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—
- c. Youth Program Requirements.
With respect to youth workforce investment activities authorized in section 129 of WIOA, States should describe their strategies that will support the implementation of youth activities under WIOA. State’s must-
- c. Youth Program Requirements.
c. 4. Provide the language contained in the State policy for “requiring additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program, or to secure and hold employment” criterion for out-of-school youth specified in WIOA section 129(a)(1)(B)(iii)(VIII) and for “requiring additional assistance to complete an education program, or to secure and hold employment” criterion for in-school youth specified in WIOA section 129(a)(1)(C)(iv)(VII). If the state does not have a policy, describe how the state will ensure that local areas will have a policy for these criteria.
Current Narrative:
Currently the State does not have a policy to specifically define “requiring additional assistance to enter or complete an education program, or to secure and hold employment. WV has relied on Guidance Notice 6-16 Eligibility Change 2 which broadly defines this barrier as follows:
- In School Youth: An individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.
- Out of School Youth: A low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.
Going forward the State in conjunction with local stakeholders will develop an Eligibility Policy which includes an expanded definition of this barrier. Suitable criteria will be identified determining when to use this barrier for eligibility purposes. The State will work with Local Workforce Development Boards (LDWBs) to ensure alignment between state and local eligibility policies and will provide technical assistance as needed. Such alignment will provide clarity to frontline staff around which youth fall under this category and ensure that youth who are in need of services due to additional barriers receive services. The State anticipates completing the policy by the end of the 2024 calendar year.