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Recovery.gov is the U.S. government's official website that provides easy access to data
related to Recovery Act spending and allows for the reporting of potential fraud, waste, and abuse.

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Program Plan
Department of Labor - Youthbuild Recovery Plan
Updated 05/15/2009
Objectives
Program Purpose

YouthBuild is a successful strategic approach to workforce investment that supports at-risk youth ages 16-24 in gaining high school credentials and receiving skill training that leads to employment, while constructing or rehabilitating affordable housing for low-income or homeless families in their own neighborhoods. Youth divide their time between the construction site and the classroom.


Public Benefits

YouthBuild provides job training and educational opportunities for at-risk youth, and expands the pool of skilled workers by introducing youth to the construction industry.


Measures
The measures have been revised to enrich the performance metrics for Recovery targets. In some instances, targets will not be available until additional baseline data has been collected.

MeasureTarget/Actual
2009201020112012
[-] Placement in Employment or Education
0/00/00/00/0

Measure Information
Frequency : Quarterly
Direction : Increasing
Type : Outcome
Explanation : This measure represents the percentage of participants who are in employment or enrolled in post-secondary education or training in the first quarter after exit. This is a federal job training program common measure, which enables the YouthBuild program to describe in a similar manner the core purposes and results of the program compared to other education, employment and job training programs. DOL will not be able to determine a targeted ARRA increment because there is no baseline data available for comparison.
Unit : Participant Percent
[-] Attainment of a Degree or Certificate
0/00/00/00/0

Measure Information
Frequency : Quarterly
Direction : Increasing
Type : Outcome
Explanation : This measure represents the percentage of participants who attain a diploma, GED or certificate by the end of the third quarter after exit. A certificate includes any employer-recognized occupational skills certificates that are developed or endorsed by employers and signify the attainment of technical or occupational skills. DOL will not be able to determine a targeted ARRA increment because there is no baseline data available for comparison.
Unit : Participant Percent
[-] Literacy or Numeracy Gains
0/00/00/00/0

Measure Information
Frequency : Quarterly
Direction : Increasing
Type : Outcome
Explanation : This measure represents the percentage of youth who are basic skills deficient at enrollment who increase their basic educational functioning level in literacy or numeracy. The performance indicator measures the increase in literacy and numeracy skills of participants through a common assessment tool administered at program registration and regular intervals thereafter. According to preliminary data collected on program participants through December 31, 2008, approximately 90% are assessed at below basic skill level. DOL will not be able to determine a targeted ARRA increment because there is no baseline data available for comparison.
Unit : Participant Percent
[-] Enrollment
1552/0---

Measure Information
Frequency : Quarterly
Direction : Increasing
Type : Output
Explanation : This measure represents the actual number of participants who enroll in the YouthBuild program.
Unit : Participant Count

Schedule and Milestones

Award YouthBuild Grants - As a result of the infusion of funds through the Recovery Act, ETA will fund approximately 180 YouthBuild programs (up from 107 projected in the FY 2009 budget). Recovery Act funds will support approximately 3,100 additional participant slots. At least half of the programs will be providing green construction training. These awards will be made in June 2009 with a period of performance from July 2009 through June 2012.
Expected Completion Date: June 30, 2009

Orientation of New YouthBuild Grantees - While some existing ETA YouthBuild programs will receive funds through the 2009 competition, the additional Recovery Act funds included in this competition will result in a substantial increase in the number of grants awarded to programs new to ETA. Therefore, ETA will provide in-depth training on the Department’s administrative procedures, regulations, and performance expectations to the new YouthBuild grantees from the 2009 competition in Washington, DC on July 28-30. This orientation will be followed by a series of six weekly Webinars that provide concrete information on implementing the YouthBuild program. In September 2009, a second training will be provided for new grantees that focus specifically on the YouthBuild program elements.
Expected Completion Date: September 30, 2009

Technical Assistance for YouthBuild Grantees - ETA will provide technical assistance to YouthBuild grantees using a variety of methods including Webinars, on-site technical assistance, national trainings, regional trainings in particular subject areas, and site visits to mature YouthBuild programs. All of the technical assistance is characterized by an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning. In particular, a web-based YouthBuild Community of Practice is used for grantees to exchange and share knowledge and information from each other's experiences and to access many tools and resources developed for the program. ETA will provide technical assistance in green construction techniques, knowledge of and ability to work with sustainable building products, solar panel installation, weatherization techniques to ensure that YouthBuild participants are prepared for and connected to the green economy and high-wage careers associated with this industry.
Expected Completion Date: Ongoing throughout grant period of performance (approximately June 15, 2009 – June 14, 2012)

