[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 243 (Monday, December 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79124-79137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32018]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Notice Inviting Proposals for Selected Demonstration Projects for 
Youth Offenders

AGENCIES: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor.
    This notice contains all of the necessary information and forms 
needed to apply for grant funding.

SUMMARY: This notice contains all of the necessary information and 
forms to apply for grant funding. The U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration is authorized to award grants to 
provide services aimed at youth who are or have been under criminal 
justice supervision or involved in gangs. Therefore, youth employment 
and developmental activities funded under this grant will be used for a 
structured set of activities focused primarily on placing youth 
offenders, gang members, and at-risk youth ages 14-24 employment into 
long term (part-time for ages 14-15) at wage levels that will (1) 
prevent future dependency and/or (2) break the cycle of crime and 
juvenile delinquency that contributes to recidivism and non-productive 
activities. The Department of Labor (DOL) has worked with the Office of 
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) in the U.S. 
Department of Justice (DOJ) in deciding to use these funds for three 
categories of projects to serve youth offenders. These categories are: 
I.-- Model Community Projects; II.--Education and Training for Youth 
Offenders Initiative; and III.--Community-Wide Capacity Building 
Projects.
    For Categories I and III, Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), 
political subdivisions of the State, and private entities are eligible 
to receive grant funds under this announcement. Eligible private 
entities include community development corporations, community action 
agencies, community-based and faith-based organizations, disability 
community organizations, public and private

[[Page 79125]]

colleges and universities, and other qualified private organizations. 
Private entities include non-profit organizations but do not include 
for-profit organizations or individuals. For Category II, State or 
local juvenile justice agencies or juvenile correctional agencies shall 
be the eligible applicant and should identify one juvenile correctional 
facility within their state where the project will operate. Applicants 
can only apply under one of these categories which must be clearly 
identified on the face sheet of the application. Local workforce 
investment areas who were awarded grants to administer Youth Offender 
Demonstration Projects in 1999 are ineligible to apply under this 
Solicitation.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications is February 28, 
2001 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) at the address below.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be mailed to Denise Roach, U.S. Department 
of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Federal 
Assistance, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-4203, Washington, DC 
20210, Reference: SGA/DFA-01-101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical questions should be faxed to 
Denise Roach, Division of Federal Assistance, Fax (202) 693-2879. This 
is not a toll-free number. All inquiries should include the SGA number 
SGA/DFA 01-101 and a contact name and phone number. This solicitation 
will also be published on the Internet on the Employment and Training 
Administration's web site, to access: 1. http://www.doleta.gov; 2. 
Click Grant & Contract Applications; 3. Click Competitive Grant 
Opportunities; 4. Grant Forms. Award notifications will also be 
published on the web site.

Late Applications

    Any application received after the exact date and time specified 
for receipt at the office designated in this notice will not be 
considered, unless it is received before awards are made and it: (a) 
Was sent by registered or certified mail not later than the fifth 
calendar day before the date specified for receipt of applications 
e.g., an application submitted in response to a solicitation requiring 
receipt of applications by the 20th of the month must have been mailed/
post-marked by the 15th of the month); or (b) was sent by the U.S. 
Postal Service Express Mail Next Day Service to the specified address 
not later than 5:00 P.M. at the place of mailing two working days prior 
to the date specified for receipt of applications. The term ``working 
days'' excludes weekends and federal holidays. The term ``post-marked'' 
means a printed, stamped, or otherwise placed impression (exclusive of 
a postage meter machine impression) that is readily identifiable, 
without further action, as having been supplied or affixed on the date 
of mailing by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service.

Hand Delivered Proposals

    It is preferred that applications be mailed at least five days 
prior to the closing date. To be considered for funding, hand-delivered 
applications must be received by 4:00 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time), on 
the closing date at the specified address.
    Telegraphed and/or faxed applications will not be honored. Failure 
to adhere to the above instructions will be a basis for a determination 
of nonresponsiveness. Overnight express mail from carriers other than 
the U.S. Postal Service will be considered hand-delivered applications 
and must be received by the above specified date and time.

