3/20/15 TANF Summer Youth Bidders Conference Notes and Q&A

3/20/15 TANF Summer Youth Bidders Conference Notes and
Q&A
Attendees were welcomed and Allen County Department of JFS staff
introductions.
Items discussed:
1. There was an error in the Request for Proposal (RFP) e-mailed out. Page 1 on
RFP stated deadline for proposal submission is 3/30/15 at 10:00 a.m. Page 4 of
RFP stated deadline is 3/27/15 at 10:00 a.m. The correct submission date is March
30, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. be sure to bring proposals to the Allen County
Commissioners office not Allen County Job & Family Services. If proposal not
brought to correct location they will not be considered.
2. TANF Summer Youth program will run until 10/31/15 instead of 9/30/15 in
which was stated on the RFP.
3. Allen County JFS will determine PRC eligibility for the TANF Summer Youth
Program and once approved will be given a letter of approval. Provider won’t be
eligible to provide services to the youth until letter of approval is received.
4. TANF Summer Youth Program this year will not serve 14 and 15 year olds.
Eligibility will be 16-17. Eligibility requirements include - A Summer Youth
Employment Program funded through PRC shall only serve persons from a TANFeligible family. The types of persons that may be served are:
 Youth ages 16-17, as long as the youth is a minor child in a needy family
and is in school (youth may be 18 if they are a full-time student in a
secondary school) ;
 Youth ages 18-24, as long as they are in a needy family that also has a
minor child; or
 Youth ages 18-24 that have a minor child and are considered needy.
5. The importance of the soft skills training piece of the program was stressed.
Allen County requiring that all youth participating in this program is given soft
skills training. 10% of the county’s allocation may be used for paying for soft skills.
6.Providers will be encouraged to refer youth in the TANF Summer program to
year round WIA youth programs after program ends. If a youth is already in the
year round WIA youth program it is ok to have them participate in the TANF
Summer program.
7. All youth in the TANF Summer program will be required to register on
OhioMeansJobs.com and show proof of registration. If needed Ohio Means Jobs
staff can assist with OMJ training if requested.
8. COUNTING OF INCOME FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Food Assistance: Pursuant to rule 5101:4-4-19 of the Ohio Administrative Code, income
Received from the Summer Youth Employment Program is considered countable earned
income
For the food assistance program, except for those food assistance participants 17 years old or
Younger who are enrolled in secondary school.
Cash Assistance: Pursuant to rule 5101:1-23-20 of the Ohio Administrative Code, earnings
Received from participation in Summer Youth Employment Program are countable in
Determining Ohio Works First eligibility and level of benefits when the participant is a minor
Parent or does not meet the definition of a minor child. Income received from the program by
non-parent minors who meet the definition of a minor child (because the minor is either under
18 years of age, or is age 18 and attending high school full time) is excluded from the
determination of Ohio Works First eligibility for the family.
9. Unemployment Compensation
If the employer of record is a “For Profit” entity then the services performed by and
Wages paid to the youth would be covered for unemployment and reported to ODJFS.
If the employer of record is a “Not for Profit” entity then the services performed by and
Wages paid to the youth would be excluded for unemployment and should not be reported
To ODJFS.
10. Allen County will be paying the TANF Summer Youth $9.00 per hour. No
overtime will be reimbursed, cannot exceed 40 hours per week.
11. Insurance cost to youth is not reimbursable. Insurance costs would be
allowable for provider’s staff.
12. Employer evaluation and participant surveys are required to be completed by
the end of the program.
13. Each youth must get a certificate of completion after the program from the
provider. Copies of the certificates need to be given to JFS for the youth files.
14 The goals of the Allen County TANF Summer Youth program are to assist
youth with a resume, give youth interviewing skills, give youth the knowledge and
tools how to look for employment without assistance, mentoring youth, teaching
youth skills to be successful in the workplace, and to give the youth valuable work
experience.
15. Providers are strongly recommended to hold an orientation for employers to
review paperwork and how to complete timesheets properly. Youth, employer,
and provider must sign off on all timesheets in order to be reimbursed.
16. Last year we had $403,000 and we didn’t spend it all. We will know by April 1,
2015 what the allocation will be.
17. A flyer will go out to notify community that we are accepting applications
starting on April 20th.
18. All TANF Summer Youth Q&A and Family Assistance Letter #143 Subject: TANF
Summer Youth Employment Program will be posted on:
ohiomeansjobs-allen-county.com
Q&AQuestion- Can providers go over the 10% of soft skills training?
Answer- No. Within the 10% can be the OMJ Training.
Question-Do we have to build by units or can it be actual cost?
Answer- Actual Cost
Question-How often will we be monitored?
Answer-Minimally 1 visit per employer if there are no issues or problems.
Question-Can we use the same budget sheet as last year?
Answer-Yes, it will be provided to anyone that requests one.