participated in special education while in school. Documented by papers from school system, vocational rehabilitation, or authorized rehabilitation /educational agency.  

• Any child receiving SNAP (Food Stamps) or TANF. Documented by Department of Family and Children.  

• Child in the household of the custodial parent is not receiving regular child support. This information should be documented by court records, records, from the local prosecutor’s office, records from FSSA (Family Social Services Administration) or a related entity.  

• Youth involved with the juvenile justice system. This information should be documented with court records, statement from the probation officer, or documentation from another juvenile justice agency.  

• Youth who declares a mental or physical disability. This information must be verified by school records, a physician’s statement, a statement from a mental health provider or another qualified referring agency such as Vocational Rehabilitation.  

• Youth who has aged out of foster care. This information must be verified by records from the Division of Child Services.  

• Youth who do not have a driver’s license, or does not access to a vehicle, or relies on public transportation, or no family support to provide transportation.