628.520—Individual service strategy.
(a) General.
The requirements of this section shall apply to programs conducted under title I (i.e., sections 121 and 123) and title II, parts A, B and C.
(b) Definition.
(1)
Individual service strategy (ISS) means an individual plan for a participant, which shall include an employment goal (including, for women, consideration of nontraditional employment), appropriate achievement objectives, and the appropriate combination of services for the participant based on the objective assessment conducted pursuant to § 628.515 of this part, Objective assessment. In developing the ISS, the participant shall be counseled regarding required loan repayments if the participant chooses to incur personal indebtedness to participate in an education program. The participant shall also be apprised of the requirements for self-sufficiency and the occupational demands within the labor market.
(2)
Decisions concerning appropriate services shall be customer-centered, and ensure that the participant is not excluded from training or career options consistent with the provisions of 29 CFR part 34 concerning nondiscrimination and equal opportunity.
(3)
For the title II-B program, the ISS may include the components specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section ( sections 204(a)(1)(B), 253(c)(2) and 264(b)(1)(B) ). For purposes of titles II-B and II-C, the employment goal may be interpreted broadly and based on long-term career guidance.
(c) Joint Development of ISS.
The ISS shall be developed in partnership with the participant and reflect the needs indicated by the objective assessment and the expressed interests and desires of the participant. It is not a formal contract and signatures are not a requirement.
(d) Review of ISS.
The ISS shall be reviewed periodically to evaluate the progress of each participant in meeting the objectives of the service strategy, including an evaluation of the participant's progress in acquiring basic skills, and occupational skills, as appropriate, and the adequacy of the supportive services provided.
(e) Provision of services.
If JTPA resources are not sufficient to provide the full range of training or supportive services which might be identified in the ISS, the SDA shall make every reasonable effort to arrange for, through other community resources, basic and occupational skills training and supportive services identified as needed in the ISS for participants under titles II-A and II-C and, in addition, preemployment and work maturity skills training and work experience combined with skills training for participants under title II-C ( sections 204(a)(1)(D) and 264(b)(1)(D).
(f) SDA review of objective assessment and ISS.
(1)
The objective assessment and development of the ISS may be conducted by service providers.
(2)
The SDA administrative entity shall ensure that development of the ISS and the services provided, respond to the individual needs of the participant and that the combination of services to the participant is indicated by the results of the objective assessment.
(g) ISS record of decisions.
The ISS shall be used as the basic instrument for the SDA to record the results of decisions made about the combination and sequence of services for the participant based on the objective assessment. Justification for decisions may be referenced but need not be recorded in the ISS. These decisions shall include, but are not limited to, the employment goal and/or career cluster; referrals to other programs for specified activities; the provision and amount of supportive services; and the delivery agents and schedules for training and supportive services activities. The decisions for time and duration of OJT ( § 627.240 of this chapter) shall be briefly recorded in the ISS and may not reference other documents.
(h)
The ISS is a customer-centered case management tool and shall not be used as a compliance document.