Review and Selection Process

    A careful evaluation of applications will be made by a technical 
review panel who will evaluate the applications against the established 
criteria under each Category. The panel results are advisory in nature 
and are not binding on the Grant Officer. The Government may elect to 
award the grant with or without discussions with the offeror. In 
situations without discussion, an award will be based on the offeror's 
signature on the SF 424. The final decision on awards will be based on 
what is most advantageous to the Federal Government, taking into 
account factors such as geographic diversity, mix of Empowerment Zones 
(EZs) and Enterprise Communities (ECs), and demographic 
characteristics.
    Cost sharing/leveraging funds: Applicants also should discuss their 
plans to leverage and align with other funds or resources in order to 
build permanent partnerships for the continuation of services, and 
should provide some discussion of the nature of these leveraged 
resources, i.e., Federal, non-Federal, cash or in-kind, State and 
county, foundation, capital equipment, and other matching funds. For 
example, the Federal Bonding Program and the Work Opportunity Tax 
Credit (WOTC) should be considered as potential tools to assist with 
youth offender employment placements. Information about these programs 
may be found on ETA's website at http://www.doleta.gov.
    Reporting requirements: Applicants must clearly define their 
procedures for reporting progress on a monthly basis (including data 
elements listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION and for identifying and 
presenting the results of project interventions. Proposals should also 
describe in detail the specific reports and other deliverables to be 
provided to ETA as documentation of progress and results in terms of 
improved outcomes for the target population. An implementation plan to 
be submitted within 60 days of the grant execution, monthly reports, an 
annual report, and a final report summarizing progress are required for 
projects under this SGA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Approximately $8,250,000 is available for 
all three categories. Funding for these awards is authorized under the 
Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Applicants must clearly identify which 
category they are applying for. This information must appear on the 
face sheet of the application. It is strongly recommended that each 
application be submitted using the face sheet included in appendix 
``A'' because it will greatly enhance the review process.
    As a condition for award, all applicants must agree to participate 
in a separately funded evaluation. Applicants should not set aside 
funds for evaluation activities. All applicants must provide assurances 
in their proposals that they will cooperate with the evaluators and 
provide access to the data necessary to the evaluations. Awardees of 
the grants further agree to make available upon request to DOL-
authorized evaluation contractor(s) data for a period not to exceed 24 
months beyond the demonstration period (which should not exceed 24 
months) through a no-cost extension of the grants.
    The availability of this data beyond the demonstration period will 
enable, if appropriate, the contractor to perform follow-up analysis. 
In addition, proposals should specify the linkages between the Youth 
Offender project and the local WIA Youth Council through the One-Stop 
delivery system to ensure coordination of workforce development 
services. These linkages shall include both existing and proposed 
strategies.
    All demonstration sites will be required to collect and maintain 
participant records through administrative data so that these projects 
can document results and accomplishments and provide a learning 
experience for the workforce development system, DOL, and DOJ. These 
data include:

[[Page 79126]]

    A. Number recruited;
    B. Number enrolled;
    C. Number who entered training;
    D. Number who entered or reentered secondary school;
    E. Number who entered or reentered post-secondary school;
    F. Number who entered employment;
    G. Number ``served by aftercare'' programs;
    H. Number who entered the military;
    I. Number referred to other services such as dropout prevention, 
drug rehabilitation;
    J. Number who entered other job training programs;
    K. Number referred to apprenticeship programs;
    L. Number of in-school youth served; and
    M. Number of out-of-school youth served.
    In addition, if applicable, data elements associated with the 
Workforce Investment Act may be required (to be specified in the 
grantee's statement of work).

Application Submittal

    Applicants must submit four (4) copies of their proposal, with 
original signatures. There are three required sections of the 
application: Section I--Project Financial Plan; Section II--Executive 
Summary; and Section III--Project Narrative (including Appendices, not 
to exceed thirty pages). Applications that fail to meet the 
requirements will not be considered. The Project Narrative must be 
double-spaced, and on single-sided, numbered pages with the exception 
of format requirements for the Executive Summary. The Executive Summary 
must be limited to no more than two (2) single-spaced, single-sided 
pages. A font size of at least twelve (12) pitch is required 
throughout.
Part I--Project Financial Plan
    Section I of the application must include the following two 
required elements: (1) Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for 
Federal Assistance,'' (Appendix B) and (2) ``Budget Information Form.'' 
(Appendix C) All copies of the SF 424 MUST have original signatures of 
the legal entity applying for grant funds. Applicants shall indicate on 
the SF 424 the organization's IRS Status, if applicable.
    According to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, Section 18, an 
organization described in Section 501(c)4 of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 which engages in lobbying activities shall not be eligible for 
the receipt of federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan. The 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number is 17-249. Section 
I will not count against the application page limits.
    The Financial Plan must describe all costs associated with 
implementing the project that are to be covered with grant funds. In 
addition, Section I should include a budget narrative/justification 
which will detail the cost breakout of each line item on the Budget 
Information Form. This must provide sufficient information to support 
the reasonableness of the costs included in the budget in relation to 
the service strategy and planned outcomes. The budget must be for the 
full duration of the project but may not exceed 30 months. All costs 
should be necessary and reasonable according to the Federal guidelines 
set forth in the ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments'' (also known as 
the ``Common Rule''), codified at 29 CFR Part 97 (97.22) and ``Grants 
and Agreements with Institutes of Higher Education, Hospitals, and 
Other Non-Profit Organizations'' (also known as OMB Circular A-110), 
codified at 29 CFR Part 95, (95.27).
Part II--Executive Summary (Format Requirements Limited To No More Than 
Two Single-Spaced, Single-Sided Pages)
    Each application shall provide a project synopsis which identifies 
the following:
     The applicant;
     Identification of consortium partners and the type of 
organizations they represent;
     The project service area;
     Whether the service area is an entire local workforce 
investment area, more than one local area, and/or all local areas in a 
State;
     The specific areas of focus in the announcement which are 
addressed by the project;
     The planned period of performance;
     The comprehensive strategy (e.g., who will provide 
services, who will be accountable for the project, etc.) for providing 
seamless service delivery and for addressing the multi-faceted barriers 
to training and employment which affect youth who are or who have been 
under criminal justice supervision or involved in gangs or who are at-
risk of involvement;
     How counseling and other support needs will be addressed 
in the One-Stop delivery system;
     The actions already taken by the State or Local Workforce 
Investment Board to address the needs of at-risk youth in the One-Stop 
delivery system;
     The level of commitment the applicant (including all 
consortium members, if any) and other partners have to serving at-risk 
youth;
     The linkages between the project and the local WIA Youth 
Council through the One-Stop delivery system, as well as linkages with 
the business and education communities and juvenile justice agencies; 
and
     A written confirmation that the applicant will cooperate 
with the evaluators.
Part III--Project Narrative (Format Requirements Limited To No More 
Than Thirty (30) Double-Spaced, Single-Sided, Numbered Pages)
    Section III of the application, the project narrative, shall 
contain the technical proposal that demonstrates the applicant's plan 
and capabilities in accordance with the evaluation criteria contained 
in this notice.
    Applicants MUST limit the project narrative section to no more than 
thirty (30) double-spaced and single-sided pages, which include any 
attachments provided by the applicants. Letters of general support or 
recommendation for a proposal should NOT be submitted and will count 
against the page limit. However, letters of commitment are required 
from partner/consortia organizations and will not count against the 
page limit.

