Title
Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) Program - Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Arizona Department of Economic Security (Ordinance S-48861)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) through which the City will provide reemployment services to eligible individuals and receive cost reimbursement from ADES. There is no impact to the General Fund as a result of this action. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept funds and the City Controller to disburse funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
ADES has launched the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) Program to partner with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDA) to address the individual needs of Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants to expedite their return to the workforce. On behalf of the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development (PBWD) Board, which oversees the Phoenix LWDA, City Council authorization is requested to contract with ADES to provide reemployment services to Phoenix job seekers and receive cost reimbursement from ADES.
The PBWD Board contracts with the Human Services Department (HSD) for adult workforce development services, which are offered through the City’s three ARIZONA@WORK Job Centers. If City Council authorizes this request, the PBWD Board will amend its contract with HSD to include these services, which mirror the services currently offered.
Through the RESEA Program, ADES staff will identify claimants most likely to exhaust their UI benefits and refer them to HSD for workforce development services. RESEA services will be provided to individuals receiving UI benefits to:
- Reduce the UI benefit duration through improved employment outcomes;
- Strengthen UI program integrity and reduce improper UI payments through the detection and prevention of payments to ineligible individuals;
- Promote alignment with the WIOA vision to increase program integration; and
- Establish the RESEA Program and eligibility assessment as an entry point for UI claimants into other workforce programs.
Reemployment services are designed to help UI claimants be more successful in returning to work sooner, earning higher wages, and retaining their new jobs. All services will be provided in a virtual environment utilizing video conferencing software (example: WebEx, Microsoft Teams) or telephone.
Contract Term
Staff is negotiating the term with ADES. The contract term will be a minimum of six months and a maximum of three years beginning on or about July 1, 2022.
Financial Impact
No Impact to the General Fund as WIOA Grants will be utilized and reimbursed by the State. Expenditures are not to exceed $476,193 over the life of the contract.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer and the Community and Economic Development Department.