(a) Eligibility criteria. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an individual is eligible to participate in a YouthBuild program if the individual is:

(1) Not less than age 16 and not more than age 24 on the date of enrollment; and

(2) A school dropout or an individual who has dropped out of school and reenrolled in an alternative school, if that reenrollment is part of a sequential service strategy; and

(3) Is one or more of the following:

(i) A member of a low-income family as defined in § 672.110;

(ii) A youth in foster care;

(iii) A youth offender;

(iv) A youth who is an individual with a disability;

(v) The child of a current or formerly incarcerated parent; or

(vi) A migrant youth as defined in § 672.110.

(b) Exceptions. Not more than 25 percent of the participants in a program, under this section, may be individuals who do not meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) or (3) of this section, if such individuals:

(1) Are basic skills deficient as defined in section 101(4) of WIA, even if they have their high school diploma, GED credential, or other State-recognized equivalent; or

(2) Have been referred by a local secondary school for participation in a YouthBuild program leading to the attainment of a secondary school diploma.

Special rules for determining income for veterans are found in 20 CFR 667.255 and for the priority of service provisions for qualified persons are found in 20 CFR part 1010. Those special rules apply to covered persons who are eligible to participate in the YouthBuild program.

Grantees may provide one or more of the following education and workforce investment and other activities to YouthBuild participants—

(a) Eligible education activities include:

(1) Services and activities designed to meet the educational needs of participants, including:

(i) Basic skills instruction and remedial education;

(ii) Language instruction educational programs for individuals with limited English proficiency;

(iii) Secondary education services and activities, including tutoring, study skills training, and dropout prevention activities, designed to lead to the attainment of a secondary school diploma, GED credential, or other State- recognized equivalent (including recognized alternative standards for individuals with disabilities);

(iv) Counseling and assistance in obtaining post-secondary education and required financial aid; and

(v) Alternative secondary school services;

(2) Counseling services and related activities, such as comprehensive guidance and counseling on drug and alcohol abuse and referral to appropriate treatment;

(3) Activities designed to develop employment and leadership skills, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social behaviors, and activities related to youth policy committees that participate in decisionmaking related to the program; and

(4) Supportive services, as defined under Title I of WIA Section 101(46), and provision of need-based stipends, as defined in § 672.110.

(b) Eligible workforce investment activities include:

(1) Work experience and skills training (coordinated, to the maximum extent feasible, with registered apprenticeship programs) in housing rehabilitation and construction activities described in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section;

(2) Occupational skills training;

(3) Other paid and unpaid work experiences, including internships and job shadowing; and

(4) Job search assistance.

(c) Other eligible activities include:

(1) Supervision and training for participants in the rehabilitation or construction of housing, including residential housing for homeless individuals and families or low-income families, or transitional housing for homeless individuals and families;

(2) Supervision and training for participants in the rehabilitation or construction of community or other public facilities, except that, as provided in § 672.505(b), not more than 10 percent of the funds awarded for each grant may be used for such supervision and training;

(3) Ongoing training and technical assistance for staff of grant recipients that is related to developing and carrying out the YouthBuild program;

(4) Payment of a portion of the administrative costs of the program as provided in § 672.505(a);

(5) Adult mentoring;

(6) Provision of wages, stipends, or additional benefits to participants in the program as provided in § 672.530; and

(7) Follow-up services as provided in § 672.325.

An eligible individual selected for participation in the program must be offered full-time participation in the program for not less than 6 months and not more than 24 months.

YouthBuild grantees must structure programs so that participants in the program are offered:

(a) Eligible education activities, as specified in § 672.310(a), during at least 50 percent of the time during which they participate in the program; and

(b) Eligible workforce investment activities, as specified in § 672.310(b), during at least 40 percent of the time during which they participate in the program. Grantees must provide the eligible workforce investment activities described in § 672.310(b)(1) as part of their program of eligible workforce investment activities.

(c) The remaining 10 percent of the time of participation can be used for the activities described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section and/or for leadership development and community service activities.

Follow-up services must be provided to all YouthBuild participants for a period of not less than 9 months but no more than 12 months after participants exit a YouthBuild program. These are services that assist participants in obtaining or retaining employment, or applying for and transitioning to post-secondary education or training.