Background

    The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 establishes 
comprehensive reform of existing Federal job training programs with 
amendments impacting service delivery under the Wagner Peyser Act, 
Adult Education and Literacy Act, the Rehabilitation Act and supersedes 
the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). WIA provides a framework for a 
national workforce development system designed to meet both the needs 
of the nation's businesses and the needs of job seekers who want to 
further their careers. A number of other Federal programs are also 
identified as required partners under the One-Stop delivery system with 
the intention of providing comprehensive services for all Americans to 
access the information and resources available to them in the 
development and implementation of their career goals. The intention of 
the One-Stop delivery system is to establish programs and providers in 
co-located, coordinated and integrated settings that are coherent and 
accessible for individuals and businesses alike in approximately 600 
workforce investment areas which have been established throughout the 
nation.
    The Workforce Investment Act establishes State and Local Workforce 
Investment Boards (WIBs) focused on

[[Page 79127]]

strategic planning, policy development, and oversight of the workforce 
system with significant authority for the Governor and chief elected 
officials to build on existing reforms in order to implement innovative 
and comprehensive One-Stop delivery systems. In addition, Youth 
Councils, subgroups of the local WIBs, are required to develop parts of 
the local plan relating to youth, recommend providers of youth 
services, and coordinate local youth programs and initiatives. With its 
mandated requirements to form these interdisciplinary Youth Councils 
and to develop one comprehensive plan for youth services, WIA presents 
a unique opportunity to change the way workforce investment programs 
(and other youth development programs as well) are organized and 
operated to serve youth. WIA and the Youth Councils offer local areas 
the chance to look at how both in-school and out-of-school youth 
services are blended and deployed. They provide the framework that 
local areas can build on in order to realign, enhance, and improve 
youth services so that they are more closely coordinated, better 
utilized, and more effective.
    In setting aside funds for this Solicitation, Congress noted ``the 
severe problems facing out-of-school youth in communities with high 
poverty and unemployment and the inter-relatedness of poverty, juvenile 
crime, child abuse and neglect, school failure, and teen pregnancy.'' 
(These grants are included within the Administration's Youth Violence 
Prevention initiative.) This SGA provides a unique opportunity for 
selected workforce investment areas to address the needs of a special 
youth population--youth offenders, gang members, and at-risk youth ages 
14-24 through a WIA consorted effort.

Category I--Model Community Projects

    Demonstration projects in this category will be based in heavily 
impoverished communities in need of comprehensive community-wide 
approaches to assist youth offenders, gang members, and those at risk 
of becoming involved in gangs. Grantees will be required to expand 
services in each of 3 areas: (1) Gang prevention and suppression 
activities; (2) alternative sentencing for first-time offenders; and 
(3) after-care and case management for incarcerated youth. In addition, 
grantees shall provide education and mental health services, employment 
training, sports and recreation, and community services projects in 
order to reduce recidivism and procure for the target population long-
term employment at livable wage levels. The grantees must place 
particular emphasis on enhancing existing case management and job 
placement services for youth on probation or for those who are 
reentering the community from corrections facilities. These support 
services should be provided throughout the entire employment search 
continuum, i.e., from the beginning of the employment search until well 
after the procurement of employment. The projects also will maintain 
records of the number of contacts made after placement and the type of 
support services provided.
    The projects also will implement an intensive and comprehensive 
aftercare system to reduce juvenile recidivism. Aftercare systems 
should be implemented while youth are still incarcerated to establish 
community links with faith-based organizations, parents or guardians, 
schools, training and educational opportunities, parole systems, social 
contacts and activities, and mentors. The aftercare services planned 
for those individuals incarcerated must involve the staff and 
administrators of the juvenile corrections facilities where the youth 
are institutionalized.

