Title 25—Indians--Volume 1
PART 26—JOB PLACEMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM
§ 26.1   What terms do I need to know?
As used in this part:
Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
Department means the Department of the Interior.
Gainful Employment means work resulting in self-sufficiency.
Indian means any person who is a member of a federally recognized tribe, including Alaska Natives.
Individual Self-Sufficiency Plan (ISP) means a written plan designed to meet the goal of employment through specific actions that meet the needs of the individual. The plan is jointly developed and is signed by both the applicant and the servicing office. The ISP addresses the client's barriers to employment and a plan of action to address barriers.
Must means a mandatory act or requirement.
On or Near Reservation means those areas or communities adjacent or contiguous to reservations, or service areas where Job Training and Placement programs are provided upon approval of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs or his designated representative. For purposes of this program and services, Alaska is included in this definition.
On-the-Job-Training (OJT) means a written agreement for an employer to provide training to a participant who engages in productive work that provides knowledge or skills essential to the full and adequate performance of the job. The employer receives reimbursement from the Job Training Program for the wage rate of the participant. OJT may be used to meet the goal(s) in the participant's ISP, as long as it does not exceed 24 months.
Permanent Employment means a year-round job or one that re-occurs seasonally, lasting at least 90 days per work season.
Service Area means a location agreed to by the tribe with the Bureau to provide Job Training and Placement Services.
Servicing Office means the Bureau office or the office of the tribal service provider that administers the Job Training and Placement Program.
Tribal Governing Body means the recognized entity empowered to exercise governmental authority over a federally recognized tribe.
Tribal Service Provider means a tribe or tribal organization that administers the Job Training and Placement Program pursuant to Public Law 93-638 or Public Law 102-477.
Tribe means any tribal entity listed in the Federal Register notice that the Secretary of the Interior publishes under Public Law 103-454, 108 Stat. 4791.
Underemployed means an individual who is working but whose income is insufficient to meet essential needs.
Unemployed means an individual who is not currently working or employed.
Unmet need means the difference between available resources and the cost associated with finding gainful employment.
Vocational Training means technical training that leads to permanent and gainful employment.
We , us , or our means the Secretary of the Interior, or an official in the Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, or an official in the Bureau of Indian Affairs to whom the Secretary has delegated authority.
§ 26.2   Who authorizes this collection of information?
The information collection requirements contained in this part have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(d), and assigned OMB clearance number 1076-0062. Response is required to obtain a benefit. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless the form or regulation requesting the information has a currently valid OMB Control Number.
§ 26.3   What is the purpose of the Job Placement and Training Program?
The purpose of the Job Placement and Training Program is to assist eligible applicants to obtain job skills and to find and retain a job leading to self-sufficiency.
§ 26.4   Who administers the Job Placement and Training Program?
The Job Placement and Training Program is administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs or a tribal service provider. Tribes are encouraged to provide services directly to Indians by either entering into a Public Law 93-638 contract with the Bureau or a compact with the Office of Self—Governance. Tribes may also consolidate Job Placement and Training Program funds in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Employment, Training, and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992, Public Law 102-477.
§ 26.5   Who may be eligible for Job Placement and Training?
You may apply for assistance for employment or training if all of the following criteria are met:
(a) You meet the definition of Indian in § 26.1; and
(b) You are residing on or near an Indian reservation or in a service area, or in the agreed contract service area; and
(c) You are unemployed or underemployed or need and can benefit from employment assistance as determined by your servicing office; and
(d) You complete an ISP.
§ 26.6   Who is eligible to receive financial assistance?
Financial assistance is only available to persons:
(a) Approved for training that will lead to permanent, gainful and meaningful employment; or
(b) Who have obtained a job and need financial assistance to retain the job, as determined by the servicing office.
§ 26.7   How is financial need established?
You must show that current income and other available resources are not sufficient to meet employment or training goals.
§ 26.8   Where do I go to apply for Job Placement and Training assistance?
You may apply for Job Placement and Training assistance at the servicing office nearest to your current residence.
§ 26.9   How do I apply for assistance?
(a) You should contact the BIA office or the tribal service provider which is nearest to your current residence to get an application form;
(b) You must complete the application process as established by your servicing office; and
(c) You must complete and sign a comprehensive ISP (or an individual development plan (IDP) or employment development plan (EDP), which are synonymous with an ISP).
§ 26.10   When will I find out if I have been selected for Job Placement and Training assistance?
