Subject: QUEST Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant Procedures for Yavapai College

Original Issue Date: TBD

Authorized by: The Regional Economic Development Center (REDC) at Yavapai College

Background/Purpose:

This procedure for Yavapai College provides guidance under the “Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy, and Training” (QUEST) Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to serve unemployed and underemployed individuals whose employment has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; including individuals from historically marginalized, underserved populations who have been disproportionately impacted, and veterans and family members of veterans. The Disaster Recovery National DWG is authorized under Title I, Section 170 of the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA).

The Quest DWG connects job seekers and those individuals who have suffered the most because of the pandemic to hold equitable access to employment that shares a safe workplace environment, well-paying employment, with high quality jobs that provide sustainable wages and benefits. Career, training, and supportive services will enable individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic gain the skills and experience necessary to qualify for, obtain, and advance in safe and sustainable jobs; particularly high-quality jobs in growth industry sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, professional, scientific, and technical services.

This procedure describes the allowable uses of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds for supportive services to eligible individuals enrolled in the WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth and QUEST DWG programs.

Procedure Management

Yavapai College REDC may revise these procedures as needed throughout the two-year AZ QUEST grant period, with notice to the Arizona Commerce Authority Office of Economic Opportunity (ACA OEO).

I. Eligibility Criteria

The following four categories define an individual to be eligible for services through AZ QUEST DWG. In addition to being eligible through one of the four categories below, the individual must meet the Eligibility Prerequisites listed below. Documentation for both the Prerequisites and the Categories will be uploaded to the individual’s AJC account by the individual or the Yavapai College staff member who helps them with AJC registration.

Eligibility Prerequisites

1. Be 18 years or older, as documented by: _ Birth Certificate _ Federal, State, or Local Identification Card (Driver's License, Identification, Tribal Records that shows birthdate) _ Passport (showing birthdate) _ School records or school ID Cards (if name and birthdate is shown) \

2. **Have a Social Security Number, **as documented by: _ DD-214 (if name and SSN is shown) _ Social Security benefits letter/notice (if name and SSN is shown) _ Social Security card issued by SSA _ Unemployment Insurance records (GUIDE 01 screen, wage statement) _ Pay-stub (if name and SSN is shown) _ W-2 (if name and SSN is shown)

3. Provide verification of Citizenship or Employment eligibility. Verification of documents as listed on the USCIS Form I-9. https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents _ One verification source from list A on I-9 or _ One verification source from list B and one verification source from list C of I-9.

Eligibility Categories

Category #1- Individual who was temporarily or permanently laid off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes individuals who can document an effect of COVID on their employment, income, etc.

a. Eligible documentation for category #1 - Individual who was temporarily or permanently laid off because of the COVID-19 pandemic disaster.

One of the following documents will verify an individual's eligibility under this category.

Allowable documentation may be one of the following:

• WIOA Self-attestation;
• Documents from Department of Economic Security (DES) Unemployment Insurance Assistance division;
• A letter of separation from the most recent employer;
• Paystubs or other payroll records showing the last day of employment;
• A bank statement indicating direct deposit from the most recent employer;
• Wage record from the State Unemployment Insurance records (GUIDE 01 screen, wage statement);
• WIOA application

Category #2- Long-term unemployed individual. This is defined as any individual who is:

• Unemployed at time of eligibility determination for 15 or more nonconsecutive weeks over the last 26 weeks, and has made specific efforts to find a job (efforts must be case noted); or
• Individuals who have no work history, have been incarcerated, or have not worked for an extended period (i.e. more than 3 months).

b. Eligibility documentation for category #2- Long-term unemployed individual.

• WIOA Self-Attestation;
• Complete work history form to indicate individual is long-term unemployed;
• Wage record from the State Unemployment Insurance records (GUIDE 01 screen, wage statement)

Category #3 - Dislocated Workers as defined by WIOA Section 3(15), including displaced homemakers as defined in WIOA Section 3 (16). Refer to WIOA Title IB Dislocated Worker Program Eligibility List.

c. Eligible documentation for category #3 - Dislocated Workers as defined by WIOA Section 3(15), including displaced homemakers as defined in WIOA Section 3 (16).

The WIOA Title IB Dislocated Worker Program Eligibility Checklist will be used to determine and collect required eligibility documentation. The respective eligibility required documents can be found in the checklist.

Category #4- Self-employed individuals who became unemployed or significantly underemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic disaster. Significantly underemployed is defined as an individual who:

• At time of eligibility determination the individual has obtained part time work of no more than 20 hours per week that does not provide self-sustaining wages; or

• Has or had been unemployed for 15 or more nonconsecutive weeks over the last 26 weeks; and

• Has made specific efforts to find a job with self-sustaining wages (efforts must be case noted).

  d. Eligible documentation for category #4 - Self-employed individuals who became unemployed or significantly underemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic disaster.

  One of the following documents below along with program notes is required for verification of eligibility under this category. Adequate documentation must clearly show that the individual (1) was self-employed and (2) is now unemployed or significantly underemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Allowable documentation may be one of the following:

• WIOA Self-attestation;

• Evidence of self-employment may be provided through a business tax return;

• A business license; A business ledger;

• Evidence of business closure;

• Wage record from the State Unemployment Insurance records (GUIDE 01 screen, wage statement);

• Any other legal document indicating self-employed individual is now unemployed or significantly underemployed;

Arizona Job Connection System (AJC)

Individuals will register and create an account in the AJC state system so they can be enrolled in AZ QUEST for state tracking purposes. YC staff will assist with registration and eligibility determination as needed.

