COVID-19 Updates

Changes implemented by Adult Career Pathways (ACP) in response to COVID-19 and the Stay at Home Order, as well as questions and answers are posted on the DEED website: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/etp/. Due to competing priorities, posting may be delayed. If you have a question about procedures in the wake of COVID-19, or you have heard about a change but cannot find it on the website, please email your program coordinator or the ACP supervisor, Anne Kukowski at anne.kukowski@state.mn.us.

Monitoring Desk Review

Through the Stay Home order and until further notice, State Fiscal Year 2020 monitoring is being conducted via a desk review. The desk review will take place via SKYPE, phone conference, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams. If your desk review has not already taken place, your monitor will be contacting you to set a date and discuss who should be at the review. Also discussed will be documents to be sent via email in preparation for the desk review.

The SFY 20 participant file review has been postponed. However, WF1 Case Notes, Demographic data, Support Services, and Activity entries will be reviewed.

Therefore, your desk review will consist of:

• Completion and review of the program and fiscal monitoring guide;
• Financial review and reconciliation;
• A review of data in WorkForce One (WF1); and
• An interview conducted via an on-line meeting.

Displaced Homemaker Program

Fees collected from marriage and dissolution of marriage fees have been allocated to Displaced Homemaker Providers for the SFY21 fiscal year. These funds are in addition to the directly appropriated funds.

Applications were sent out to existing Grantees in April.  Applications incorporated updated outcomes to include an emphasis on participants enrolled in certification or credentialed training programs and those co-enrolled in the Dislocated Worker program.

SNAP

ACP expects to be releasing a request for applications to join ACP SNAP Employment and Training 50 % Reimbursement program in July. The release has been delayed due to the COVID-19 emergency and also in order to be able to coordinate with the Request for Proposals to be released by the Minnesota Department Human Services (DHS) in May. Providers who apply for the DHS RPR but are not selected will be able to apply to participate in SNAP through DEED instead.  Many SNAP E&T providers start by contracting with DEED and, once they have learned the program and established a rhythm, move on to work with DHS. In addition to helping E&T participants obtain assistance in obtaining, food, DEED’s SNAP E&T 50% Reimbursement Program allows providers to be reimbursed for 50% of allowable expenses incurred for SNAP participants, above and beyond the reimbursement through DEED’s regular RPR process. Providers may spend the additional 50% reimbursement so “earned” as they see fit; it is not subject to any limitations. This program is an incentive approved and funded by the federal government to try to increase the number of people who have better access to good nutrition.

Resource: Energy Assistance Program (EAP)

Energy assistance is available to eligible renters and homeowners.  Assistance takes the form of grants or help with costs such as paying for past due energy bills, repairs or replacement of broken furnaces.

Basic information

• Assets such as the home are not considered in determining eligibility.
• Grants range from $200 to $1,400, based on household size, income, and fuel cost.
• The average grant is about $500.
• In addition to the initial grant, additional Crisis funds are available to:

• Help pay a past due bill or get an emergency fuel delivery.

• Help homeowners get their broken furnace repaired or replaced.

EAP changes made to help during COVID-19

• The application deadline is extended to July 1.
• The annual Crisis maximum is increased to $1,200 (up from $600).
• EAP can help households pay a past due bill, even without a shut-off notice.
• Income eligibility is based on past one month of income only.
• EAP still has sufficient funds and expects more from the CARES Act.

How to apply for EAP

• Households contact their local EAP service provider to apply for EAP.
• Households find their EAP provider:

• By calling 1-800-657-3710 & entering their zip code, or
• On this list of service providers by county or tribe at https://mn.gov/commerce/consumers/consumer-assistance/energy-assistance/eap-provider.jsp.
• 29 local EAP service providers including Community Action Programs, counties, tribal governments and non-profits serve all areas of the state.
• Find general EAP information and access information in other languages at https://mn.gov/commerce/eap.jsp .

SFY20 Extension Modifications and SFY21 Planning Documents

All requests to extend SFY20 ACP grants and all SFY21 planning documents should have been submitted to program coordinators before the end of April. DEED’s financial area (AFS) instructed all Employment and Training programs to submit all extensions and planning documents to them by May 1. AFS will not guarantee that documents submitted after May 1 will be processed in time for the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2020.

• If a provider intends to ask for an extension on an SFY20 grant and has not yet done so, the provider should contact their program coordinator as soon as possible.
• If a provider has not yet submitted an SFY21 planning documents, the provide should contact their program coordinator as soon as possible.

