Integrating TAA and WIOA dislocated worker services

CLASSIFICATION
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION                  Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance
               ADVISORY SYSTEM                             CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                         OTAA
             Washington, D.C. 20210                        DATE
                                                           October 29, 2020

ADVISORY:        TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE LETTER NO. 4-20

TO:              STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES
                 STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS
                 AFFILIATE AMERICAN JOB CENTER MANAGERS
                 COMPREHENSIVE AMERICAN JOB CENTER MANAGERS
                 STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORS
                 STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD CHAIRS AND DIRECTORS
                 STATE LABOR COMMISSIONERS
                 STATE UI DIRECTORS
                 RAPID RESPONSE COORDINATORS
                 TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE LEADS

FROM:            JOHN PALLASCH
                 Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:         Guidance on Integrating Services for Trade-Affected Workers under the Trade
                 Adjustment Assistance Program (TAA Program) with the Workforce Innovation
                 and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Dislocated Worker (DW) Program

1. Purpose. To promote the integration and coordination of services provided under the TAA
   Program in alignment with services provided under the WIOA DW program in support of a
   One Workforce System.

2. Action Requested. State Workforce Agencies (SWAs or states) are asked to distribute this
   information to the appropriate state and local staff, update policies and procedures to align
   with the requirements described in this guidance, and ensure states adhere to a seamless
   service delivery model for dislocated workers including those who may be trade-affected.

3. Summary and Background.

   a. Summary – WIOA emphasizes integrating services to better serve workforce customers.
      The TAA Final Rule furthers this effort by providing staffing flexibilities and requiring
      the co-enrollment of trade-affected workers with the WIOA DW program. Such co-
      enrollment advances a One Workforce System approach that integrates multiple
      programs to holistically meet the needs of workers and businesses at any point in the
      economic cycle. The TAA Program, which includes the TAA for Workers and the
      Reemployment TAA (RTAA) programs, provides assistance to workers who have been

 RESCISSIONS                                              EXPIRATION DATE
 None                                                     Continuing

          adversely affected by foreign trade.1 The TAA Program’s mission is to get trade-affected
          workers back to suitable employment as quickly as possible and at a reasonable cost.

      b. Background – The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) published a Final
         Rule implementing the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015 on
         August 21, 2020, (85 FR 51896). The TAA Final Rule is codified at 20 CFR Part 618
         and became effective on September 21, 2020. Section 618.325 mandates co-enrollment
         between the TAA Program and WIOA DW program and strongly encourages co-
         enrollment in other programs to ensure coordinated services for trade-affected workers.

          Similar to the TAA Program, the WIOA DW program is designed to help dislocated
          workers overcome barriers to employment and return to work as quickly as possible.
          When individuals become dislocated workers due to job loss, mass layoffs, global trade
          dynamics, or transitions in economic sectors, the WIOA DW program provides services
          to assist them in re-entering the workforce. Services for dislocated workers include
          career, training, and supportive services to help them re-enter the workforce and are
          provided through the American Job Center (AJC) network.

          Identifying barriers to reemployment and providing services to assist with getting trade-
          affected workers back to work is critical. Subpart C of the TAA Final Rule describes the
          employment and case management services that states must make available to trade-
          affected workers, either directly through the TAA Program or through arrangements with
          partner programs. To ensure states have the flexibility to make these services available,
          20 CFR 618.890 removed the requirement that states must utilize state merit staff to
          provide TAA-funded employment and case management services.

          WIOA serves as a key driver in the transformation of how workforce development
          programs working together can provide the best possible integrated service delivery. As
          states and local areas undergo the various stages to re-open their economies and deliver
          workforce services that will fuel recovery and effectively address acute unemployment
          challenges, the public workforce system has an opportunity to further advance the vision
          of a One Workforce System – an aligned, flexible, and simplified state and local-driven
          system of workforce development programs that bring all partners together with a shared
          goal of enhancing service delivery for American workers and jobseekers.

