| THE DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Starting with this issue of MinnesoTAA, we’re adding
an element that we hope will increase accountability – not from local partners
to this state agency, but the other way around.
For the past several months, the entire Dislocated Worker
unit (which includes TAA) has been developing more focused goals that better
reflect the value we add either to the job seeking customer or the taxpaying
investor. This is all within the context of Governor Dayton’s encouragement of
“results-based accountability” – you can find more information on RBA concepts here.
Metrics that the TAA team will be focusing on for at least
the coming year, and likely well beyond that:
- application processing time
- customer satisfaction
- monitoring findings, areas of concern, and best
practices
- employed credential rate
- customer outreach (through successful petitions,
notification letters, etc.)
Of course, to do well with these metrics, we in TAA have to
ensure the highest possible quality service to both that job seeking customer and
the Dislocated Worker counselor in the field. That means doing better by many
of you. We will continue to design, implement, and measure ongoing efforts to
work well with counselors – trainings, daily communications, anything we can
get a handle on. Meanwhile, please feel free to contact our team and let us
know what specific steps we might take to attain success with the goals above.
We look forward to achieving great things together with you!
AA
CAN A PART TIME STUDENT RECEIVE
TRA?
Question:
When an adversely affected worker enters the final semester in an approved
training program with only one or two courses remaining to complete the
training plan, can this last term be treated as “full-time training” for
purposes of TRA eligibility?
Answer:
Yes. As provided at 20 CFR 617.22(f)(4), “full-time” participation is
determined by the training institution. There are situations in which the
remaining course(s) to complete the approved training program during the final term may not meet the
institution’s usual definition of full-time. However, in these situations,
states may consider the participation in training as full-time
participation if the training provider provides documentation that no
additional training or coursework is needed to complete the training program.
TAA SUCCESS STORIES!
This
email is a formal request to all
Dislocated Worker Counselors for success stories from clients who received TAA
training benefits and went on to find employment as a result. We
would love to share this great work in the TAA Newsletter and with our
stakeholders, including the U.S. Department of Labor and elected officials.
We
are always looking for success stories so please send whenever you get them!
There is a link in this newsletter for the DEED Consent to Share Information
form. Below are directions for what to include in a success story. Please
send any success stories to Cynthia Boyle at Cynthia.boyle@state.mn.us. Thank
you for all of your work and please do not hesitate to reach out if you have
any questions or concerns.
Please
include the following in your TAA success story submission:
- A
photograph of the customer – often in his/her new work place (A photograph
makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE!);
- Signed
copy of the DEED Consent to Share Information form (attached);
- Details
about how the customer’s life was positively impacted by TAA benefits;
- Information
about his/her previous occupation;
- Information
about his/her new occupation; and
Any
relevant wage change information.
We must have each individual’s permission to share stories and
pictures. Please include a scanned signed copy of the attached DEED consent
form with your success story
(See Example.)
SMART GOALS
TAA
has been measuring the amount of time it takes us to process Training Plans, On
The Job Training, Job Search Allowance, and Relocation Allowance applications,
beginning with when we first receive the application from the Dislocated Worker
counselor to when we send out official approval. Our processing times were
lengthier during the fall when we were out of the office leading TAA fall
training sessions and shorter as the start of spring 2014 semester approached.
We continue to monitor our processing times and hope to keep processing time at
a minimum!
Click graph for larger image.
CUSTOMER SURVEY
On January 31, 2014, TAA sent a four-question survey to
all TAA customers who completed their Occupational Skills Training between
October – December 2013. Please encourage your customers to complete these
surveys upon receipt. These customers will receive the survey via email. The
purpose is to quantify and track the customer’s overall satisfaction with TAA
services, obtain recommendations on what should be continued, and determine what
can be improved. TAA will conduct surveys quarterly hereafter and is exploring
the possibility of handling these surveys by phone in the future. Here are the
questions being asked:
1. Overall, how satisfied are you with your
experience using TAA services, the funding source for your training (i.e.:
application process, funding, reimbursement)?
- Very satisfied
- Satisfied
- Dissatisfied
- Very dissatisfied
2. Was the quality of TAA services provided:
3. What changes would you suggest that could
improve TAA services to customers?
4. What does TAA do that is most helpful for
customers?
TIME FOR MID-TERM
BENCHMARKS
A reminder to Dislocated Worker
Counselors, “Training Progress Reports” are due from each of your clients
attending long-term TAA approved training. You can find a progress report
template at the following link: http://mn.gov/deed/images/TAA_Training_Progress_Report.pdf
Here are
answers to some Frequently Asked Questions:
Who
fills out the Training Progress Report?
- The
top section to be completed by the client with Section A completed by the
school advisor.
- Section
B to be filled in by each instructor if the DW counselor deems it necessary.
- The client must then send the form to their DW counselor
at mid-term (no later than 60 days from the start of the term).
What
“Training Start/End Dates” should go in the top section?
- This should be the dates for the entire credentialed
training plan (not just that term).
What
if the form is not turned in after being prompted or it shows poor performance?
- If
there are issues getting the form from your client, please contact your TAA
Specialist so a Non-Compliance Letter can be sent outlining program
requirements and corrective actions.
- If
the report shows an issue with the client’s training, the DW counselor must
send a copy to the appropriate TAA specialist immediately.
If you have any questions, contact any of the TAA
Specialists via email or telephone.
TAXES
FOR UI/TRA/RTAA
Unemployment
Insurance has completed mailing of the 1099G forms to all applicants who
received a payment in 2013. Applicants can either use the mailed copy or
download one from their account when completing their 2013 taxes.
To
help applicants find their 1099G online and to provide a little more
information to help them do their taxes, unemployment has updated the News
and Updates portion of the applicant homepage to provide a link to
1099G information. To get to the 1099G information: Go to www.uimn.org. Click on Applicants. Then click on “Doing
your taxes? 1099G Forms available online”
WORKFORCE ONE
REWRITE SANDBOX
The
Workforce One Rewrite is coming this year! Launch date is planned for August,
but you don’t have to wait till then to see what the new site will look like. Log
on to the Workforce One Sandbox, create a fake customer, and see all of the
cool new features! Then send your feedback and questions to Annie Tietema (Annie.Tietema@state.mn.us).
We strive for the information in this newsletter to be relevant and
useful, and we encourage you to provide feedback and suggestions for future TAA
Topics or TAA Success Stories. To contact the TAA team regarding this
newsletter, please e-mail: cynthia.boyle@state.mn.us and type “TAA
Newsletter” in the subject line.
|
