1. Individual Service Strategy (ISS) 1 Presented by Will Miles, Quality Assurance Region 2, Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, Florida

2.  Definitions of an ISS  Information on legislation, regulations, and policy  Functions of an ISS  Characteristics of an ISS  Components of an ISS  ISS and Participation  ISS and Objective Assessment  Immediate Needs  From Objective Assessment to the ISS  Action Plan  Communication Plan 2

3.  A individual plan developed for each youth and is based on the objective assessment  (1) Employment goal  (2) Education goal  (3) Appropriate achievement objectives  (4) Appropriate combination of services for the participant based on the objective assessment.  The ISS is a living document that changes over time 3

4.  Should be viewed as an important part of the youth’s development process.  Process of mutually developing, implementing, & revising the plan with the youth  Mutual planning enables youth to develop individual ownership of the plan, and  Through the process the youth learns how to make choices and take actions that lead directly to outcomes.  Implementation of the activities under program elements 4

5.  Every youth participant must have an ISS (WIA §129(c)(1)(B))  The local area may choose to have the ISS developed by the administrative entity or by a service provider selected through competitive bidding (20 CFR 664.405(a)(4))  If appropriate, WIA staff may use an ISS that was developed in conjunction with another education or training program if it was completed within the past 6 months (WIA §129(c)(1)(A)) 5

6.  Provides a structured process to identify  Employment goals that lead to self-sufficiency  Educational goals that will prepare the youth to reach his or her employment goals  Provides a place to document specific solutions and activities that will enable the youth to reach the educational and employment goals 6

7.  Document the appropriateness of decisions made about the activities and services that will help the youth reach his or her goals  Organize a range of information related to the youth in a single place  Plan goals, activities, and outcomes  Monitor the youth’s participation and progress  Record or document achievements and outcomes 7

8.  Serves as planning tool to document appropriateness of decisions made about the mix of services for specific activities  Documents all required youth goals  Documents achievement objectives that leads to academic & occupational success 8

9.  Customized to meet the needs of each youth  Developed jointly by the youth and the career manager  Considers each youth’s strengths and needs  Identifies an initial career goal  Includes a developmentally appropriate sequence of specific activities to meet each youth’s needs and prepare the youth for further activities 9

10.  Clear action statements that are tied to the goals set by the youth & career manager  Timetable for completion of goals  Identification of whom is responsible for providing, obtaining and/or contracting the services for the youth.  A written document 10

11. Identification information Assessment information Short-term & long-term goals Start & end dates Support services Organizations and/or individuals that will provide services & resources Tasks & responsibilities Signatures of youth and case manager 11

12.  Participation in WIA begins when a youth is determined eligible and receives a service  Developing an ISS is considered a service and initiates participation if it is the first service provided after a youth is determined eligible 12

13.  The Objective Assessment identifies needs  An ISS identifies specific activities to meet the needs identified during the objective assessment  The ideal progression is from the Objective Assessment to the ISS… 13

14.  Objective Assessment needs and results:  Basic skills  Prior work experience  Occupational skills  Employability (e.g., Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills [SCANS] skills or other work readiness/life skills) 14

15.  Objective Assessment needs and results:  Occupational interests (including nontraditional occupations)  Occupational aptitudes (including nontraditional occupations)  Supportive service needs  Developmental needs: what a youth needs in order to develop employability and career-related skills in each of the areas above 15

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17.  Immediate needs  Supportive service needs  Developmental needs 17

18.  Develop the ISS and start program activities to meet the youth’s immediate needs – i.e. a place to sleep tonight, transportation, etc.  Expand the ISS later to include additional activities based on the results of the objective assessment 18

19.  Identify benchmarks ◦ Helps the youth reach long-term/short-term employment & educational goals  Benchmarks should: ◦ State outcomes ◦ Be specific ◦ Be realistic  Can Youth reach the benchmark within the time allowed ◦ Be measurable – includes an outcome that can be measured o Be high enough to present a challenge but still be realistic 19

20.  Include small, achievable steps so that the youth can experience success.  Prioritize benchmarks  Set 2-3 benchmarks  Develop benchmarks as a partnership between the youth and the case manager  Include a time for completion for each benchmark 20

21.  Communicate with each youth the way he/she prefers 21  Include frequency of contact in the plan  Communicate at a time the youth prefers

22.  Regular Review with youth both planned & accomplished goals and objectives  Refinement of existing goals, objectives, & action plan  Revise as needed to reflect the changing needs of the youth 22

23.  Developing and implementing an ISS must be a partnership between the youth and the career manager  Both are responsible for taking steps to ensure that the youth succeeds  Must be seen as the youth’s plan, developed with assistance from the career manager  Should not be a plan developed for the youth 23

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25. WILL MILES, Quality Assurance Region 2, Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, Florida PHONE: 850.651.2315, ext 202 E-MAIL wmiles@jobsplus02.com Data and chart were used with the expressed permission of the LearningWork Connection and the Ohio State University Center for Learning Excellence.