          ETA issued guidance on March 20, 2020, to inform the state and local workforce
          development system of the policies and priorities that govern the award and use of
          National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) funds, pursuant to WIOA, Title I, Section 170
          (see Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 12-19).2 DWGs are time-
          limited funding assistance in response to major economic dislocations or other events that
          cause significant impact on states and local areas that exceed the capacity of existing

1
    Also includes the Alternative TAA (ATAA) program, when in effect.
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    wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=9054

          formula funds and other relevant resources to address. ETA considers DWGs to be
          supplemental resources that provide flexibility to states and communities in responding to
          and recovering from unexpected events that cause large-scale job loss that exceed the
          capacity of the state or local area to address with WIOA DW program resources. TEGL
          No. 12-19 encourages DWG co-enrollment with the TAA Program and no longer
          requires a separate DWG application to cover trade-affected workers. Instead, trade-
          affected workers may be served under Employment Recovery DWGs as applicable.

          ETA strongly encourages co-enrollment with appropriate programs for eligible
          individuals, including those who are trade-affected. Employment Recovery DWGs may
          provide DWG participants who are trade-affected with allowable services not otherwise
          provided by the TAA Program. Generally, the TAA Program provides employment and
          case management services, training, income support, and job search and relocation
          allowances for eligible adversely affected workers and employment and case
          management services and training for eligible adversely affected incumbent workers.

4. Co-enrollment Requirements in the TAA Final Rule. Co-enrollment of trade-affected
   workers in the WIOA DW program is a proven successful service delivery model yielding
   better outcome result for participants.3 Section 618.325 of the TAA Final Rule requires co-
   enrollment between the TAA Program and WIOA DW program if a trade-affected worker is
   eligible for the WIOA DW program. Additionally, section 121 of WIOA designates the
   TAA Program as a required one-stop partner and 20 CFR 618.305 directs states to ensure the
   TAA Program complies with WIOA’s one-stop partnership requirements, which include,
   among other requirements, paying infrastructure costs where the TAA Program is being
   carried out. Cross-training of case managers and other staff is important for successful
   integration and to ensure knowledge and understanding of all partner program requirements.
   Also of note are requirements in 20 CFR 618.860(i) for states to dedicate an appropriate
   portion of administrative and employment and case management funding under TAA for
   management information systems development, upgrades, and ongoing maintenance. The
   Department encourages states to consider adopting integrated case management systems.
   TAA funds can be used to pay for a proportional share of integrated systems.

      In addition to the required co-enrollment with the WIOA DW program, based on the needs of
      the trade-affected worker, co-enrollment can be further enhanced and expanded to include a
      broad range of services available through other workforce programs in order to produce
      successful outcomes. Such programs may include, but are not limited to, Wagner-Peyser Act
      Employment Service (ES) activities, WIOA Adult program, WIOA DWGs, Unemployment
      Insurance (UI), other WIOA partner programs, faith-based and community-based programs,
      vocational rehabilitation services, and services for veterans. Partnerships can be facilitated at
      the state and local board level, as their leadership is critical to the success of co-enrollment.

      To improve program coordination and co-enrollment, ETA has issued several resources on
      the TAA website including two fact sheets discussing perceived barriers titled Perceived

3
    www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa-data/participant-reporting/docs/Co-Enrollment_FAQ-1.pdf

Barriers of Cost & Performance and Perceived Barriers of Differing Eligibility & Benefit
Service Provision that include examples of barriers that may arise and their potential
solutions. They are located at www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/tradeact/practitioners/benefits.

a. One Workforce System: The One Workforce System embraces a culture of a united
   workforce, so that any customer that walks into any AJC can be served by any staff. This
   allows all the resources and tools associated with all those programs to be instantly
   responsive to dislocated workers and dislocation surges. With the staffing flexibilities
   provided in 20 CFR 618.690, ETA envisions states posting jobs (or soliciting contracts)
   for staff to be crossed trained in ES, WIOA, and the TAA programs. States and local
   workforce development boards may issue contracts for combined services. Each local
   area is encouraged to have cross-trained staff providing TAA, ES, and/or WIOA
   employment and case management services. There is no longer a need for there to be
   local staff providing WIOA, state staff providing ES, and separate state staff providing
   TAA.