YouthBuild Grantee Reporting - ETA YouthBuild grantees are provided with, at no cost, a web-based Case Management and Performance system that they are required to use for quarterly performance reporting. The first report for YouthBuild grants using Recovery Act funds will be due on November 15, 2009 and will cover July 1 – September 30, 2009.
Expected Completion Date: Quarterly reports throughout grant period of performance (approximately June 15, 2009 – June 14, 2012)


Milestones
No Data Available

Projects and Activities

YouthBuild includes significant support systems, such as a mentoring, follow-up education, employment, and personal counseling services; and participation in community service and civic engagement. The Recovery Act appropriates an additional $50,000,000 for YouthBuild activities. With Recovery Act funds, the program may serve an individual who has dropped out of high school and re-enrolled in an alternative school, if that re-enrollment is part of a sequential service strategy.

In accordance with Sec. 801 of the Recovery Act, up to one percent of the program funds provided ($500,000) may be used for management and oversight of the program. These funds will be expended in accordance with the operating plan submitted to the Office of Management and Budget and Congress.

Information on awards will be provided upon award.


Review Process

The Department has established reporting systems and Office of Management and Budget-approved forms that grantees use to track, document and report expenditures and performance on a regularly scheduled basis that provides updated information to ETA at a minimum of once a quarter. Grantees are required to certify the accuracy of these reports prior to submitting them to ETA through the established electronic reporting systems.

ETA uses its Grants Electronic Management System (GEMS) and other related electronic data collection systems to conduct and document quarterly desk reviews of financial obligations, expenditures and program performance. Grantees identified as “high risk grantees” through these reviews are given priority attention for on-site monitoring. ETA’s quarterly desk reviews along with on-site reviews are used to identify potential risks and encourage program improvements through technical assistance and training.

ETA Regional Offices will be conducting “Regional Readiness Consultations” with state and local areas during April and May 2009. The results of the consultations will be analyzed and will inform ETA of specific technical assistance needs required for states and local areas to successfully implement Recovery Act-funded programs.

To further ensure that funds are spent on the intended purpose and accurately reported, the Department requires all grantees to submit single audits annually. ETA works with grantees to resolve any audit findings through additional reviews and the development and implementation of corrective action plans.

ETA conducts a final review of each grantee’s expenditures and performance during the grant close-out process.

As for program evaluations, the Department is in the process of developing a plan for evaluating several components of the Recovery Act-funded programs. The Department also plans to launch an impact evaluation of YouthBuild.

Top Management Challenges identified by the Office of Inspector General for the Department include:

Improving Performance Accountability of Grants
All state and local government and nonprofit recipients that expend $500,000 or more in Federal assistance in one year are required by the Single Audit Act to obtain an annual audit by an independent public accountant. A challenge for the Department is that grantees’ audits conducted under the Single Audit Act are not always completed in a timely manner. Therefore, the Department has implemented procedures requiring written notifications be sent to grantees when single audit reports are submitted more than three months past the due date. The notifications serve to remind the grantees of the timeframes established in OMB Circular No. A-133, to ensure awareness that the reports were submitted untimely, and to prevent future untimely submissions.

Single Audits
Send follow up letters to grantees who continue to be delinquent No action to report.
November 2009

Codify standard operating procedures into Procedures Manuals. To date, procedures have been updated to include steps for sending delinquent notices to grantees once the list has been received from the accounting office.
FY 2009


Cost and Performance Plan

Consistent with the transparency and accountability objectives of the Recovery Act, grantees will provide additional monthly participant information, as necessary and when applicable. This information would be in addition to current quarterly and annual reporting requirements. ETA Competitive Grantee information may be extracted from the relevant case-management system. Competitive Grantee case-management systems include participant-level information including types of services received and outcomes when available.

ETA will post monthly, quarterly and the annual summary of program data on the ETA website, the DOL Recovery webpage, and Recovery.gov.


Energy Efficiency Spending Plans

NA


Program Plan Award Types
No Data Available