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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You must show that current income and other available resources are not sufficient to meet employment or training goals.

You may apply for Job Placement and Training assistance at the servicing office nearest to your current residence.

(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).

(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.

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).

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.

(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.

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.

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.

(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.

Yes, more than one family member can be assisted, providing that each applicant is eligible.

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.

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.

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.

Yes, combining this program with other programs is encouraged, to the extent that laws governing program services permit partnering with similar programs and resources.

Yes, Indian tribes may integrate Job Placement and Training Program funds into their Public Law 102-477 Plan.

(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.