   This model gives states maximum flexibility to plan for changes in workload and shift as
   workload changes. For example, if a state or local area suffers a major dislocation, they
   have the utmost ability to react and address worker needs and 100 cross-trained staff are
   far more nimble and effective than 33 TAA staff, 33 ES staff, and 34 WIOA staff.

b. Early Intervention: The timely provision of career services to trade-affected workers is
   an important step toward improving the employment outcomes for such workers. While
   the TAA Program has specific criteria that must be met if trade-affected workers are to
   take full advantage of the benefits and services of the program, these criteria do not
   prevent provision of immediate assistance from the WIOA DW or other programs to
   individuals, or potential trade-affected workers, who are members of a group of workers
   who are the subject of a petition filed for TAA, but are pending a petition determination.
   One of the features of an integrated system is a comprehensive approach to addressing
   the needs of trade-affected or potential trade-affected workers immediately from when
   they receive notice of a layoff through successful reemployment. By leveraging the
   programs discussed below, trade-affected and potential trade-affected workers can
   receive the services they need upon notice of a layoff, before or at the point a TAA
   petition is filed for the group of workers, and while a petition is under investigation:

   Required Partnerships

   WIOA Rapid Response — provides early intervention services, where applicable. Early
   intervention services that will be beneficial to trade-affected and potential trade-affected
   workers may include orientation; information on unemployment benefits; assistance in
   filing a petition for TAA or information about TAA benefits and services; worker
   surveys; initial assessment of skill levels, aptitudes, and abilities; the provision of labor
   market information; job search assistance; soft-skills instruction; and financial
   management workshops, among others. See the WIOA Final Rule at 20 CFR Part 682,

          Subpart C of the TAA Final Rule, and TEGL No. 19-16, Section 18 for more information
          on Rapid Response.4

          WIOA DW Program — provides employment and training services to eligible workers
          who have lost, or are close to losing, their job, regardless of whether that job loss is
          related to trade. The TAA Final Rule at 20 CFR 618.325(a)(1) requires states to co-
          enroll trade-affected workers with the WIOA DW program, if the worker is eligible.5
          WIOA requires partnerships between programs, specifically that TAA Program benefits
          and services be available in the AJCs alongside WIOA DW services and other WIOA
          partner programs. ETA recommends states determine if a potential trade-affected worker
          is eligible for the WIOA DW program immediately following the announcement of a
          layoff to begin the provision of WIOA services as soon as possible. This is particularly
          critical due to the time lapse that could occur while awaiting TAA petition
          determinations.

          Immediately beginning the process of intake and initial assessment improves
          participation rates and allows both trade-affected and potential trade-affected workers
          more time to consider all of the options available to them.6 By enrolling potential trade-
          affected workers in WIOA DW prior to a TAA petition being certified, states can ensure
          they meet the co-enrollment requirement in 20 CFR 618.325(a)(1). If a TAA petition
          results in a negative determination, or denial, the individual previously thought to be a
          potential trade-affected worker would not be eligible for the TAA Program but would
          continue on as a dislocated worker in the WIOA DW program.

          Table 1: Timing of Services for WIOA Rapid Response (RR) and DW
          WIOA RR and DW services to trade-        WIOA RR and DW services to potential
          affected workers can be provided:        trade-affected workers can be provided:
           ● prior to the time of layoff           ● prior to the time of layoff
           ● at the same time the worker is        ● after a TAA petition is filed and before a
           participating in the TAA Program        determination is rendered

          Additional Opportunities to Align Workforce Programs

          ES program — provides universal access to all job seekers, and serves as a key entry
          point into the AJC network. In many situations, unemployed job seekers receive ES
          services and, as appropriate, are referred to other WIOA partner programs based on their

4
    wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?docn=3851
5
 A trade-affected worker has the option of declining co-enrollment with the WIOA DW program.
However, states cannot deny such workers benefits or services under the TAA Program solely because
such worker declined to be co-enrolled.
6
    www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa-data/participant-reporting/docs/Co-Enrollment_FAQ-2.pdf

          service needs. By partnering with the ES program, both the WIOA DW and TAA
          programs can provide enhanced services to trade-affected workers. For more information
          on the ES program, please visit www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/american-job-centers/wagner-
          peyser.