Eligible Applicants

    Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), political subdivisions of the 
State, and private entities are eligible to receive grant funds under 
this announcement. Eligible private entities include community 
development corporations, community action agencies, community-based 
and faith-based organizations, disability community organizations, 
public and private colleges and universities, and other qualified 
private organizations.
    Private entities include non-profit organizations but do not 
include for-profit organizations and individuals. Organizations or 
areas that operate the Department of Justice's Safe Futures or 
Comprehensive Community-Wide Approach to Gang Prevention, Intervention, 
and Suppression demonstrations can also apply through their WIBs.
    Entities other than a WIB or a political subdivision of the State 
must submit an application for competitive grant funds in conjunction 
with the WIB(s) and its Youth Council for the area in which the project 
is to operate. The term ``in conjunction with'' shall mean that the 
application must include a signed certification by both the applicant 
and the appropriate WIB(s) indicating that:
    1. The applicant has consulted with the appropriate WIB (and its 
Youth Council) during the development of the application; and
    2. The activities proposed in the application are consistent with, 
and will be coordinated with, the One-Stop delivery system efforts of 
the WIB(s).
    If the applicant is unable to obtain the certification, it will be 
required to include information describing the efforts which were 
undertaken to consult with the WIB and its Youth Council and indicating 
that the WIB was provided, during the proposal solicitation period, a 
sufficient opportunity to cooperate in the development of the project 
plan and to review and comment on the application prior to its 
submission to the Department of Labor. ``Sufficient opportunity for WIB 
review and comment'' shall mean at least 30 calendar days. Failure to 
provide information describing the efforts which were undertaken to 
consult with WIB(s) will disqualify applicants.
    The certification, or evidence of efforts to consult, must be with 
each WIB in the service area in which the proposed project is to 
operate. These certifications must be included in the grant 
application, and will not count against the established page 
limitations. For the purposes of this portion of the application, 
evidence of efforts to consult with the WIB must be demonstrated by 
written documentation, such as registered mail receipt, that attempts 
were made to share project applications with the WIB in a timely 
manner. WIB applicants and applicants that provide a signed 
certification by the applicant and the appropriate WIB(s) will be given 
preference for award.

Funding Availability

    The Department expects to award three (3) grants approximately $1.5 
million each under this category.

Performance Period

    The period of performance for all grants awarded under this 
competition, within this category, will be for 30 months from the date 
the grant is awarded. The first 24 months must be devoted to providing 
program services to eligible youth as defined in this notice. The final 
six months will be solely for organizing participant case files, 
providing the files to the demonstration's evaluator within two months 
after grant-funded services terminate, and participating in a final 
site visit interview with the evaluators. The budget submitted for the 
period of performance must cover the full 30 months.

[[Page 79128]]

