Services to Customers

20 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart C
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

20 C.F.R. § 684.300 Who is eligible to receive services under the Indian and Native American program?

(a) A person is eligible to receive services under the INA program if that person is: (1) An Indian, as determined by a policy of the INA program grantee. The grantee's definition must at least include anyone who is a member of a Federally-recognized tribe; or (2) An Alaska Native, as defined in WIOA sec. 166(b)(1); or (3) A Native Hawaiian, as defined in WIOA sec. 166(b)(3). (b) The person also must be any one of the following: (1) Unemployed; or (2) Underemployed, as defined in § 684.130; or (3) A low-income individual, as defined in sec. 3(36) of WIOA; or (4) The recipient of a bona fide lay-off notice which has taken effect in the last 6 months or will take effect in the following 6-month period, who is unlikely to return to a previous industry or occupation, and who is in need of retraining for either employment with another employer or for job retention with the current employer; or (5) An individual who is employed, but is determined by the grantee to be in need of employment and training services to obtain or retain employment that allows for self-sufficiency. (c) If applicable, male applicants also must register or be registered for the Selective Service.

20 C.F.R. § 684.310 What are Indian and Native American program grantee allowable activities?

(a) Generally, INA program grantees must make efforts to provide employment and training opportunities to eligible individuals (as described in § 684.300) who can benefit from, and who are most in need of, such opportunities. In addition, INA program grantees must make efforts to develop programs that contribute to occupational development, upward mobility, development of new careers, and opportunities for nontraditional employment. (b) Allowable activities for INA program grantees are any services consistent with the purposes of this part that are necessary to meet the needs of INAs preparing to enter, reenter, or retain unsubsidized employment leading to self-sufficiency. (c) Examples of career services, which may be delivered in partnership with the one-stop delivery system, are described in sec. 134(c)(2) of WIOA and § 678.430 of this chapter. (d) Follow-up services, including counseling and supportive services for up to 12 months after the date of exit to assist participants in obtaining and retaining employment. (e) Training services include the activities described in WIOA sec. 134(c)(3)(D). (f) Allowable activities specifically designed for youth, as listed in sec. 129 of WIOA, include: (1) Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and evidence-based dropout prevention and recovery strategies that lead to completion of the requirements for a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including a recognized certificate of attendance or similar document for individuals with disabilities) or for a recognized postsecondary credential; (2) Alternative secondary school services, or dropout recovery services, as appropriate; (3) Paid and unpaid work experiences that have as a component academic and occupational education, which may include: (i) Summer employment opportunities and other employment opportunities available throughout the school year; (ii) Pre-apprenticeship programs; (iii) Internships and job shadowing; and (iv) On-the-job training opportunities; (4) Occupational skill training, which must include priority consideration for training programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials that are aligned with in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the local area involved; (5) Education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster; (6) Leadership development opportunities, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social and civic behaviors, as appropriate; (7) Supportive services as defined in WIOA sec. 3(59); (8) Adult mentoring for the period of participation and a subsequent period, for a total of not less than 12 months; (9) Follow-up services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation, as appropriate; (10) Comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral, as appropriate; (11) Financial literacy education; (12) Entrepreneurial skills training; (13) Services that provide labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors or occupations available in the local area, such as career awareness, career counseling, and career exploration services; and (14) Activities that help youth prepare for and transition to postsecondary education and training. (g) In addition, allowable activities include job development and employment outreach, including: (1) Support of the Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) program; (2) Negotiation with employers to encourage them to train and hire participants; (3) Establishment of linkages with other service providers to aid program participants; (4) Establishment of management training programs to support tribal administration or enterprises; and (5) Establishment of linkages with remedial education, such as adult basic education, basic literacy training, and training programs for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals, as necessary. (h) Participants may be enrolled in more than one activity at a time and may be sequentially enrolled in multiple activities. (i) Services may be provided to a participant in any sequence based on the particular needs of the participant.