Providers may include with their SFY 21 planning documents, a request that their SFY21 grants be extended. Extensions to September 30, 2021 need not be accompanied by an explanation of why that request is necessary. Extensions beyond September 30, 2021 must be justified. Please be aware that if you do not request an extension of your SFY 21 grant at this time, or if you request an extension now but later determine that a further extension is needed, you may still request an extension at any time between July 1, 2020 and one month before your SFY 21 grant expires. 

Dislocated Worker & Federal Adult Programs

PY20/FY21 Formula Grants Planning Documents – Due Wednesday, May 20

Planning documents for PY20/FY21 Formula Grants were sent out via email from Lensa Idossa on Thursday, May 7, 2020. Included were:

• WIOA Adult / DW Program Formula Funds Planning Template
• PY20 WIOA DW Prelim Allocation
• PY20 WIOA Adult Prelim Allocation

A few reminders:           

• Please complete one planning document for each grant (one for WIOA DW and another for WIOA Adult)
• For WIOA DW and WIOA Adult, plan to spend the exact amount of the first allotment in Q1, no more, no less.
• Double check the numbers in the participant plan, activity plan, and budget to ensure they align and/or add up. It can slow down the review and approval process if there are errors.
• Send the body of the form as a Word document, but convert the signature page to a PDF document. This will allow us to expedite the review process and double check calculations.
• Email the form (PDF doc for signature page and Word doc for remaining pages) to Heather.Moore@state.mn.us, Rita.Apaloo@state.mn.us, Sou.Thao@state.mn.us
• If a final TEGL is released with additional funds for PY20, we will update the allocation amounts and let you know.

Deadline: Wednesday, May 20, 2020

• If possible, please send completed documents in sooner as it will allow the team to review and process faster.
• If you need more technical assistance, please let us know.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Policies

1. Assessment Requirements Policy:

• This policy has been updated to reflect the change in testing requirements for participants entering credentialed training, exempting those with Associate’s Degree (previously the exemption was only for those with a Bachelor’s Degree).
• During the COVID-19 State of Emergency, assessment flexibility is allowed for the math and reading assessment requirements. DEED is allowing providers to waive the math and reading assessments in cases where it is difficult or impossible to test a participant virtually. This waiver is effective March 16, 2020 until the COVID-19 emergency is declared over. The rationale for waiving the assessments must be case noted in Workforce One.
  • It is critical to ensure that the participant has the skills necessary to be successful in the training program selected. DEED encourages use of the following options (if and when possible):
    • Accuplacer
    • Previous college transcript showing a GPA
    • S. diploma or transcript
    • Online remote assessment such as Wonderlic (for now) and TABE when it becomes available.
  • Please note that any approved assessment can be used to determine the Basic Skills requirement/eligibility enrollment (TABE Locator, etc.). However, for Measurable Skills Gain, only National Reporting System (NRS) approved assessments and scoring mechanisms are authorized for use.

1. DW Eligibility Policy clarification:

• Workers on “furlough” without pay (i.e., on a mandatory leave without pay) are considered to be on temporary-to permanent layoff and therefore eligible for DW program services.
• Workers whose hours are significantly reduced may potentially be eligible if they are “under-employed (as defined by the local areas) and could be served with WIOA Adult or DW funds.
  • Documentations - UI letter and “furlough” notice from the employer.
• If you start seeing a surge in furloughed workers accessing the program, make sure you’re keeping a close eye on funding and apply for supplemental funding. We don’t want laid off workers to be turned away due to lack of funds.
• Supplemental funding requests are due to the DW Team by May 15, 2020 for review/approval at the June 15^th MJSP Board Meeting.

1. WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker Allowable Activities policy:

• Follow-up services:
  • Local providers must provide follow-up services for adults and dislocated workers placed in unsubsidized employment, for up to 12 months after the first day of employment 
  • Providers must offer follow-up services for 12 months following the date of employment
  • Case note both the offer and any service delivered in Workforce One.
• WIOA fund and Pell grants:
  • Updated to reflect use of WIOA funding for training – Per DOL, WIOA is supposed to supplement other sources for training.  In many cases, WIOA pays for the training while the Pell application is pending.  Once Pell is provided, the training institution must reimburse the local area the WIOA funds used for training.  Any remaining balance can go to the participant. 
  • This policy has been posted for 30-day public comment

1. Financial Assistance for Computer Hardware and Similar Technology policy:

• Updated to reflect use of WIOA Adult and DW funds for purchase computer hardware and similar technology.