Program Components

    The grant awards must be used to enhance and augment presently 
existing strategies which serve youth offenders, out-of-school youth, 
and gang members or those at-risk of becoming gang-involved. In 
addition to intensifying current systems, the projects also will link 
with and build upon available community resources such as educational 
(including special education), support, workforce development (engaging 
local WIBs/Youth Councils), child care, and transportation services. 
The projects will use these community resources to accomplish the 
successful transition of youth to independent living within the 
community, a reduction in recidivism, and the accomplishment of 
employment, training, and education goals. In order to address 
specifically the distinct needs and problems of youth offenders, gang 
members, and those at-risk of becoming gang-involved who are living in 
high-poverty localities, the overarching strategy for the model 
community projects should encompass the following:
Purpose/Need
    Applicants should describe the need in the target neighborhood as 
demonstrated by issues such as severity of gang problems, the number of 
youth offenders residing in the target community, and the inability for 
existing services to address the needs of youth offenders and gang 
members. Applicants should also relate the need to the overall purpose 
of the planned program components.
Alternative Sentencing/Education
    Grantees should describe their plans for expanding alternative 
sentencing, including enhanced education services for youth offenders. 
Project case managers and other staff must prepare the target 
population for sustainable high-quality employment by providing 
assistance to remain in school, return to school, enroll in GED and 
high school equivalency classes, or participate in additional 
alternative education such as long-distance learning programs or on-
line courses.
    Applicants should describe the educational services that will be 
offered by the project, with particular attention given to the 
utilization of existing educational system services and the involvement 
of the schools in the area. In addition, applicants should describe the 
overall use of project case managers and other staff in the planned 
program components that will provide educational services.
Case Management/Support Services
    Project case managers must prepare the target population for 
sustainable high-quality employment by utilizing intensive training and 
support services, including drug and alcohol treatment, mentoring and 
tutoring, child care, counseling, and other case management services. 
Service strategies should also focus on providing assistance to engage 
in job training, secure employment, fulfill legal restitution 
obligations, or establish successful independent living. Because this 
wide range of services should be provided by the proposed partnerships 
of community organizations, applicants must submit memoranda of 
understanding (MOUs) with the local WIA partnership and other critical 
agencies specifying the role of each party in the project. Applicants 
must describe the intensive training and support services as identified 
above that will be offered as part of the planned program components, 
and should detail the role of project case managers in the provision of 
these training and support services.
Youth Offender and Gang Prevention Advisory Board
    In order to institute a holistic approach to assisting the target 
population, employment, education, criminal justice, and community-
based youth programs must be incorporated into the projects. In 
developing this interrelated system, grant funds shall be used to 
create a youth offender and gang prevention advisory board that 
participates in the coordination of all activities and provides input 
and community support to the project's leadership. The advisory board 
should be comprised of public and private sector representation, 
parents, youth members, and graduates of other youth offender programs 
and will link with the local Youth Council to provide seamless delivery 
of services and maximize use of available resources. Applicants should 
describe the planned composition of the advisory board, with particular 
emphasis upon the process for selecting and seating the representation 
of the board. The applicant should describe the functions of the board 
and the process planned to utilize the board in designing the holistic 
delivery expected under the project. Grantees should also describe 
their plans for expanding gang prevention and suppression efforts in 
the target community, including expanded efforts by local law 
enforcement agencies.
    Aftercare: Grant funds should link with existing resources to 
provide intensive aftercare services for youth offenders transitioning 
from secure confinement in a juvenile corrections facility to the 
community. Projects must strategically coordinate community-wide 
efforts and resources to address reentry issues such as surveillance, 
supervision, graduated sanctions and incentives, linkages to community 
support systems (families, peers, schools, employers), transitional 
housing, and job training and placement activities. Applicants should 
describe clearly detailed reentry plans for youth offenders scheduled 
for release to their communities and their capacity to sustain their 
activities for 2 years after funding is no longer available. Strategies 
for effective case management services in aftercare programming 
include:
     Use of a reliable and validated risk assessment and 
classification instrument for establishing eligibility of the targeted 
population;
     Individual case planning that incorporates a family and 
community perspective;
     A mix of intensive surveillance and enhanced service 
delivery;
     Comprehensive, interagency transition planning that 
involves all critical stakeholders;
     A balance of incentives and graduated consequences coupled 
with the imposition of realistic, enforceable conditions;
     Work-related or work-oriented activities such as exposure 
to the workplace, on-the-job training, work experience, job shadowing, 
etc.;
     Coordination of resources of juvenile correctional 
agencies, juvenile courts, juvenile parole agencies, law enforcement 
agencies, social service providers, and local Workforce Investment 
Boards; and
     ``Soft skills'' training, i.e., job behavior and life 
skills training; self determination and social skills training; 
conflict resolution and anger management; parenting classes; exposure 
to post-secondary education opportunities; and community service 
learning projects.
    Partnerships/Linkages: In addition to enhancing already existing 
services and programs, projects must center any newly developed and 
implemented activities upon the needs of youth involved, or at risk of 
becoming involved, with the juvenile justice system and gangs. In order 
to accomplish this, applicants should use partnerships both (1) to 
enhance the youth offender programs funded under this grant and (2) to 
provide complementary programs so as to link

[[Page 79129]]

services within the target community and provide a diversity of options 
for all youth offenders within the target area. These partnerships must 
agree to:
     Implement an education and employment program for youth 
offenders, gang members, and at-risk youth in the target area, 
including coordination with the private sector to develop a specified 
number of career-track jobs for target area youth offenders;
     Establish alternative sentencing and community service 
options for youth offenders, gang members, and at-risk youth in the 
target area; and
     Expand gang suppression activities in the target area.
    Applicants should outline how they will involve residents, youth, 
and others of the community in planning and involvement in the effort. 
Proposals should describe the efforts within the project to utilize 
existing services and programs, particularly those offered through the 
WIA One-Stop delivery system and the juvenile justice system. 
Applicants should describe the efforts to be undertaken to coordinate 
services with private sector entities, including commitments for 
private sector jobs. Proposals should describe newly developed and 
implemented services and how these will enhance and augment presently 
existing strategies in the community.
    Category I rating criteria: Each application under this category 
will be evaluated against the following rating criteria:
     Need in target neighborhood, as demonstrated by severity 
of gang problem, the number of youth offenders residing in target 
community, and the barriers facing existing services to reach youth 
offenders and gang members (10 points);
     Plan to enhance and augment alternative sentencing, 
including educational and supportive services and case management; role 
of project case managers in these delivery strategies; plan for linking 
with schools for co-enrollment, etc. (20 points);
     Plan for enhancing gang prevention and suppression 
efforts, and use of a youth offender and gang prevention advisory board 
to achieve coordination; establishment of creative partnerships with 
local community grassroots organizations which provide services to the 
target population (20 points);
     Plan and capacity for conducting intensive comprehensive 
aftercare for preventing recidivism (20 points);
     Planned or committed level of investments (cost sharing 
and leveraging of funds) from educational agencies/schools and other 
public sector, WIA, and private sector partners; employment-related 
connections with the business community (25 points); and
     Plan to fulfill reporting requirements; and confirmation 
of cooperation with DOL evaluators (5 points).

Category II--Education and Training for Youth Offenders Initiative

    These projects will provide a comprehensive school-to-work 
education and training curriculum for youth offenders in a juvenile 
correctional facility and aftercare/reentry services, with an emphasis 
on job placement and retention, upon a youth's return to his or her 
community. The comprehensive school-to-work education and training 
services developed under this initiative will serve as a model for 
other juvenile correctional facilities across the nation.