          Employment Recovery DWG Projects — authorized under section 170 of WIOA, expand
          WIOA DW funding to states and other eligible applicants to respond to large, unexpected
          layoff events causing significant job losses. DWGs can provide much needed assistance
          to trade-affected and potential trade-affected workers when WIOA funds are not
          sufficient to meet the needs of local areas when large or unexpected layoffs occur.

          DWG project funds are available to assist trade-affected and potential trade-affected
          workers so that the duration of unemployment is minimized and workers receive the
          skills training needed for available jobs. If co-enrolled with a DWG, trade-affected
          workers can be served using a combination of TAA Program and DWG funds, but
          potential trade-affected workers can only be served using DWG and WIOA DW funds, as
          they are not yet eligible for the TAA Program.

          TAA Program, WIOA DW, and DWG co-enrollment may provide trade-affected workers
          with career and supportive services that are not available through the TAA Program.
          And DWG co-enrollment can be used to provide potential trade-affected workers with
          career, training, and supportive services when state WIOA DW funds are not sufficient to
          provide such services. Eligible trade-affected workers may receive DWG-funded
          training only if the available training is not covered by the TAA Program, as is covered in
          more detail in 4.b. Coordination of Funding Sources, below. DWG and TAA funds must
          be managed in a coordinated manner to best meet the needs of the trade-affected workers
          while abiding by all applicable statutes, regulations, and federal policies. The DWG
          project guidance, TEGL No. 12-19, provides more details on the circumstances for
          provision of training.7

          Table 2: Available Services through Employment Recovery DWG Projects
           Services to trade-affected workers can     Services to potential trade-affected
           include:                                   workers can include:
           ● only career and supportive services that ● career and supportive services
           are not available through the TAA
           Program
           ● training only when not covered by the    ● training
           TAA Program

      c. Transition to TAA Program Funding: As trade-affected workers begin to formulate
         reemployment plans and require additional services, state and local staff responsible for
         Rapid Response, AJC, and other partner programs should continue to coordinate program
         resources to address the needs of such workers while maximizing the limited resources

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    wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=9054

   available within the system. The TAA Final Rule’s staffing flexibility at 20 CFR
   618.890 may make this coordination easier, as now there may be local staff teams funded
   with WIOA DW and TAA who can serve both programs’ participants.

   Coordination of Funding Sources — ETA expects states to set policies and manage
   processes to coordinate all relevant employment and training programs’ services to all
   workers, including trade-affected and potential trade-affected workers, through the AJC
   network, including the WIOA DW, DWG, and TAA programs, in order to best meet the
   needs of the workers. States and local areas can braid funding to facilitate different
   programs providing services to the same individual and some states and local areas have
   already done this. States and local areas need to be aware of relevant statutes and
   regulations when braiding funding as the funds, although they are used together, are still
   subject to all of the requirements and restrictions of the original funding source.

   The Trade Act, as amended, allows states to pay for a training program approved under
   the Act with TAA funds or from other sources, but does not allow duplication of payment
   of training costs. (See 20 CFR 618.625.) Under certain circumstances, a state can use
   funding from more than one program to fund training; however, TAA funds can only
   reimburse training costs incurred after a trade-affected worker was certified and
   determined individually eligible for TAA, and that training must be TAA-approved.
   Additionally, 20 CFR 618.625(c) requires that the TAA Program be the primary source
   of assistance to trade-affected workers. To the extent trade-affected workers enrolled in
   the TAA Program require assistance or services not authorized under the TAA Program,
   or for which TAA Program funds are unavailable or insufficient (including for required
   employment and case management services), states must provide such assistance through
   other federal programs, including the programs in the AJC network.

d. Intake, Initial and Comprehensive Assessments, and IEPs: Subpart C of the TAA
   Final Rule codifies provisions for intake (20 CFR 618.310(b)(1)); initial assessments (20
   CFR 618.335); comprehensive and specialized assessments (20 CFR 618.345); and
   Individual Employment Plans (IEPs) (20 CFR 618.350). Sec. 235 of the Trade Act, as
   amended, also requires states to provide, if appropriate, specific employment and case
   management services to trade-affected workers. Therefore, states must determine a
   worker’s skills, employment barriers and service needs through assessments and identify
   appropriate employment goals.

