Youth Forward

Please review each section below

Contacts

Latoya K. Bennett
Program Administrator
lbennett@ucnj.org
908-558-2525

Jasmine Sowah
Senior Youth Career Counselor
jasmine.sowah@ucnj.org
908-558-2523

Edna Aristilde
Youth Career Counselor
edna.aristilde@ucnj.org
908-558-2521

Ashley Mooney
Youth Career Counselor
ashley.mooney@ucnj.org
908-558-2536

About the Program

Youth Forward is a full service program designed to help both in and out of school youth reach their educational and employment goals.

This comprehensive program achieves this by utilizing a comprehensive, collaborative approach to creating opportunities for youth.

As a result, these youth can then acquire the necessary life skills, education, work exposure and experiences to enable them to have productive careers and become responsible family members and citizens.

About the WIOA

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program provides services to low-income youth, ages 14-24, who face barriers to employment. Services strategies developed by New Jersey’s Workforce providers, prepare youth for employment and / or post-secondary education through strong linkages between academic and occupational learning.

Strategies must incorporate one or more of the 14 required youth program elements. These elements are:

Eligibility

Out-of-School Youth

An out-of-school youth (OSY) is an individual who is:

  1. Not attending any school (as defined under NJ State law);
  2. Not younger than 16 or older than age 24 at time of enrollment. Because age eligibility is based on age at enrollment, participants may continue to receive services beyond the age of 24 once they are enrolled in the program; and
  3. One or more of the following:
    1. A school dropout;
    2. A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter. School year calendar quarter is based on how a local school district defines its school year quarters. In cases where schools do not use quarters, local programs must use calendar year quarters;
    3. A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is a low income individual and is either basic skills deficient or an English language learner;
    4. An offender;
    5. A homeless individual (as defined in sec. 41403(6) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, a homeless child or youth (as defined in sec. 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, or a runaway;
    6. An individual in foster care or who has aged out of the foster care system, or who has attained 16 years of age and left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption; a child eligible for assistance under sec. 477 of the Social Security Act, or in an out-of-home placement;
    7. An individual who is pregnant or parenting;
    8. An individual with a disability;
    9. A low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment. (20 CFR 681.210)

In-School Youth

An in-school youth (ISY) is an individual who is:

  1. Attending school (as defined by State law), including secondary and post-secondary school;
  2. Not younger than age 14 or (unless an individual with a disability who is attending school under State law) older than age 21 at time of enrollment. Because age eligibility is based on age at enrollment, participants may continue to receive services beyond the age of 21 once they are enrolled in the program;
  3. A low-income individual; and
  4. One or more of the following:
    1. Basic skills deficient in reading and writing English
    2. An English language learner;
    3. An offender;
    4. A homeless individual (as defined in sec. 41403(6) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, a homeless child or youth (as defined in sec. 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act , or a runaway;
    5. An individual in foster care or who has aged out of the foster care system or who has attained 16 years of age and left  foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption, a child eligible for assistance under sec. 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677), or in an out-of-home placement;
    6. An individual who is pregnant or parenting;
    7. An individual with a disability;
    8. An individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment. (20 CFR 681.220)

Eligibility Categories and Supporting Documents

ALL OSY MUST

  • NOT attending ANY school
  • Be 16-24 years old when enrolled

MUST CHECK ONE

School Dropout

  • School records/school letter
  • Self Cert/ (Form D)

Homeless/Runaway

  • Letter from Shelter
  • Letter from Social Service Agency
  • Self Cert/ (Form D)

Youth Offender

  • Letter from justice systems
  • Self Cert/ (Form D)

Foster Care

  • Letter from Social Service Agency

Single Parent/Pregnant

  • Childs Birth Certificate
  • Childs Baptismal Record
  • Medical record proving pregnancy

Proof of low income (must select one):

  • Public Assistance Letter
  • SNAP/TANF records
  • SSI Benefits Letter
  • VA Benefits Letter
  • Unemployment Docs (LOOPS)
  • Employer Letter
  • Pay Stubs- Last 30 days
  • Housing Authority Letter
  • Free Lunch Letter
  • Census tract printout-304,306,317,319,04,389,393

**With Low Income you MUST select ONE

Disabled-Mental/Physical/Learning

  • Letter from Physician/ Medical Records
  • Rehabilitation Letter
  • Letter from Veterans Admin
  • Letter from Social Service Agency

Basic Skills Deficit

  • CASAS Below 8.9
  • School Records
  • Title II Adult Ed. Enrollment

Needs Additional Assistance- letter of proof

  • Lives in public housing
  • Refugees or immigrant
  • Serious emotional medical or psychological barriers
  • Substance abuse services needed
  • Parent/guardian is incarcerated

All ISY Must Be Low Income

Please select one

  • Public Assistance Letter
  • Snap/TANF records
  • SSI Benefits Letter
  • VA Benefits Letter
  • Unemployment DOCS (LOOPS)
  • Employer Letter
  • Pay Stubs-Last 30 Days
  • Housing Authority Letter
  • Free Lunch Letter
  • Census tract printout-304,306,317,319,04,389,393

MUST CHECK ONE

English Language Learner

  • School Records
  • Self Cert/ (Form D)

