KeyQuestionstoconsiderinapplyingfor WorkforceInnovationFunds January2012 TheNationalTransitionalJobsNetworkhasdevelopedacomprehensiveguideforpotential granteesinterestedinapplyingtotheWorkforceInnovationFundgrantsolicitation.Thistool helpsgranteesconsiderseveralimportantfactorsbeforeapplyingforfunds,suchasthetypeof program,placementsandparticipantsyouwillserve.Potentialgranteesshouldusethis documentasatoolwhenconsideringyourprogramdesignandmultisystemssupport partnershipsthatwilleffectivelyimproveoutcomesforindividualswithbarriersto employment. DefiningPopulation&Scale: Decidingyourparticipantbasewillhelpguideyourdecisionforyourprogrammodel,funding, partnerships,andadditionalresourcesyoushouldconsider. Whatistheprimarypopulationthatyourprogramwillserve? Howmanyparticipantswillyourprogramserve?

ogramserve? Whowillbeeligibleandhowwilleligibilitybedetermined? How/Wherewillparticipantsberecruited? CreatinganAdministrativeInfrastructure&BuildingPartnerships: TheWorkforceInnovationFundsencouragesystemcollaborationandpartnershiptosupport transitionsintoemploymentandlavageexpertiseofmultiplesystems.Exampleofpotential partnershipstoconsiderarerelationshipsbetweenemployers,workforcedevelopment, education,humanservices,socialinsurance,andeconomicdevelopmentprograms. Whatotherstateandlocalagencies/vendors/WIBsmightbeinvolvedinservicedelivery? Whowillbetheemployerofrecordforsubsidizedemployment? Howwillyouensureexperience/skillsofvendorstaffmatchprogramgoalstoensure success? Whatstaffwillbestandardinyourprogram(casemanagers,resumeandinterview, businessservicerepresentatives,etc.?) Willyouusedacontractwithvendors?Whattypeofcontactwillyouuse?(e.g. performancebased,costreimbursement)
January2012 1

 Whatotheragreementsmightyouusewithagenciesthatserveparticipants?(e.g.MOUs, interagencyagreements)

Whatformalagreementwillyouusewithemployers?Whatwillyourequireofthem?(e.g. supervision,training)

Howandhowoftenwillyoumonitorcontractedserviceproviders?Howwillyoumonitor employers? IdeasforTJ: NTJNwouldencourageapplicantstoconsiderapplyingorpartneringtoapplyforfundsthat supportTransitionalJobsprogramenhancementsnotcurrentlybeingevaluatedforexample: TransitionalJobsapproachesblendedwithcontextualizedadultbasiceducation,literacy, bridgeprogramsand/orothertrainingleadingtoemployment. TransitionalJobsapproachesblendedwithtraininginhighgrowthsectorinitiativesleading toemployment.

LongerTransitionalJobsprogramsorsteppedapproachesthatgraduallyincreasejob responsibility,stressorleadtoonthejobtrainingand/orapprenticeships

TransitionalJobsprogramapproachesblendedwithintensivecasemanagementprograms, harmreductionapproaches,mentoringand/orpeersupport

Statesystemcollaborationefforts,(WorkforceDevelopment,ChildSupport,TANF/SNAP, CriminalJustice,HomelessnessandHousing,FosterCare,VeteransAssistanceorothers)in whichTransitionalJobsistheprimarystrategyforservingtheemploymentneedsofmostat riskorvulnerablepopulations. DefiningWorkPlacements: ThesubsidizedworkelementoftheTransitionalJobsprogramstrategycanbestructuredina varietyofwaystoprovideaccesstorealwork,skillbuildingopportunitiesandsupportive services.Regardlessofthestructure,inordertosupportthegoalsoftheTransitionalJobs strategyweencouragethatprogramsconsiderhowtheyareensuringthattherealwork experienceisdevelopmental. NTJNEnsuringTJisaDevelopmentalExperience SocialEnterprise Commercialbusinessesusedtoprovideworkexperienceandjobtrainingopportunitiesfor disadvantagedindividuals.Thesebusinessesuserevenuegeneratedfromproductsand/or servicesthattheirclientworkforcehelpsproducetopayforwagesandotherformsof assistance.Socialenterprisesrangefrommanufacturingplantstobakeries,restaurants, groundsmaintenance,andtranslationservices.Theytypicallyfallunderfourcategories: January2012 2

