Title
a. Ratify and approve the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth subcontract with Turning Point of Central California, Inc., by entering into a new Standard Agreement for a total contract allocation of $110,000 for the period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016; and
b. Authorize the Economic Development Department Director or designee, to execute the contract, including amendments thereto, contingent upon approval by County Counsel, which do not affect the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement, and which make minor modifications to the contract as necessary to comply with WIOA requirements.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Ratify and approve the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth subcontract with Turning Point of Central California, Inc., by entering into a new Standard Agreement for a total contract allocation of $110,000 for the period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016; and
b. Authorize the Economic Development Department Director or designee, to execute the contract, including amendments thereto, contingent upon approval by County Counsel, which do not affect the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement, and which make minor modifications to the contract as necessary to comply with WIOA requirements.
SUMMARY:
The Monterey County Workforce Development Board (WDB) is charged with overseeing the allocation of Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 funds. WIOA was signed into law on July 22, 2014 and is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. WIOA supersedes the WIA and takes effect on July 1, 2015. Therefore, existing WIA subcontracts that were competitively procured will be transitioned to WIOA to allow for changes needed to conform to the new WIOA legislation and regulations.
On June 24, 2014, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved the WDB’s recommendation to initiate a WIA-funded youth subcontract with Turning Point, in the amount of $110,000, to provide workforce development services to low income, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and WIA-eligible youth for the subcontract year beginning July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. The contract was to provide workforce services to 45 WIA eligible youth throughout the county. The Request for Proposal that was issued resulting in the award specified that the contract may be extended on an annual basis for no more than two (2) subsequent years, based upon the contractors meeting the state and local performance goals, adherence to WIA legislation and local policies, and upon the availability of WIA funds. Performance has been routinely reviewed by WDB staff for programmatic and fiscal compliance. Monitoring reports have shown Turning Point to be in compliance.
DISCUSSION:
At its June 3, 2015 WDB meeting, the WDB recommended approval of the extension of a youth subcontract with Turning Point of Central California, Inc., (Turning Point) for the period of July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, to be funded under WIOA. Turning Point’s subcontract has been updated to reflect the new WIOA statutory requirements.
Turning Point’s services will be targeted to WIOA eligible youth, ages 16-24, who are out-of-school and have at least one or more barriers to education or employment. These include: a school dropout-a youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter; a recipient of secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is a low income individual and is either basic skills deficient or is an English language learner; an individual who is subject to the juvenile or adult justice system; a homeless individual; a runaway; in foster care or has aged out of the foster care system; a child eligible for assistance under section 477 of the Social Security Act or an individual who is in an out-of-home placement; an individual who is pregnant or parenting; an individual with a disability; and/or a low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.
Eighty percent (80%) of Turning Point’s subcontract funds must be expended on out-of-school youth.
In addition to meeting the 80% out-of-school youth expenditure goal, Turning Point anticipates 35% of their enrollments will represent an individual with a disability, 35% will be subject to the juvenile or adult justice system and 30% will be foster care youth or youth who have aged out of the foster care system. In anticipation of the additional outreach required to locate and enroll out-of-school youth, of the need for increases in supportive services for youth (i.e. assistance with transportation, appropriate work attire, training and work-related tools, etc.), and the January 2016 minimum wage increase from $9 to $10 an hour (with the possibility of $11 an hour required), Turning Point will serve 40 new youth participants. This number is reduced from 45, to allow more funds to be allocated towards participant supportive services and work experience wages.
Turning Point’s program must offer the following WIOA fourteen (14) youth program elements: tutoring, alternative secondary school services, paid and unpaid work experience, occupational skills training, education offered concurrently with workforce preparation activities, leadership, supportive services, mentoring, follow-up, comprehensive guidance and counseling, financial literacy education, entrepreneurial training, and activities that help youth prepare for transition into post-secondary education.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed the proposed contact with Turning Point and attachments as to form.
FINANCING:
The WIOA Youth formula grant funds utilized will be for $110,000 and are budgeted in Fund 007, Appropriations Unit DEO 026, Unit 8427. There is no impact on the General Fund. Economic Development Department/WDB will reimburse funding to the subcontractor for all allowable WIOA activities. The agreement with Turning Point will be structured to provide that they prepare and submit to the WDB monitoring documents and monthly claims that meet the WIOA requirements. Although recapture is a risk with grant awards, given the experience of the partners involved in the program opportunity, risk is minimal and local WIOA funds would be used if expenditures were denied due to non-performance.
Prepared by: Approved by:
___________________________ ______________________________
Joyce Aldrich, Executive Director David Spaur, Director
Workforce Development Board Economic Development Department
(831) 759-6644 (831) 755-5387
ATTACHMENTS:
Turning Point Youth 2015-16 WIOA Contract $110,000