Located in:
- Program-specific Requirements for Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities under Title I-B
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following with respect to activities carried out under subtitle B—
a. 2. D. Describe how the State provides early intervention (e.g., Rapid Response) to worker groups on whose behalf a Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) petition has been filed. (Section 134(a)(2)(A).) This description must include how the State disseminates benefit information to provide trade-affected workers in the groups identified in the TAA petitions with an accurate understanding of the provision of TAA benefits and services in such a way that they are transparent to the trade-affected dislocated worker applying for them (Trade Act Sec. 221(a)(2)(A) and Sec. 225; Governor-Secretary Agreement). Describe how the State will use funds that have been reserved for Rapid Response to provide services for every worker group that files a TAA petition.
Current Narrative:
During any Rapid Response event, the ERE Specialist provides to the workers an orientation of job centers services, which includes orientation and detailed information about the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. Referrals are then made to TAA staff for any interested participants. TAA staff would then ensure that eligible workers were provided access to services provided through the program, including training, case management and other services for these participants.
When a Trade Adjustment Assistance petition (TAA) is filed, the Office of Workforce Development (OWD) TAA Coordinator notifies the appropriate local Trade Act Navigator, appropriate Employer Relations and Engagement (ERE) Specialist(s), ERE Manager, OWD Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Coordinator, the Division of Employment Security (DES) Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) Coordinator, and OWD Central Office TAA staff.
In most cases, the region’s ERE Specialist(s), in coordination with the region’s Trade Act Navigator, schedules a Rapid Response meeting. They invite a DES representative to provide information on Unemployment Insurance (UI). The Trade Act Navigator will notify the workers that a TAA petition has been filed without promising a certification. The Trade Act Navigator will refer the workers to the U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL’s) website and Missouri’s TAA webpage, https://jobs.mo.gov/trade-adjustment-assistance, for petition status updates and additional information about TAA benefits and services. The Trade Act Navigator and the ERE Specialist(s) provides the worker with informational handouts on a variety of Job Center services and supportive service information, including TAA.
In Missouri, through use of a pilot, OWD RESEA staff provide TAA information, https://jobs.mo.gov/sites/jobs/files/taa-howto.pdf, to individuals eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI). This TAA information is also available in the Missouri Job Centers. The DES also post the TAA information on their website.
When TAA funds are not available, the state will use funds that have been reserved for rapid response to provide services for every worker group that files a TAA petition to: 1) print and distribute Trade Act informational pamphlets; and 2) for Trade Navigators wages, fringe benefits and travel expenses for outreach so they may attend the rapid response meeting and provide information relating to TAA benefits and services including criteria and timeframes.