YouthBuild Blueprint: Required American Job Center (AJC) Partnership

As required partners, grantees must develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the local Workforce Development Board (WDB) to detail the AJC partnership agreement. The MOU must include an Infrastructure Funding Agreement (IFA) in which grantees commit a portion of their YouthBuild funding to the infrastructure costs of the local AJC network. Partnering with the network also provides an opportunity for YouthBuild grantees to increase the number of eligible applicants, have greater access to local employers, and develop the ability to directly access information regarding changes to local workforce needs and respond with program changes accordingly.

Requirements

In order to meet the WIOA requirements, DOL YouthBuild grantees must:

• Provide access to their programs or activities through the American Job Center network. Access must be provided in one of three ways:
  • Physical presence at the American Job Center;
  • An appropriately trained staff member from a different partner program who can speak to the YouthBuild program; or
  • A technology-based direct linkage to the American Job Center by YouthBuild staff.
• Use a portion of DOL YouthBuild grant funds, to the extent required, to provide applicable career services, and work collaboratively with the State and Local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) to establish and maintain the AJC network.
• Enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and infrastructure funding agreement (IFA) with the Local WDB relating to the operation of the AJC network, with the following requirements:
  • The MOU should address roles and responsibilities, terms, and partner expectations.
  • The IFA should address the cost that the YouthBuild program will pay based on its proportionate use and benefit of space, Federal cost principles, and WIOA local administrative cost requirements.
• Participate in the operation of the AJC network consistent with the terms of the MOU and IFA, requirements of authorizing laws, the Federal cost principles, and all other applicable legal requirements.
• Provide representation on the State and Local WDBs as required and participate in board committees, as needed.

Required Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Infrastructure Funding Agreement (IFA)

MOUs outline which parties are responsible for specific aspects of the work while describing the levels of support and resources needed to make the partnership efforts successful. The IFA addresses the cost that the YouthBuild program will pay based on the proportionate use and benefit of space, federal cost principles, and WIOA local administrative cost requirements.

Keep in mind that the MOU and IFA reflect the unique needs and responsibilities of DOL YouthBuild grantees and the respective AJC(s). Some MOUs include standardized legal sections and some states and local areas are developing standard MOU templates and infrastructure cost formulas for all partner programs. DOL YouthBuild grantees should negotiate with their local AJC networks to build in specific activities and responsibilities for all parties.

Best Practices for Developing Required AJC MOU

• Partners should set expectations and the scope of services. What are our expectations of each other? What services do you offer to out-of-school youth? Do we have any duplication of services, and what will that mean for our partnership?
• Negotiate even if a standard MOU is presented. If the AJC has a standard MOU for all required partners, review and refine the scope of the MOU to ensure the best fit for the YouthBuild-AJC relationship.
• AJCs can be a bridge to career pathways. Some YouthBuild staff have shared that the AJCs have several resources to help young people identify training opportunities.
• Identify the "value added" factor of the partnership. DOL YouthBuild grantee staff have shared that they often bring added value to the AJC because of their depth of experience working with out-of-school youth. In some areas, this out-of-school youth are a relatively new focus for the local WDBs, whose youth Formula-funded programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act put more emphasis on serving in-school youth. AJCs also have a depth of experience with employer engagement and broad reach to a range of employers that can be useful to a DOL YouthBuild grantee.
• Developing a comprehensive plan of services for participants can create a seamless experience.

AJCs and WIOA Youth Program Eligibility

According to WIOA regulations at § 681.230, DOL does not consider YouthBuild programs to be schools. Therefore, WIOA youth programs may consider any YouthBuild participant to be out of school for purposes of WIOA youth program eligibility. Youth participating in a YouthBuild program funded by the public K-12 school system who are classified by the school system as still enrolled in school are an exception; they are considered in-school youth.

Review the Navigating the Workforce System Toolkit for valuable tips on building a solid partnership with your AJC.

Explore the American Job Centers Resource Collection.

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