ETPL Waiver:

• The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is seeking a statewide waiver of Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) §116(d)(4) and 20 CFR §677.230(a)(5) to allow eligible training providers (ETPs) to collect and report performance data for WIOA-funded participants only. Under this waiver, ETPs will continue to collect and report performance data for all WIOA-funded participants in accordance with the above regulations.
• Draft of the waiver is available for 30-day public comment

Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership (MJSP)

• MJSP Board Meeting: June 15, 2020
• Supplemental funding requests are due May 15, 2020.

Reimbursement Payment Requests/Financial Status Reports (RPR/FSR)

• Due for each month, by the 20^th of the following month. Please continue putting any obligated amounts on your RPR/FSR
• If you need additional time to complete them during the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact your grant coordinator

COVID-19 Success Stories

If you have DW success stories from times of COVID-19– about how people are still being served over the phone and online – and how need for services is great right now – that you could share, we could blog about those and share on social media to raise awareness about the program and services available to customers. Please submit them to the DW Team.

CLIMB – Missing Training Link

We are aware that there is one missing training link needed for clients to meet CLIMB requirements. Three documents (copy of the ‘Self-Assessment Tool’, Certificate of Completion document for ‘How to Write a Business Plan’, and Certificate of Completion document for the ‘Encore Entrepreneur: An Introduction to Starting Your Own Business’) are needed from the client before the Employment Counselor designates the client as a CLIMB participant in WorkForce One database system. However, the link for the training ‘Encore Entrepreneur: An Introduction to Starting Your Own Business’ is no longer available and therefore clients are unable to obtain the Certificate of Completion document for verification.

In the interim, the missing training course can be waived for clients until further notice. Please make sure to include this waiver in the client’s case notes. Additional and/or similar resources may be provided but not required.

Thanks to everyone who reached out to inform us about this issue. Please know that we are working to find a resolution and will keep you updated. Should you have CLIMB questions, please contact Rita Apaloo at rita.apaloo@state.mn.us.

CLIMB - Participants to Request Payments Online or on Automated Phone System

Because of the volume of work in the Unemployment Division and the backlog in printing and mailing and processing we are asking CLIMB participants to request their payments online or on the automated phone system.

They must still report hours worked and income from any other source with exception of their CLIMB business. 

Participants do not have to report income from their business when they are on the Minnesota Unemployment Account.   When they exhaust the Minnesota Unemployment Account and Applies for the (PEUC) extension it is then a Federal Program, at which time they will become a Job Seeker and be required to report all earnings including their business earnings.

Performance Update

IMPORTANT DATE: Program Year 2019 Data Freeze Date is scheduled for July 10, 2020. Please have all your data entry up-to-date including all Measurable Skill Gains achieved by your participants during the timeframe of 07/01/2019 – 06/30/2020 entered into Workforce One no later than close of business 07/10/2020.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Should you have any performance or data entry questions, please contact the Federal Adult Programs Performance Coordinator, Amy Carlson, at amy.carlson@state.mn.us.

DOL COVID-19 Resources

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has developed a series of technical assistance resources and frequently asked questions (FAQs) to address grants management questions related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) to help state and local workforce leaders, and other stakeholders and partners to assist the public workforce system during this crisis: https://www.workforcegps.org/resources/2020/03/18/23/35/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Resources

DEED ETP FAQs

Answers to questions DEED has been asked since the peacetime emergency was declared are posted weekly for all programs at: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/etp/

Trade Adjustment Assistance

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Petitions

Here’s the {new!} link to check the status of petitions with U.S. Department of Labor https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/tradeact

Communication with TAA-certified Companies

Recently TAA staff emailed approximately 60 companies that have active petitions (expiration dates of 3/1/2020 or later) to ask if they have recently laid off, furloughed, or reduced hours for any worker groups covered by the company’s TAA petition. As we receive worker lists, we will mail letters to the people who are eligible to apply for TAA benefits. Please email TAA if you have questions.

Frequently Asked Questions and Updated Forms

Frequently Asked Questions related to COVID19 and TAA are posted and generally updated on Fridays https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/etp/. Additionally, TAA is working to update its forms to allow for electronic signatures. So far, the Training Progress Report and Waiver have been updated and are available on the Forms page.

Job Search Allowance

Please remind customers, especially new graduates, about the Job Search Allowance benefit available for interviews that are 15 miles or more from the customer’s home. The customer should fill out and submit the application prior to interviews. See details and deadlines on the Presentations tab, including a Job Search Allowance check list.

Summer Credits for TAA Customers

Minnesota State institutions (formerly MnSCU) define full-time for TAA students during the summer as six credits. The University of MN and private institutions have different criteria. DW Counselors, please have TAA customers check full- time requirements of their learning institutions if not attending a Minnesota State institution. 