(a) Your servicing office will notify you in writing within 30 calendar days once it receives a completed job training application request; or
(b) Your servicing office will notify you within 5 business days once it has received a completed Job Placement application and written job offer.
§ 26.11   What type of Job Placement and Training assistance may be approved?
Services provided may include funding for employment, training or supplemental assistance that supports job placement or training activities (see subpart B of this part for Job Placement or subpart C of this part for Training Services).
§ 26.12   Who provides the Job Placement and Training?
The Bureau or a tribal service provider may enter into contracts or agreements to provide facilities and services required for vocational training programs with:
(a) Indian tribal governing bodies or, when approved by the tribal service provider, other provider of meaningful training programs not currently operated by the tribe;
(b) Appropriate Federal, State, or local government agencies;
(c) Public or private schools with a recognized reputation in vocational education and successfully obtaining employment for graduates;
(d) Education firms that operate residential training centers; and
(e) Corporations and associations or small business establishments with apprenticeship or on-the-job training (OJT) programs leading to skilled employment.
§ 26.13   How long may I be in training and how long can I receive other assistance?
(a) Your training at any approved institution, apprenticeship, and/or OJT must not exceed 24 months of full-time actual training hours.
(b) Registered nurse training must not exceed 36 months of full actual training hours.
(c) You may receive other financial assistance under this program determined by your ISP that you have developed with your tribal service provider.
§ 26.14   What or who is a service provider?
A service provider is an administrative unit of a BIA Regional Office, a BIA Agency Office, a BIA Field Office, a Tribal contracted office, or Alaska Native federally recognized tribe, or a tribal organization, that provides grants to help offset the cost of vocational or technical training (at approved places), or immediate job placement services. To the extent resources will allow, other kinds of support service may also be available.
§ 26.15   What makes an applicant eligible for Job Placement and Training services?
You are eligible for services if:
(a) You meet the definition of an American Indian or Alaska Native; and
(b) Either:
(1) You can demonstrate an unmet need and show a need for job training or placement services in order to become gainfully and meaningfully employed; or
(2) You are skilled, but need financial assistance to get to a job, and you show an aptitude and potential to benefit from services.
§ 26.16   If I am awarded financial assistance, how much will I receive?
(a) The amount of financial assistance you receive depends on your unmet needs. If applicable, you should apply for:
(1) A Pell Grant if your training institution offers this grant; and
(2) Other education grants or loans for which you may qualify.
(b) The Bureau or tribal service provider will award financial assistance up to the level of your unmet need to the extent resources are available. It is possible that the combination of available financial assistance will not equal your financial need.
§ 26.17   Can more than one family member be financially assisted at the same time?
Yes, more than one family member can be assisted, providing that each applicant is eligible.
§ 26.18   What kinds of supportive services are available?
The BIA or tribal service provider may provide, but is not limited to, the following supportive services:
(a) Assistance in completing an application and the provision of supporting documents;
(b) A description of the Job Placement and Training Program and related services;
(c) An assessment of eligibility;
(d) An assessment of need for employment services (or a combination of training and employment services);
(e) The creation of an ISP (which may include training and other support services);
(f) Counseling services that address cultural differences and strengthen probability of client success;
(g) Referral to other appropriate services;
(h) Youth work experience;
(i) Tools for employment;
(j) Initial union dues;
(k) Transportation of household effects;
(l) Security and safety deposits;
(m) Items to improve personal appearance such as professional work clothing;
(n) If required, kitchen and other household effects including bedding and appliances; and
(o) Childcare.
§ 26.19   Will I be required to contribute financially to my employment and training goals?
Yes, the Job Placement and Training Program clients are required to seek other funding, including the use of personal resources as a condition of their ISP.
§ 26.20   Can I be required to return portions of my grant?
Yes, grants are awarded for a specific purpose as described in the applicant's ISP. If the funds cannot be spent according to the ISP, the unused portion must be returned to the service provider's job placement and training budget.
§ 26.21   Can this program be combined with other similar programs for maximum benefit?
Yes, combining this program with other programs is encouraged, to the extent that laws governing program services permit partnering with similar programs and resources.
§ 26.22   May a tribe integrate Job Placement and Training funds into its Public Law 102-477 Plan?
Yes, Indian tribes may integrate Job Placement and Training Program funds into their Public Law 102-477 Plan.
§ 26.23   What is an Individual Self-Sufficiency Plan (ISP)?
