Key Requirements:

  • Participants may be co-enrolled into WIOA formula grants if they are eligible, but it is not required
  • Participant must be a dislocated worker, incumbent worker, or new entrant to the workforce
    • New Entrant to the Workforce: defined as an individual just entering the workforce for the first time, or an individual who has been disconnected from the workforce for long enough that it’s as if they are starting over
    • Please refer to WIOA guidance for definitions of Dislocated Worker and Incumbent Worker
  • Currently limited to Pacific Mountain WDA 2 and Snohomish WDA 4

Eligibility information:

 There are two different options by which a participant can be eligible for this grant:

Option A: Workers Directly or Indirectly Affected by the Opioid Crisis

Dislocated workers, new entrants in the workforce, or incumbent workers (currently employed or underemployed) with one of the following characteristics:

  • The individual voluntarily answers “Yes” to the following question:
    • Do you, a friend, or any member of your family have a history of opioid use? Your answer to this question is voluntary.
    • See Section 13 of TEGL 12-17 for more information on grant recipients’ legal obligations pertaining to the recipients’ nondiscrimination and medical information responsibilities under Federal law.
  • The individual works or resides in a community hard-hit by the opioid crisis or can otherwise demonstrate job loss as a result of the opioid crisis, regardless of any personal impact of the crisis on the individual.

Note: This information should be captured in the eligibility case note. Please note that any specific information regarding a participants, friend, or family members experience with opioids may be subject to HIPAA protections and should be placed in a confidential case note.

Option B: Workers Seeking to Enter Professions that Could Help in Addressing the Opioid Crisis and Its Causes

Dislocated workers, new entrants in the workforce, or incumbent workers (currently employed or underemployed) who seek to transition to professions that support individuals struggling with opioid addiction and/or could impact its underlying causes, and who need new or upgraded skills to better serve this population. These individuals are eligible for reskilling or upskilling training activities only in the following professional areas:

  • Addiction and substance-abuse treatment and related services;
  • Pain therapy and pain management services that could reduce or prevent dependence on prescription painkillers; and,
  • Mental health care treatment services for disorders and issues that could lead to or exacerbate opioid abuse and addiction.

Record Eligibility:

Both options: Determine and record eligibility as a dislocated worker, new entrant to the workforce, or incumbent worker.

  • If participant is a Dislocated Worker, perform eligibility screening and record/collect required documentation per your local policy. Co-enrollment into WIOA formula is optional but not required.
  • If a participant is a new entrant to the workforce, record a case note indicating the participant is a new entrant to the workforce and how they meet the criteria.
  • If a participant is an Incumbent Worker, perform eligibility screening and record/collect required documentation per your local policy. Co-enrollment into WIOA formula is optional but not required.

Option A:

Record if the participant is either for a worker directly or indirectly affected by the opioid crisis, or if a participant is a worker seeking to enter a profession that could help in addressing the opioid crisis and its causes, and record the corresponding documentation:

  • If the participant is a worker directly or indirectly affected by the opioid crisis, record one of the following in the case notes:
    • Document via case note if the individual has answered “Yes” to the eligibility question: Do you, a friend, or any member of your family have a history of opioid use? Your answer to this question is voluntary; OR
    • Document via case note the individual works or resides in a community hard-hit by the opioid crisis or can otherwise demonstrate job loss as a result of the opioid crisis, regardless of any personal impact of the crisis on the individual.

Option B:

  • If the participant is a worker seeking to enter a profession that could help in addressing the opioid crisis and its causes, record the profession they wish to pursue and identify which of the three qualifying professional areas (noted above) it falls under in the case note.

Example eligibility case note:

Please refer to your local guidance for specific case note requirements.

Enrollment:

Co-enrollment into other programs is allowed, but not required.

To enroll participants in the Opioid Demonstration DWG PY18-PY19 program:

  1. Create new TouchPoint
  2. Select WIOA Application (even if you aren’t co-enrolling into WIOA formula grant, selective service information is captured here and required for federal reporting)
  3. Select Basic Career Services Only from the drop down menu
    • If you are co-enrolling into a formula grant, record the Full WIOA Eligibilty Application Type per your local policy
  4. Record Selective Service Information, all other questions can be left blank:
  5. Complete the Complaint, Grievance, and Equal Opportunity and Data Collection Signatures tab
  6. Save TouchPoint
  7. Record eligibility case note and follow your local policy for approval to enroll
  8. Once approval for enrollment is received, create new program enrollment TouchPoint
  9. Select Opioid Demonstration DWG PY18-PY19 in the program of enrollment field
  10. Complete all other data elements in program enrollment TouchPoint
  11. Save TouchPoint

Services:

Career, training, and work-based services are allowed. Specific services and strategy guidance to be determined at local level. Up to 10% of funding can be used for supportive services.

Supportive services are allowed, for example:

  • Health, mental health, addiction, or other forms of outpatient treatment that may impact opioid addiction and related, underlying, or complicating conditions;
  • Drug testing for current use of illegal drugs prior to enrollment in career or training services or prior to employment;
  • Linkages to community services, including services offered by partner organizations designed to support grant participants;
  • Referrals to health care, including referrals to drug treatment and mental health services; and,
  • Payments and fees for employment and training-related applications, tests, and certifications.

 

Please note: NHE grants may not be used to pay the costs of in-patient drug treatment and rehabilitation programs.

All of the above support services should be recorded as a Program Support Service (Other).

Example service:

Outcomes:

  1. Create new Outcome, Program Completion TouchPoint
  2. Select Opioid Demonstration DWG PY18-PY19 from active program enrollment dropdown menu
  3. Complete Outcome, Program Completion TouchPoint data elements as appropriate for the participant