Homeless/Runaway

  • Letter from shelter
  • Letter from Social Service Agency
  • Self Cert/ Form D

Youth Offender

  • Letter from justice system
  • Self Cert/ Form D

Foster Care

  • Letter from Social Service Agency

Single Parent/Pregnant

  • Childs birth certificate
  • Child Baptismal Record
  • Medical record proving pregnancy

Disabled-Mental/Physical/Learning

  • Letter from Physician/ Medical Records
  • Rehabilitation Letter
  • Letter from Veterans Admin
  • Letter from Social Service Agency

Basic Skills Deficit

  • CASAS Below 8.9
  • School Records
  • Title II Adult Ed. enrollment

Documentation Desk Aid

Except where specified, only one document per criteria is required

School Dropout

  • Record from Education Institution
  • Self-certification

Has Not Attended School for at Least Most Recent Complete School Year Calendar Quarter

  • Record from Education Institution
  • Self-certification

Basic Skills Deficient

  • Objective Assessment Scores in file and recorded in AOSOS
  • School Records
  • Title II Adult Education Enrollment Documentation

English Language Learner

Requires documentation of two criteria. All participants certified as “English Language Learner” must meet the Limited Ability to Read, Writer, Speak, or Comprehend English criterion AND either “Native Language Other than English” OR “Lives in Family/or Community Environment Where Language Other Than English is Dominant Language.”

Limited Ability to Read, Write, Speak or Comprehended the English Language

  • Objective Assessment (Must in file and scores entered into AOSOS) OR
  • School Records

Native Language is Language Other than English

  • School Records
  • Self-certification

OR

Lives in Family or Community Environment Where Language Other Than English Dominant Language

  • School Records
  • Self-certification

Homeless or Runaway

  • Written Statement from an Individual Providing Temporary Residence
  • Written Statement from Shelter
  • Written Statement from Social Service Agency
  • Self-Certification

Foster Child

  • Written Confirmation From Social Services Agency

Pregnant or Parenting

  • Copy of Child’s Birth Certificate
  • Copy of Baptismal Record
  • Self-certification

Offender

  • Documentation from juvenile or adult criminal justice system
  • Self-certification

Disability

  • Letter from Drug or Alcohol Rehabilitation Agency
  • Letter/Individual Education Plan from Child Study Team Stating Specific Disability
  • Medical Records
  • Observable Condition (Applicant Statement needed)
  • Physician’s Statement/Psychologist’s Diagnosis
  • Rehabilitation Evaluation
  • School Records
  • Sheltered Workshop Certification
  • Social Security Administration Disability Records
  • Social Service Records/Referral
  • Veterans Administration Letter/Records
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Letter
  • Workers Compensation Records

Requires Assistance to Complete an Educational Program or Secure and Hold Employment

To be identified by the WDB in the local plan

  • Assessment/Test Results (as applicable)
  • School Records (as applicable)
  • Self-certification (as applicable)
  • Other Documentation Pertinent to the Criterion as established by local board policy

Selective Service Compliance

  • Selective Service Acknowledgment Letter
  • Form DD-214 “Report of Separation”
  • Screen printout of Selective Service Verification site 
  • Selective Service Registration Card
  • Selective Service Verification Form (Form 3A)
  • Stamped Post Office Receipt of Registration
  • See Selective Service, pg. 16 for additional information

Veteran Status

  • DD-214

Eligible Spouse of Veteran

  • DD-214
  • Death Certificate
  • Veterans’ Administration Documentation of Disability

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

  • Social Security Benefits Record
  • Public Assistance Record
  • Public Assistance Database Printout

Other Public Assistance

  • Public Assistance Records
  • Public Assistance Database Printout
  • Public Assistance Check
  • Refugee Assistance Records

Family Size

  • Birth Certificate(s)
  • Court/Divorce Decree
  • Landlord Statement
  • Lease
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Medical Card
  • Most Recent Tax Return Supported by IRS Documents (e.g. Form 1722)
  • Public Assistance/Social Service Agency Records
  • Alien Registration Cards
  • Written Statement from a Publicly Supported 24-hour Care Facility
  • Self-Certification

Income – Individual and Family

  • Alimony Agreement
  • Applicant statement (Individual with little or no income, only)
  • Award Letter from Veterans Administration or copy of check
  • Bank Statements (Direct Deposit)
  • Compensation Award Letter
  • Court Award Letter
  • Employer Statement/Contact
  • Farm or Business Financial Records
  • Housing Authority Verification
  • Pay Stubs
  • Pension Statement
  • Public Assistance Records/Printout
  • Quarterly Estimated Tax for Self-Employed Persons (Schedule C)
  • Social Security Benefits
  • Unemployment Insurance Documents and/or Printout (LOOPS)

Free or Reduced-Price Lunch

  • School Records Showing Eligibility for Free/Reduced-price Lunch-
  • Records Showing Entire School. District Eligible for Free/Reduced-price Lunch

Resident of High Poverty Area

  • Proof of residence in census tract with poverty rate of 25% or greater*
  • *See list of relevant census tracts and instructions that follow.

Poverty Guidelines

2022 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia

For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,720 for each additional person.

Persons in family/householdPoverty guideline
1$13,590
2$18,310
3$23,030
4$27,750
5$32,470
6$37,190
7$41,910
8$46,630

Application Process

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