   States must provide all trade-affected workers an initial assessment after determining
   they are individually eligible for the TAA Program as part of the intake process. Intake
   includes these assessments but also the collection of demographic information for
   reporting purposes. The TAA Final Rule, at 20 CFR 618.350, requires case managers to
   use the results of a worker’s initial assessment as part of developing an IEP. Using the
   initial assessment to create the IEP requires the state to review the worker’s skills,
   aptitudes, abilities, and supportive service needs. Through the IEP, the state will
   document a strategy to provide the worker with the services needed to obtain
   employment and calibrate the worker’s skills to available employment and workforce
   reentry. States must inform trade-affected workers of the availability of an IEP to

          identify employment goals and objectives, and appropriate training and services needed
          to achieve those goals and objectives.

          The initial assessment must include an evaluation of a trade-affected worker’s skill levels
          (including literacy, numeracy, and English language proficiency), aptitudes, abilities
          (including skills gaps), and supportive service needs. States must make trade-affected
          workers aware of, such as by explaining, the advantages of receiving an initial
          assessment to trade-affected workers and also confirm that a worker may refuse an
          assessment, such as in cases where the worker already has an offer for a suitable job. The
          initial assessment must be scheduled timely in order to give trade-affected workers
          enough time and information to consider, request, and enroll in training or obtain a
          waiver of the training requirement for Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) before
          expiration of the 26-week deadlines for enrollment in training.

          States must make available a comprehensive and specialized assessment to all trade-
          affected workers. It must take into account the trade-affected worker’s goals and
          interests as they relate to employment opportunities and it must expand upon the initial
          assessment regarding the trade-affected worker’s interests, skills, aptitudes, and abilities.
          This may include the use of diagnostic testing tools and instruments and in-depth
          interviewing and evaluation to identify barriers to employment and appropriate
          employment goals. Assessments are created in cooperation with the trade-affected
          worker and are an interactive process that requires more than a review of information
          available about the trade-affected worker, their education, and previous employment.

          Non-duplication of Assessments — was ensured by aligning the TAA Final Rule with
          WIOA as closely as possible. The use of WIOA and other partner programs’ assessments
          can increase efficiency, ensure that workers quickly receive appropriate reemployment
          services, and quickly identify those workers requiring a more comprehensive and
          specialized assessment of their skills. If an initial assessment completed in another
          program does not include the information required for the TAA Program, the state must
          supplement the initial assessment in conjunction with the worker.

          Assessment Resources — See Attachment I for resources on assessments.

      e. Co-enrollment and Reporting: Co-enrollment between the TAA Program and the
         WIOA DW program drives the opportunity for collaborative partnership of funds, human
         resources, and system development to maximize the utility of benefits for participants
         that should be the hallmark of federally-funded programs. For more information on co-
         enrollment and reporting, please see TEGL No. 14-188 and the TAA and WIOA DW
         FAQ, located on the TAA website.9

8
    wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?docn=7611
9
    www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa-data/participant-reporting/docs/Co-Enrollment_FAQ-3.pdf

5. Inquiries. Please direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.

6. References.
    Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (Pub. L. 113-128) (July 22, 2014);
    Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Pub. L. 93-618) (Trade Act)
      (codified at 19 U.S.C. §§ 2271 et seq.);
    WIOA Final Rule, 20 CFR Parts 680 and 687, 81 FR 56071 (August 19, 2016);
    TAA Final Rule, 20 CFR Part 618, 85 FR 51896 (August 21, 2020);
    TEGL No. 19-16, Guidance on Services provided through the Adult and Dislocated
      Worker Programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the
      Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service (ES), as amended by title III of WIOA, and for
      Implementation of the WIOA Final Rules (March 1, 2017);
    TEGL No. 12-19, National Dislocated Worker Grant Program Guidance (March 18,
      2020);
    TEGL No. 14-18, Aligning Performance Accountability Reporting, Definitions, and
      Policies Across Workforce Employment and Training Programs Administered by the U.S.
      Department of Labor (DOL) (March 25, 2019); and
    Training and Employment Notice (TEN) No. 21-07 Effective Use of Assessment in the
      Public Workforce Investment System and Transmittal of Testing and Assessment: A
      Guide to Good Practices for Workforce Investment Professionals (December 13, 2007).

