WIOA Corner: Enrollment and Exit

As local career centers and partners think holistically about providing customer service to jobseekers entering the system – as well as meeting the new performance indicators -- it is critical that the partners to the One-Stop system understand when an individual is included in the performance metrics. In reviewing section 677.150 of the Final Rule, we’ve put together this following quick guide:

Reportable Individual

An individual who has taken action that demonstrates an intent to use program services and who meets specific reporting criteria of the program, including:

• Individuals who provide identifying information;

• Individuals who only use the self-service system; or

• Individuals who only receive information-only services or activities.

WIOA Participant

A reportable individual who has received services other than the services described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, after satisfying all applicable programmatic requirements for the provision of services, such as eligibility determination.

(1) For the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program, a participant is a reportable individual who has an approved and signed Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) and has begun to receive services.

(2) For the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) title I youth program, a participant is a reportable individual who has satisfied all applicable program requirements for the provision of services, including eligibility determination, an objective assessment, and development of an individual service strategy, and received 1 of the 14 WIOA youth program elements identified in sec. 129(c)(2) of WIOA

The following are NOT participants:

• Individuals in an Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) program who have not completed at least 12 contact hours;

• Individuals who only use the self-service system.

• Self-service can be in person or remotely; and doesn’t mean that all virtual services are automatically “self-service”

• A good rule of thumb – if the jobseeker could readily access the info without staff help, its self-service

I am still unclear if the staff support is crossing over into “staff assisted”?

Significant staff involvement that would result in an individual qualifying as a participant includes a staff member’s assessment of an individual’s skills, education, or career objectives in order to achieve any of the following:

• Assist individuals in deciding on appropriate next steps in the search for employment, training, and related services, including job referral;

• Assist individuals in assessing their personal barriers to employment; or

• Assist individuals in accessing other related services necessary to enhance their employability and individual employment related needs

The ultimate (and far away!) goal under WIOA is for the primary titles to share a common entrance and exit to the system. In fact, WIOA encourages Title I and Wagner Peyser (Title III) to have a common Policy. In lieu of this, below is what was defined in the law and Final Rule, relating to participant program exit.

What is an exit? For WIOA Title I, Title II and Title III

As defined for the purpose of performance calculations exit is the point after which a participant who has received services through any program meets the following criteria:

• Exit date is the last date of service

• The last day of service cannot be determined until at least 90 days have elapsed since the participant last received services; services do not include self-service, information-only services, activities, or follow-up services. This also requires that there are no plans to provide the participant with future services.

What is an exit for Voc Rehab?

For the VR program authorized under title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by WIOA title IV (VR program):

(A) The participant’s record of service is closed in accordance with 34 CFR 361.56 because the participant has achieved an employment outcome; or

(B) The participant’s service record is closed because the individual has not achieved an employment outcome or the individual has been determined ineligible after receiving services in accordance with 34 CFR 361.43.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a participant will not be considered as meeting the definition of exit from the VR program if the participant’s service record is closed because the participant has achieved a supported employment outcome in an integrated setting but not in competitive integrated employment.