(a) An ISP is a document that:
(1) Spells out the details necessary for a person to assume a meaningful job (usually within a reasonable period of time);
(2) Supplements the application process and includes needed finances, special clothing, transportation, and support services necessary for employment;
(3) Identifies all financial resources and defines the employment or training objective and activities planned to reach the objective; and
(4) Outlines how the applicant will participate in job placement, where resources will allow.
(b) The employer's job information and offer should be attached to the ISP, which becomes a part of the application (and supporting documents).
(c) The ISP must indicate that the services received will meet the individual's and tribal goals.
(d) Only one comprehensive ISP can be in effect for each applicant at one time. The comprehensive ISP should be coordinated and integrated with other programs offered by the servicing agency.
§ 26.24   What is the scope of the Job Placement Program?
The Job Placement Program assists Indian people who have job skills to obtain and retain gainful employment leading to self-sufficiency.
§ 26.25   What constitutes a complete Job Placement Program application?
To be complete, a Job Placement Program application must contain all of the items required by this section.
(a) An application signed by the applicant and servicing office representative.
(b) An ISP, including a list of goods and services needed to get the applicant to the job, signed by the applicant and servicing representative.
(c) An accepted official document that shows the formal relationship between the applicant and a federally recognized tribe or a document that shows an applicant's eligibility for services.
(d) A statement by the service provider that the applicant has been declared eligible for services.
(e) A financial statement that reflects the applicant's unmet need.
(f) An employer certification that the applicant has been hired. The certification must include, at a minimum:
(1) Job title;
(2) Beginning date;
(3) Beginning wage;
(4) Date first full paycheck will be issued; and
(5) Expected duration of the job.
§ 26.26   What Job Placement services may I receive?
As determined by the service provider, you may receive transportation to work for a limited period, funds to finalize your job resume, and job placement assistance.
§ 26.27   What kind of Job Placement support services can I expect?
Service office representatives will make the determination of what support services are necessary and to be funded. Examples of job placement support services include, but are not limited to resume preparation, interview techniques, job retention, and related living skills.
§ 26.28   What follow-up services are available after I become employed?
As determined by the service provider, the following type of services may be available: Temporary housing, transportation to work for a limited period of time, work clothing, and childcare.
§ 26.29   What is the scope of the Job Training Program?
A service provider may offer career counseling, assessment, recommend training institutions that properly prepare applicants for entry into their career field, and help prepare applicants for gainful employment to the extent program funding will allow and based on applicants' established need.
§ 26.30   Does the Job Training Program provide part-time training or short-term training?
Yes, part-time and short-term training are allowable provided the training assists individuals to develop skills necessary to acquire gainful employment, in accordance with the ISP, and depending upon availability of resources. Part-time means no less than six credit units per semester (based on a nine-month school year).
§ 26.31   May I repeat my training?
Eligibility for repeat training and other financial assistance will be determined by your tribal service provider.
§ 26.32   What constitutes a complete Job Training Program application?
A request for training includes:
(a) Intake and application data;
(b) Feasible, comprehensive ISP;
(c) Tribal affiliation document;
(d) Selective Service registration;
(e) Selected place of training;
(f) Statement of financial need;
(g) Statement of eligibility; and
(h) Applicant assessment or other documents as required by the servicing agency.
§ 26.33   How do I show I need job training?
The need for Job Placement and Training is shown by completing an application for training that demonstrates financial need.
§ 26.34   What type of job training assistance may be approved?
The following types of training that lead to gainful employment may be approved:
(a) Nationally accredited vocational training;
(b) Training and non-accredited vocational courses provided by a tribe;
(c) Training programs not operated by the tribe but approved by the service provider;
(d) Apprenticeship training supervised by a State apprenticeship agency or council or by the Federal Apprenticeship Training Service that is provided by a corporation or association that has been training bona fide apprentices for at least one year or any other apprenticeship program approved by the service provider; or
(e) OJT offered by a public or private business.
§ 26.35   What kind of support services are available to me?
As determined by the service provider, training support services include, but are not limited to, stipends, transportation, and childcare.
§ 26.36   What follow-up service is available after I complete training?
Job Placement assistance may follow training.
§ 26.37   Are there training standards that I must follow?
Yes, students must maintain the minimum academic requirements and be in good standing as set forth by the training institute. If an applicant is separated from training for good cause, the applicant may be responsible for repaying any portion of misused funds.
§ 26.38   May I appeal a decision about my application?
If the servicing agency denies your application you may appeal under part 2 of this chapter by sending your appeal to your service provider. If your servicing agency is a tribal contractor, you should file your appeal with the tribal contractor under their established procedure. The letter informing you of the decision on your application will include information on how to appeal.