7. Attachments. Attachment I – Assessment Resources

                                                                                    Attachment I

                                Federal Assessment Resources

There are several assessment resources that are free and open for use provided by federal
agencies.

The CareerOneStop website includes a section on Assessments at
www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Assessments/self-assessments.aspx.

This site describes how assessments can be helpful and provides three free online assessments as
part of the site:

      The Interest Assessment is a quick 30-question assessment that identifies an individual’s
       interests and matches them to careers
      The Skills Matcher identifies an individual’s skills and matches them to careers that use
       those skills
      The Work Values Matcher is a card sort that helps identify the qualities that are most
       important to an individual in a career and the type of place to work

There is also an online Interest Profiler within the My Next Move website at
www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip.

In addition, the Competency Model Clearinghouse within CareerOneStop has a searchable
Resource Database at www.careeronestop.org/CompetencyModel/FindResources/search.aspx.
This database contains information on and links to a variety of assessments, both public or open
and private, related to several activities and topics including career exploration. Try using
various keywords or phrases, such as “career assessments,” or “soft skills assessments” to refine
your results.

The Online Work Readiness Assessment (OWRA) is a web-based tool that offers an approach to
creating a plan for clients that summarizes their strengths and barriers, and makes
recommendations on placement into work activities and work supports. Funded by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Family Assistance, the OWRA Tool offers social service agency caseworkers and staff services
for clients through five modules, including a detailed, comprehensive assessment of client’s
strengths, barriers, and work readiness.

In addition, OWRA generates a Self Sufficiency Plan (SSP) and Work Readiness Resource
(WRR) that offers a customized pathway using information from the Intake and Assessment
Modules. The SSP highlights client strengths, suggests recommendations for reducing client
barriers, and encouraged customized referrals and recommendations to address barriers. In
addition, the WRR is available to help case workers and participants explore resume writing, soft
skill development, interests, abilities, labor market information, and other important elements of
employment and career pathways.
For more information, see peerta.act.hhs.gov/content/online-work-readiness-assessment-owra.

                                                                                       Attachment I

Evaluating and Selecting Assessment Tools

There are quite a few assessment tools available in the marketplace, many of which are
proprietary and have associated costs. When reviewing potential assessments for use there are a
number of variables to look for:

         What audience was it designed for use with? Try to identify assessment tools that are
          designed for use with adults, employer, and workforce development applications rather
          than with K-12 students.
         Does the assessment have linked learning materials? Particularly for soft skills
          assessments, if gaps are identified, it is helpful to have associated materials or resources
          to help develop needed skills.
         How many and which skills or competencies are assessed by the tool? There can be a
          wide variation among tools in this regard. Sometimes a tool may be described as
          assessing soft skills when perhaps it may focus more on foundational academic skills
          such as numeracy and literacy. As a useful reference, the Building Blocks model in the
          Competency Model Clearinghouse outlines and describes three tiers or groupings of
          foundational competencies including: Personal Effectiveness, Academic, and Work
          Readiness. For more information, see
          www.careeronestop.org/CompetencyModel/competency-models/building-blocks-
          model.aspx.
         Does the tool assess elements that you think are relevant for the population and local
          economy you are serving? For example, given the emphasis on online learning and
          work currently, you may want to look for tools that include an assessment of digital
          literacy or digital skills, or for a separate additional assessment of digital skills to
          administer.

As mentioned above, the Competency Model Clearinghouse resource database is one place to
search for information about available assessment tools.

Finally, it is usually helpful to use multiple assessments of different types in order to acquire a
fuller picture of an individual’s strengths and needs, sometimes referred to as “whole-person
assessment.” For more information see Training and Employment Notice (TEN) No. 21-07
Effective Use of Assessment in the Public Workforce Investment System and Transmittal of
Testing and Assessment: A Guide to Good Practices for Workforce Investment Professionals.1

1
    wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2565