1.Traditionalshelteredworkshopsthatreceivepreferentialtreatmentforgovernmentfunds 2.Openmarketbusinessesthatcompetewiththeprivatesectorwithoutgovernmentassistance 3.Individualfranchiseswithinanationalcorporation 4.Enterprisesthatgrowoutofanonprofitorganizationssocialserviceprograms

Advantages: MaximumControlEveryTJpositionisoneyoudevelopandmanagethroughyourbusiness. DiversifiedWorkExperienceParticipanthastheopportunitytoworkinanumberof differentjobs,allwithinthesameprogram. RevenueForWagesProductorserviceallowsfornonrestrictedprogramfundsfor participantwages. SimilarAdvantagestoaWorkCrewModel Challenges: CapitalNeededtoStartSocialEnterprisesareexpensivetostart. StaffIntensiveCreation&managementofbusinesswhileemployingpersonswithbarriersto employment. TransitioningBESTworkersdilemmaThegoalofTJisthetransition.Whenpeopleareready totransitiontheyareyourBESTworkerssoyoumustbalanceyoursocialandbusiness mission. MarketInfluenceYourprogramdependsheavilyondemandforyourproductorservice. IndividualPlacement ProgramstaffmembersworkwithindividualparticipantstoplacetheminaTransitionalJob. Typesofplacementsectorsmayincludeclerical,maintenance,foodservice,andchildcare. TheremaybeonlyoneTJparticipantworkingataworksiteortheremaybeafew.Thisisthe mostcommonTJmodel. Advantages: MaximumChoiceMatchingjobsiteandparticipantskills/interests. Diversity&NumberofEmployerRelationshipsCommunitybuyinandsupportthrough employerengagementandrelationshipbuilding. RealestofRealWorkExperienceParticipantsworkwithpeopleNOTinanemployment program;thereforereceivingimmediatefeedbackfromcolleaguesandpeers. Challenges: StaffIntensiveMonitoringindividualjobsites(subsidized&unsubsidized)andparticipants. Diversity&NumberofEmployerRelationshipsAlotofrelationshipstomanage.Needfor goodorganization. HighNeedforRoleClarity,CommunicationofExpectationsProgramstaffmustsetclear rolesandexpectationsofemployer.Havinganemploymentsitementoriscritical. WorkCrews January2012 3

WorkcrewsoffivetosevenTJparticipantsunderthedirectionofasupervisoraresenteach daytoworksitestoperformajob.Jobsoftenincludemaintenance,repair,andsanitationjobs forparks,schools,andgovernmentfacilities. Advantages: HighControlWorkenvironmentishighlycontrolledbycrewleader. JobDeveloperRoleStreamlinedJobdeveloperconcentratesonunsubsidizedplacement sitesonly. DailyObservationofProgressSupervisoronsitetoseegrowthandprogressofparticipant. GoodPeerPressureGroupofparticipantshelpsfosteradherencetoidealbehaviorsof work. Challenges: LessFlexibilityJobenvironmentislessflexibletoTJparticipantskills/interests. JobCongruencyWhatjobsareparticipantstransitioningtoinunsubsidizedemployment? FocusonBehaviorsofWorkWorksettingforcesTJprogramtothinkcriticallyabout behaviorsofworkthatmustbeachievedbeforetransition.
Whatstructureofworkplacementswillyouuse?(scatteredsite,workcrew,social enterprise,combination?) Whattypeofemployerswillyoutarget?Whatindustriesmightyouincludeortarget?How willyourcountyrecruitthem? Howmanyhourswillaparticipantwork? Whatisthewageforparticipantsutilizingsubsidizedemploymentplacements? Whattypesofsupportswillyouprovidetoemployers? Whattypesofonsiteworksupportsandmentoringwillemployersoffer? Whatworksiteagreementswillbemadewithemployers? Whatwillbesomeresponsibilitiesofemployerpartners?