Eligible Applicants

    State or local juvenile justice agencies or juvenile correctional 
agencies shall be the eligible applicant and should identify one 
juvenile correctional facility within their state where the project 
will operate. Applications must show the involvement/commitment of the 
following partners: the state/local Workforce Investment Board which is 
the administrative entity of WIA; the local Youth Councils; the state 
and local school-to-work partnership to which a majority of the youth 
offenders will return; and representatives of major employer networks 
connected to the school-to-work effort.

Funding Availability

    The Department expects to award one (1) grant of approximately $2 
million under this category.

Performance Period

    The period of performance for the grant awarded under this 
competition, within this category, will be for 30 months from the date 
the grant is awarded. The first 24 months must be devoted to providing 
program services to eligible youth as defined in this notice. The final 
6 months will be solely for organizing participant case files, 
providing the files to the demonstration's evaluator within two months 
after grant-funded services terminate, and participating in a final 
site visit interview with the evaluators. The budget submitted for the 
period of performance must cover the full 30 months.

Program Components

    Grant funds shall be used to enhance an existing system currently 
serving youth offenders. Programs must be designed to (1) raise the 
quality of work and learning for incarcerated juvenile offenders 
through the school-to-work component and (2) strengthen aftercare/
reentry services for youth transitioning to their communities following 
confinement by building connections to local workforce development and 
school-to-work systems through the aftercare component. Involvement 
with the local Youth Council of the local WIB is critical to ensuring 
that this occurs. This overall strategy needs to be responsive to the 
particular problems of youth offenders and gang members in juvenile 
correctional facilities, and must include the following:
    School-to-work: This component includes the development and/or 
strengthening of a comprehensive school-to-work curriculum within the 
juvenile correctional facility, with ties to vocational development and 
youth employment services funded under WIA. This school-to-work system 
must contain the following core elements (for additional information, 
see Attachment I from Evaluation of the School-to-Work-Out-of-School 
Youth Demonstration and Job Corps Model Centers: Final Report for the 
Job Corps Model Centers, Research and Evaluation Report Series 00-E, 
U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration, 2000):
     School-based Learning: school-wide classroom instruction 
based on high academic and business-defined occupational skill 
standards;
     Work-based Learning: career exploration, work experience, 
structured training, and mentoring at job sites; and
     Connecting Activities: course integrating classroom and 
on-the-job instruction, matching students with participating employers, 
training of mentors, and the building of bridges between school and 
work.
    The jointly developed curriculum should include input from 
corrections education, the state school-to-work partnership, local 
school districts and employer networks connected to the school-to-work 
effort. Projects are also encouraged to work with Job Corps centers in 
the development of a school-to-work based education curriculum. This 
curriculum should closely parallel the curriculum developed for the 
communities to which youth offenders will be returning and structured 
in such a way as to enable the youth to transition from the institution 
to the

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community and continue in a sequential manner with their educational 
and vocational development.
    Aftercare: Grant funds should link with existing resources to 
provide intensive aftercare services for youth offenders transitioning 
from secure confinement in a juvenile corrections facility to the 
community. Aftercare services must strategically coordinate community-
wide efforts and resources to address reentry issues such as 
surveillance, supervision, graduated sanctions and incentives, linkages 
to community support systems (families, peers, schools, employers), 
transitional housing, and job training and placement activities. 
Applicants should describe clearly detailed reentry plans for youth 
offenders scheduled for release into their communities. Strategies for 
effective case management services in aftercare programming include:
     Use of a reliable and validated risk assessment and 
classification instrument for establishing eligibility of the targeted 
population;
     Comprehensive, interagency transition planning that 
involves all critical stakeholders;
     Individual case planning that incorporates a family and 
community perspective;
     A mix of intensive surveillance and enhanced service 
delivery;
     A balance of incentives and graduated consequences coupled 
with the imposition of realistic, enforceable conditions;
     Work-related or work-oriented activities such as exposure 
to the workplace, on-the-job training, work experience, job shadowing, 
etc.;
     Coordination of resources of local Workforce Investment 
Boards, juvenile correctional agencies, juvenile courts, juvenile 
parole agencies, law enforcement agencies, health and social service 
providers, and community organizations; and
     ``Soft skills'' training, i.e., job behavior and life 
skills training; self-determination and social skills training; 
conflict resolution and anger management; parenting classes; exposure 
to post-secondary education opportunities; and community service 
learning projects.
    Partnerships/linkages: Applicants should use partnerships to (1) 
enhance the school-to-work component funded under this grant and (2) 
provide complementary programs which enable communities to be better 
able to provide aftercare services for returning youth offenders. The 
state recipients of a Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant 
(JAIBG) are strongly encouraged to contribute, in the form of a cash 
match, 10% of the total program cost, except when the JAIBG funds are 
used for construction or renovation of permanent correction facilities. 
Partners under this category should agree to:
     Augment a school-to-work program in one targeted juvenile 
correctional facility;
     Assist the applicant with the seamless delivery of case 
management and aftercare services and supervision to youth returning to 
the community;
     Develop linkages to local school-to-work efforts with 
assistance from the State school-to-work partnership; and
     Coordinate with the private sector to develop a specified 
number of career-track jobs for target area youth offenders.
    Proposals should specify the linkages between the Youth Offender 
project and the local WIA Youth Council through the One-Stop delivery 
system to ensure coordination of workforce development services. These 
linkages shall include both existing and proposed strategies. Grant 
funds may be used for staff and teacher training in order to facilitate 
an effective system of connected classroom-based and work-based 
activities.
    Additional funding sources may include Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention Act formula grant monies and JAIBG funds. The 
Federal Bonding Program and WOTC should be considered as important 
tools to assist with youth offender employment placements. Information 
about these programs is available at ETA's website, http://www.doleta.gov.
    Category II Rating Criteria: Each application for funding under 
this category will be reviewed and rated against the following 
criteria:
     The stated need in the targeted juvenile correctional 
facility and state or local juvenile corrections system, as 
demonstrated by the effectiveness of the current correctional education 
curriculum and the number of youth who will benefit (20 points);
     Implementation plan for conducting the project, including 
detailed project scope of the aftercare services to be provided in the 
community (30 points);
     Planned or committed level of investments of schools, 
other public sector partners including school-to-work partnerships, and 
private sector partners with commitments for jobs; employment-related 
connections to the business community (25 points);
     Planned or committed linkages and coordination of services 
within the local workforce investment systems (15 points);
     Plan to fulfill reporting requirements (5 points); and
     Confirmation of cooperation with DOL and DOJ evaluators (5 
points).