20 C.F.R. § 684.320 Are there any restrictions on allowable activities?

(a) Training services must be directly linked to an in-demand industry sector or occupation in the service area, or in another area to which a participant receiving such services is willing to relocate. (b) INA program grantees must provide on-the-job training (OJT) services consistent with the definition provided in WIOA sec. 3(44) and other limitations in WIOA. Individuals in OJT must: (1) Be compensated at the same rates, including periodic increases, as trainees or employees who are similarly situated in similar occupations by the same employer and who have similar training, experience, and skills; and (2) Be provided benefits and working conditions at the same level and to the same extent as other trainees or employees working a similar length of time and doing the same type of work. (c) In addition, OJT contracts under this title must not be entered into with employers who have: (1) Received payments under previous contracts under WIOA or the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and have exhibited a pattern of failing to provide OJT participants with continued, long-term employment as regular employees with wages and employment benefits (including health benefits) and working conditions at the same level and to the same extent as other employees working a similar length of time and doing the same type of work; or (2) Have exhibited a pattern of violating paragraphs (b)(1) and/or (2) of this section. (d) INA program grantees are prohibited from using funds to encourage the relocation of a business, as described in WIOA sec. 181(d) and § 683.260 of this chapter. (e) INA program grantees must only use WIOA funds for activities that are in addition to those that would otherwise be available to the INA population in the area in the absence of such funds. (f) INA program grantees must not spend funds on activities that displace currently employed individuals, impair existing contracts for services, or in any way affect union organizing. (g) Under § 683.255 of this chapter, sectarian activities involving WIOA financial assistance or participants are limited in accordance with the provisions of sec. 188(a)(3) of WIOA.

20 C.F.R. § 684.330 What is the role of Indian and Native American program grantees in the one-stop delivery system?

(a) In those local areas where an INA program grantee conducts field operations or provides substantial services, the INA program grantee is a required partner in the local one-stop delivery system and is subject to the provisions relating to such partners described in part 678 of this chapter. Consistent with those provisions, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the INA program grantee and the Local Workforce Development Board (WDB) over the operation of the one-stop center(s) in the Local WDB's workforce development area also must be executed. Where the Local WDB is an alternative entity under § 679.150 of this chapter, the INA program grantee must negotiate with the alternative entity on the terms of its MOU and the scope of its on-going role in the local workforce development system, as specified in §§ 678.420 and 678.500 through 678.510 of this chapter. In local areas with a large concentration of potentially eligible INA participants, which are in an INA program grantee's service area but in which the grantee does not conduct operations or provide substantial services, the INA program grantee should encourage such individuals to participate in the one-stop delivery system in that area in order to receive WIOA services. (b) At a minimum, the MOU must contain the provisions listed in WIOA sec. 121(c) and: (1) The exchange of information on the services available and accessible through the one-stop delivery system and the INA program; (2) As necessary to provide referrals and case management services, the exchange of information on INA participants in the one-stop delivery system and the INA program; and (3) Arrangements for the funding of services provided by the one-stop(s), consistent with the requirements that no expenditures may be made with INA program funds for individuals who are not eligible or for services not authorized under this part. (c) Where the INA program grantee has failed to enter into a MOU with the Local WDB, the INA program grantee must describe in its 4-year plan the good-faith efforts made in order to negotiate an MOU with the Local WDB. (d) Pursuant to WIOA sec. 121(h)(2)(D)(iv), INA program grantees will not be subject to the funding of the one-stop infrastructure unless otherwise agreed upon in the MOU under subpart C of part 678 of this chapter.

20 C.F.R. § 684.340 What policies govern payments to participants, including wages, training allowances or stipends, or direct payments for supportive services?

(a) INA program grantees may pay training allowances or stipends to participants for their successful participation in and completion of education or training services (except such allowance may not be provided to participants in OJT). Allowances or stipends may not exceed the Federal or State minimum wage, whichever is higher. (b) INA program grantees may not pay a participant in a training activity when the person fails to participate without good cause. (c) If a participant in a WIOA-funded activity, including participants in OJT, is involved in an employer-employee relationship, that participant must be paid wages and fringe benefits at the same rates as trainees or employees who have similar training, experience and skills and which are not less than the higher of the applicable Federal, State, or local minimum wage. (d) In accordance with the policy described in the 4-year plan submitted as part of the competitive process, INA program grantees may pay incentive bonuses to participants who meet or exceed individual employability or training goals established in writing in the individual employment plan. (e) INA program grantees must comply with other restrictions listed in WIOA secs. 181 through 195, which apply to all programs funded under title I of WIOA, including the provisions on labor standards in WIOA sec. 181(b).

20 C.F.R. § 684.350 What will the Department do to strengthen the capacity of Indian and Native American program grantees to deliver effective services?

The Department will provide appropriate TAT, as necessary, to INA program grantees. This TAT will assist INA program grantees to improve program performance and improve the quality of services to the target population(s), as resources permit.

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