DevelopingServices&SupportsforParticipants: Itisimportanttoconsidertheservicesandsupportsparticipantswithbarrierstoemployment andthosewhohavejobreadinessdeficienciesmayneed.Itisalsoimportanttobeclear regardingparticipantrequirementsforinclusiononyourprogram,aswellas,stepsfor inclusion.Theserequirementsshouldbecommunicatedtoparticipantsearly.Theyshouldalso bemadeawaretheretheirparticipationandultimatesuccessisbasedonanopendialogueof informationbetweenthemandstaff. January2012 4


Howwillyouassessparticipantsforjobplacementsandworksupports?

PreWork PlacementServices

Willyouconductprogramorientationsforinterestedparticipants? Willyouconductscreeningsofanykindonyourparticipants? Ifso,whatscreeningswillbeconducted:screeningsforfit,drug screening,other?

Whatdocumentationwillberequiredofparticipantsbeforeentrance intotheprogram? Willyourparticipantsberequiredtotestbeforeentranceintothe program?Forexample,takeaTABEtest? Perthepreviousquestion,willtherebecutoffsforparticipantswithlow TABEscores? Whatpreliminarystepswillberequiredofparticipantsbefore enrollment? Ifthesestepsareaccomplished,willthisensureparticipantenrollment?

Howwillyouassistparticipantsinthetransitionbacktothelabor market?

Whatsupportiveserviceswillbeofferedtoensureemploymentsuccess forparticipants? Whattypesofworkpreparationactivitieswillyouprovidebeforetheyare placedonthejob? Whattypesofworksupports/serviceswillyouorthevendorsprovideto participants?Whatwillbecontractedout? Whatwillbetheroleofthecasemanager?Howwillcasemanagementbe structured? Whattypesofeducation/trainingisnecessaryforparticipants?(e.g.adult basiceducation,basicjobskills,softskills,vocationaltraining,computer literacy,GEDpreparation,other?) Willyouoryourvendorsprovidetheeducation/training?Whomightbe appropriatepartners?Isthereexperienceandexpertiseinthecommunity?

ServicesDuring Placement

January2012

 Describeyourstaffrequirementsforyourparticulartransitionaljobs programmodel?

Describethenumberoffulltimestaffthatyourprogramrequires?

Describethenumberofparttimestaffthatyourprogramwouldrequire Howwillyouoryourvendorstransitionaparticipantfromsubsidizedto unsubsidizedemployment?Whenwillthisprocessbegin? Whatjobsearchandjobplacementserviceswillbeavailablethroughyouor thevendors?Whomightyouorthevendorspartnerwith? Whattypesofsupportwillyouoryourvendorsprovidetoparticipantsonce theymovetounsubsidizedjobplacement?Howlongwillthesesupportsbe available? Whatotherretentionstrategiesareyouplanningonusing?Ex.followup calls,alumniclubs,retentionbonuses,etc. Howwillyouencouragecommunicationandcoordinationwithpotential vendors? Howwillyouencouragecommunicationandcoordinationwithemployers?

Transitionto Unsubsidized Placement

Communication& Service Coordination

SecuringProgramFunding&LeveragingOtherResources: ToimplementasuccessfulTransitionalJobsprogram,youmustconsideryourbudgetneeds. Yourbudgetprojectionshouldincludevariousgrantandfundingsources,aswellas,inkind donationsfrompartners,referrals,andexchangesbetweenagencies. TheNTJNhasanonlinebudgetestimator,whichcanbefoundhere: WhatamountoffundingwillyouseekontheWorkforceInvestmentFundapplication? Whatexistingfundingwillyourand/orvendorsdedicatetothisinitiative? Usingthebudgettoolprovided,howmanypeoplecouldthisserve? Whatlimitations,ifany,arethereregardingtheuseoffundsavailablefortheinitiative? Whatotherresourcescouldbeleveragedtosupportthisinitiative? DoyouhaveaproposedgrantwriterforthisRFP(WorkforceInnovationFund)? January2012 6

January2012