Category III--Community-Wide Capacity Building Projects

    This program component will provide smaller grants for impoverished 
communities within small to medium-sized cities with high crime rates. 
Grants awarded under this category will create models for use by States 
and local boards to increase assistance to high-risk youth. These 
models will build service capacity into the One-Stop delivery system to 
expand the range and quality of currently existing services designed to 
prepare high-risk youth for high-quality employment with career 
development ladders and livable wages. These projects will work with 
local Youth Councils and service providers to develop linkages that 
will strengthen the coordination of prevention and recovery services 
for youth offenders. Linkages to existing community programs such as 
the WIA year-round youth training and summer jobs for low-income youth, 
school to work programs, other federal programs, and sports and 
recreation programs could contribute to juvenile crime prevention.
    These grants are to strengthen or build infrastructures that 
address the needs of this youth population. Providing services to youth 
is only a means of measuring the effectiveness of the infrastructure. 
The goal of this category is to develop strategies and integrated 
service models which will then be implemented. Because of the 
challenges associated with building strong partnerships leading to 
comprehensive services, special technical assistance will be made 
available to successful applicants of this category to assist with 
their development and implementation processes.

Eligible Applicants

    Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and private entities located 
within high-crime communities with a population of at least 100,000 and 
not greater than 400,000 and a significant youth gang and youth crime 
problem are eligible to apply. Eligible private entities include 
community development corporations, community action agencies, 
community-based and faith-based organizations, disability community 
organizations, public and private colleges and universities, and other 
qualified private organizations.
    Private entities include non-profit organizations but do not 
include for-profit organizations and individuals. Applicants should 
provide documentation from their local law enforcement agency showing 
support

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for the existence or emerging gang problem and other serious youth 
crime problems. WIBs and private entities applying under this category 
must demonstrate a strong commitment to developing capacity building 
models which States and local boards will use to serve high-risk 
individuals under the WIA system.
    Entities other than a WIB or a political subdivision of the State 
must submit an application for competitive grant funds in conjunction 
with the WIB(s) and its Youth Council for the area in which the project 
is to operate. The term ``in conjunction with'' shall mean that the 
application must include a signed certification by both the applicant 
and the appropriate WIB(s) indicating that:
    1. The applicant has consulted with the appropriate WIB (and its 
Youth Council) during the development of the application; and
    2. The activities proposed in the application are consistent with, 
and will be coordinated with, the One-Stop delivery system efforts of 
the WIB(s).
    If the applicant is unable to obtain the certification, it will be 
required to include information describing the efforts which were 
undertaken to consult with the WIB and its Youth Council and indicating 
that the WIB was provided, during the proposal solicitation period, a 
sufficient opportunity to cooperate in the development of the project 
plan and to review and comment on the application prior to its 
submission to the Department of Labor. ``Sufficient opportunity for WIB 
review and comment'' shall mean at least 30 calendar days. Failure to 
provide information describing the efforts which were undertaken to 
consult with WIB(s) will disqualify applicants.
    The certification, or evidence of efforts to consult, must be with 
each WIB in the service area in which the proposed project is to 
operate. These certifications must be included in the grant 
application, and will not count against the established page 
limitations. For the purposes of this portion of the application, 
evidence of efforts to consult with the WIB must be demonstrated by 
written documentation, such as registered mail receipt, that attempts 
were made to share project applications with the WIB in a timely 
manner. WIB applicants and applicants that provide a signed 
certification by the applicant and the appropriate WIB(s) will be given 
preference for award.

Funding Availability

    The Department expects to award five (5) grants approximately 
$350,000 each to Community-Wide Capacity Building Projects under this 
competition.