Summer Credits and TRA Eligibility

In order to remain TRA eligible through summer, TAA customers must be full-time students (as defined by the school) and not have a break greater than 30 business days between classes. So, what happens when the school doesn’t provide degree focused classes during the summer? TAA asks students to explore options that will enhance their education or career. This may require taking an online course or taking a course from another institution that will transfer to the primary institution. TAA will pay tuition, books, and required fees of non-required classes but reserves the right to limit reimbursements for coursework that is merely satisfying the full time credit requirement but not enhancing student education or career. For example, TAA will not pay for a digital camera for a Digital Photography class or athletic shoes for a walking class. Requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please send summer course schedules to TAA as soon as possible so TAA has adequate time to generate purchase orders to the appropriate school(s).

Training applications with Fall 2020 Training Start

July and August are two of the busiest months for TAA staff because of the State fiscal year change on July 1, and because of so many students starting training Fall term. Please remember to submit applications as soon as possible, and at least two weeks before the training start date. We will do our best to review applications that come in with less time than that, but please send applications (with waivers, if applicable) as soon as they’re completed.

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Petitions

Here’s the {new!} link to check the status of petitions with U.S. Department of Labor

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/tradeact

• Pending DOL’s investigation (16)

• 95285 – DEE Inc., Crookston
• 95331 – Tenneco (Federal Mogul), Lake City
• 95375 – Henkel Corp., Chanhassen; now under Boyd Corporation, Pleasanton, CA
• 95412 – Bluestem Brands Inc., St. Cloud
• 95423 – MNStar Technologies Inc., Grand Rapids
• 95467 – Wisconsin Central LTD /Canadian National, Proctor
• 95536 – Johnson Controls, Plymouth
• 95581 – Blue Cross Blue Shield, Virginia and Eagan (Additional worker groups)
• 95533 – Semling-Menke Company, Merrill, WI (MN union filed petition)
• 95703 – HED Cycling Products, Roseville
• 95764 – Landis Gyr, Pequot Lakes
• 95783 – United Health Group, Minnetonka
• 95813 – US Steel, Mountain Iron
• 95830 – Wayzata Home Products, Edina
• 95898 -- Toppan Merrill, St Paul

• Certified by DOL
• 95561 – Pace Industries, Arden Hills (amendment to include temp agency)

• Denied by DOL
• 95306 – CenturyLink, Minneapolis
• 95096 – Infor.com, St. Paul

Labor Market Information Updates

By The Numbers

As employers struggled to fill job openings in a tight labor market, they may have found it beneficial to consider hiring former offenders. In collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, DEED conducted a survey to find out more about employer perceptions and practices on hiring applicants with a criminal background.

According to a new article by Mark Schultz, the Southeast Regional Analyst and ex-offender specialist, the number of individuals released from Minnesota Correctional Facilities fluctuates from year to year, but in total the state has released close to 90,000 individuals over the past decade. In all, it’s estimated that between 231,000 and 291,000 Minnesotans — about 6 to 7 percent of the state’s adults – have a felony record.

Two-thirds of Minnesota employers surveyed stated that they were “very” or “somewhat likely” to hire someone with a criminal record (Figure 2). In addition, 63% of employers who responded stated that they would consider a person with a criminal record for all positions, while an additional 16% consider it only for some positions.

The survey results also show a great deal of opportunity to engage employers in a discussion about the benefits of hiring applicants who have served time in prison. For example, 85% of the employers surveyed were not aware of any programs or services that would assist them in hiring people with a criminal record. However, 61% of employers stated that they were interested in using programs to support hiring job seekers with a criminal record.

To learn more about hiring ex-offenders, you can read the full article here: https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/publications/trends/march-2020/hiring-criminal-record.jsp

Success Stories

Tell people about the good work you do

You do great work!  Share your success stories online so we can help share the good news! Success stories could be featured on CareerForceMN.com, in electronic newsletters, in annual reports, with news media and potentially in other ways, too! The need to share our success was one of the key findings coming out of culture workshops held with staff and partners around Minnesota and it’s a top recommendation from the communications task force.

Success stories can feature a career seeker who found success thanks to your work, an employer who found needed talent thanks to CareerForce, or a staff person or partner who went above and beyond and deserves a special shout out. Make sure you complete and submit the release form you’ll be prompted to download when you go to the success story submission link above.

We want this e-Newsletter to meet your needs! We encourage you to send your comments and suggestions to deed.taa@state.mn.us
Find past issues of Partner Express here. 

Wanting to subscribe to this newsletter? Contact us at deed.taa@state.mn.us with your request!