Tracking Learners

Throughout the AZ QUEST grant period, YC will track individuals who 1) inquire about AZ QUEST services, 2) Receive AZ QUEST benefits through YC, and 3) are enrolled in AZ QUEST in AJC throughout the grant period. These data will be shared through quarterly and annual reports to the Arizona Commerce Authority Office of Economic Opportunity (ACA OEO). Individuals will upload documentation to their AJC account, and YC staff will assist as needed.

Reporting

Reporting Requirements

YC REDC will report the ACA OEO on a quarterly basis. Quarterly reports will include financial reporting through the OEO-provided Request for Reimbursement form, in addition to a progress report, submitted two weeks prior to OEO’s quarterly reporting deadlines.

Retention and Access Requirements for Records

YC REDC will keep all records related to the QUEST grant for a period of three (3) years after the QUEST DWG expires. These files will be readily available any time OEO requests them.

Coursera

Third Party Course Licenses

YC will issue licenses for third party course providers to qualified individuals throughout the AZ QUEST grant period.

The college will gauge the interest and demand of the licenses, which will inform the rate at which the college purchases licenses and any time limit placed on individuals who receive licenses. The college reserves the right to revoke Coursera licenses from inactive users. If a license-holder has not made progress for a considerable amount of time, YC may evaluate and revoke the license so it can be used by a more active user.

Individuals provided with a Coursera license must pursue a certificate within one of the target industries of the grant program (Manufacturing and Logistics; Healthcare; and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services). Individuals will have the freedom to pursue other courses in addition to a certificate in a target industry.

YC Certificates

The following YC Certificate programs are eligible for tuition reimbursement and student support services through the QUEST grant. YC’s Enrollment Department will assist learners with registration as well as creating an AJC Job Seeker Account and enrolling in the AZ QUEST Grant via AJC for state tracking purposes.

• 3D Printing
• Accounting certificate
• Assisted Living Caregiver
• Auto body paint and collision
• Automotive master technician
• Automotive technician (MLR)
• Behavioral Health Technician
• Bookkeeping
• Business Office
• Commercial Driver Training (CDL)
• Computer Networking Technician
• Computer Applications Specialist
• Cybersecurity Specialist
• Cybersecurity Tech
• Diesel Tech
• Electric Utility Lineworker Tech
• Electrical Instrumentation Tech
• Electronics – Analog
• Electronics – Digital
• Electronics – Industrial
• Electronics Technology
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Graphic Design
• Integrated Systems Engineering
• Legal Office Clerk
• Legal Paraprofessional
• Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN)
• Management
• Management – Entrepreneurship Principles and Practice
• Management – Strategic Leadership
• Media and Extended Realities
• Media Production
• Medical Assistant
• Medical Office Assistant
• Medical Records
• Microsoft Office
• Nurse Assistant
• Paramedicine
• Phlebotomy
• Welding
• Student Support

Yavapai College has AZ QUEST Grant funds budgeted for student support services, designed to aid in individuals’ successful completion of training. These services can include assistance with tuition, technology needs, transportation, childcare for children under 12, among other needs deemed appropriate by YC’s Enrollment department.

These funds will be dispersed to learners by method of reimbursement, and a $2,600 maximum limit per student barring special exceptions as approved by YC’s Enrollment department.

Individuals must register and create an account in the AJC state system so they can be enrolled in AZ QUEST for state tracking purposes. YC staff will assist with registration and eligibility determination as needed.

Learners must indicate their proposed expenses with YC’s Enrollment Department prior to making purchases intended for student support funds. Learners will complete a reimbursement form including justification of their needs, payment information, and uploading proof of purchases. Once the form is approved and processed by the YC’s Enrollment Department and Accounts Payable office, eligible students will receive notice of reimbursement and a check via U.S. Mail or electronically by ACH.

Individuals must be enrolled and pursuing an approved YC Certificate in order to qualify for support services.

CDL

Individuals in the college’s CDL program that utilize these grant-funded simulators will be enrolled according to standard college admission and enrollment procedures. These learners will be tracked and reported with the college’s quarterly reports.

Veterans Services

The REDC at YC will partner with Arizona @ Work, US Vets, Northern Arizona VA, and Veterans Education and Transition Services to host a Veterans’ Career Services Symposium at YC’s Prescott Campus in October 2023 with potential additional dates in the future.

Veterans and family members of veterans will be invited to this event, which will be marketed at job fairs, various veteran-related events, and via other marketing channels. Covered topics at the symposium will include sessions on resume writing, interview skills, education and benefits discussions specific for veterans, mental health training specific to veterans, AJC and AZ QUEST enrollment opportunities, and other trainings for employers of veterans.

Contact information on symposium attendees will be gathered, and they will be encouraged to create AJC Job Seeker accounts both at the symposium and after the symposium. This will be in an attempt to track individuals impacted by the QUEST grant for statewide tracking purposes.