Performance Period

    The period of performance for all grants awarded under this 
competition, within this category, will be for 30 months from the date 
the grant is awarded. The first 24 months must be devoted to 
strengthening or building infrastructures that address the needs of 
this youth population, by developing strategies and integrated service 
models. The final six months will be solely for organizing partnership 
records for developed strategies and integrated service models, 
providing the final records to the demonstration's evaluator within two 
months after grant-funded activities terminate, and participating in a 
final site visit interview with the evaluators. The budget submitted 
for the period of performance must cover the full 30 months.

Program Components

    In order to develop capacity building models, grant funds shall be 
used to build upon an existing system currently serving in-school and 
out-of-school youth, youth offenders, or youth in gangs or prone to 
joining gangs. Efforts should be made to integrate youth into a full 
range of educational and alternative programs when appropriate. In 
order to be responsive to the particular problems of youth offenders, 
gang members, and those at-risk in high-poverty, high-crime areas, the 
overall strategy for the capacity building projects should encompass 
the following:
    Career preparation services: The capacity building projects should 
provide for employment preparation, job placement, and linkages with 
the workforce development system. Models should focus on programs that 
train individuals for employment in fields in which technology skills 
are critical aspects of the jobs emerging in the regional labor market. 
Training models may also include basic skills and pre-apprenticeship 
training (as appropriate). Applicants must address the various 
strategies that their models will employ to actively recruit the target 
population, and should discuss the projected length of time necessary 
to determine the efficacy of their models' technical assistance.
    Case management/support services: Proposals must demonstrate how 
the applicants plan to enhance the capacity of the WIA system to assist 
high-risk youth who are transitioning from dependency to independent 
living by including innovative service strategies which address their 
barriers to employment and the flexibility of services available. The 
framework for the proposed capacity building model should provide for 
(as applicable): Individual needs assessment; individual service 
strategies; long-term follow-up services; and linkages with human 
services, education, and transportation services. Other strategies may 
include ``soft skills'' training like job behavior and life skills 
training, social skills and self-determination, conflict resolution, 
parenting classes, exposure to post-secondary education opportunities, 
and service learning projects. Applicants should detail their capacity 
to sustain these activities for 2 years after funding under this 
solicitation is no longer available.
    Partnerships/Linkages: Applicants should use partnerships both (1) 
to enhance the currently existing youth offenders programs and WIA 
services and (2) to provide complementary programs so as to make the 
target community an available service area for all youth offenders. 
Applicants should also agree to a good faith effort to continue 
projects started under this grant beyond the 24-month grant period. 
Partners should also agree to:
     Build upon existing employment and training, recreation, 
conflict resolution, and other youth crime and gang prevention programs 
to include youth offenders and gang members;
     Establish alternative sentencing and community service 
options for target area youth and gang members;
     Provide work-related or work-oriented activities such as 
exposure to the workplace, on-the-job training, work experience, job 
shadowing, etc.
     Establish or continue gang suppression activities within 
the target area; and
     Build connections to local workforce investment systems, 
such as linkages with WIBs while demonstrating approaches that ensure 
that high-risk youth are provided with quality workforce development 
services.
    Youth Offender and Gang Prevention Advisory Board: In order to 
institute a holistic approach to assisting the target population, 
employment, education, criminal justice, and community-based youth 
programs should be incorporated into the projects. In developing this 
interrelated system, grant funds shall be used to create a youth 
offender and gang prevention advisory board that participates in the 
coordination of all activities and provides input and community support 
to the project's leadership. The advisory board should be comprised of 
public and private sector representation, parents, youth members, and 
graduates of other youth

[[Page 79132]]

offender programs and will link with the local Youth Council to provide 
seamless delivery of services.
    In addition, proposals should specify the linkages between the 
Youth Offender project and the local WIA Youth Council through the One-
Stop delivery system to ensure coordination of workforce development 
services. These linkages should include both existing and proposed 
strategies.
    Category III rating criteria: Applications received for funding 
under this category shall be rated against the following criteria:
     Need in target neighborhood, as demonstrated by severity 
of gang problem and the number of youth offenders residing in the 
target community, and the inability for existing services to include 
youth offenders and gang members (10 points);
     Plan to enhance and augment presently existing youth 
offender programs and youth crime prevention strategies (20 points);
     Plan and capacity for developing and implementing models, 
including plan for preventing recidivism (30 points);
     Planned or committed level of investments (cost sharing 
and leveraging of funds) from educational agencies/schools and other 
public sector, WIA, and private sector partners, including commitments 
for private sector jobs (15 points);
     Planned or committed linkages and coordination of services 
within the local workforce investment systems; use of a youth offender 
and gang prevention advisory board to achieve coordination; 
establishment of creative partnerships with local community grassroots 
organizations which provide services to the target population (15 
points);
     Plan to fulfill reporting requirements (5 points); and
     Confirmation of cooperation with DOL evaluators (5 
points).

    Signed at Washington, D.C. this date, December 11, 2000.
Laura A. Cesario,
Grant Officer, Division of Federal Assistance.

Appendices

Appendix A: Application Face Sheet
Appendix B: SF-424--Application for Federal Assistance
Appendix C: Budget Information Form

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[FR Doc. 00-32018 Filed 12-15-00; 8:45 am]
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