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:
DEO uses either a WARN, Trade Petition Filing, newspaper article or other reliable means of notification to initiate rapid response assistance to workers who have been notified of potential layoff or have been laid off as a result of trade. Each LWDB has a Business Service Unit that is comprised of a Rapid Response Coordinator who is responsible for making initial contact with a company official to obtain information relative to the layoff. If workers are still attached to the employer, the Rapid Response Coordinator will conduct Rapid Response Information Meetings to the workers providing information on the various services offered in the CareerSource Florida Center and through partner programs. If the Trade petition has been filed and not approved during the Rapid Response meeting, a very brief description of the program services are covered. The workers are advised that once the petition is filed and approved, a scheduled TAA Information Meeting will be made available and an official notice will be mailed to the workers. It is the state’s practice not to conduct an actual TAA Information Meeting unless the petition has been certified. Also, if the worker group has not received rapid response assistance; although the workers may have been officially separated from the company/firm, it is encouraged that a Rapid Response Meeting is conducted. If the petition has been approved and rapid response has not been conducted, the State Trade Coordinator ensures that a combined Rapid Response/TAA Information Meeting is conducted for the group. Staff maintains a roster of customers who attended the orientation meetings and record information in the state management information system (Employ Florida Marketplace).
When mass layoffs occur where state level rapid response funding is needed, LWDB will request for funds to assist workers who are in need of career counseling, resume preparation, interviewing skills, etc. It should be noted that the state-level rapid response funding may also be used for lay-off aversion.