2015 Partner-supported Youth Employment Data Collection
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20240http://www.blm.govDecember 30, 2014In Reply Refer To: 1115 (420) PEMS TRANSMISSION 01/14/2015Instruction Memorandum No. 2015-036Expires: 09/30/2018To: State Directors, Assistant DirectorsAttn: State Youth LeadsFrom: Assistant Director, National Landscape Conservation System and Community PartnershipsSubject 2015 Partner-supported Youth Employment Data CollectionDD: 01/26/2015; DD: 04/20/2015; DD: 07/22/2015; DD: 10/22/2015Purpose: The purpose of this Instruction Memorandum (IM) is to provide guidance on collecting Bureau of Land Management (BLM) partner-supported youth employment data for Fiscal_Year (FY) 2015 and to update information on metrics for engaging the next generation through providing work and training opportunities.Background: Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has pledged that the Department of the Interior (DOI) will provide 100,000 work and training opportunities to young people within our bureaus and through public-private partnerships through 2018. As a high-priority goal for the Department, the number of work and training opportunities provided must be reported to the Office of Management and Budget on a quarterly basis. Beginning in FY2015, DOI has established new metrics for this priority goal. Previously, bureaus and offices were required to track and report on the number of work opportunities provided to individuals who were 15-25 years old. In order to capture the complete spectrum of work and training opportunities provided to the Millennial generation, bureaus and offices will now track work and training opportunities for individuals who are 35 years and younger. A work and training opportunity is 80 or more hours in a fiscal year. Longer terms of employment are encouraged because they provide a more meaningful experience, allowing more time for mentoring participants, providing them with employable skills, and instilling valuable stewardship and conservation ethics. See below for additional information on opportunities that should be reported.Policy/Action: DOI has not established Bureau-specific employment goals for the next generation; however, in the BLM's Long-term Implementation Plan for Engaging the Next Generation, a goal of 2,000 partner hires was established for FY2015. This goal is based on FY2014 performance, but also takes into consideration the expanded age range. Progress toward achieving this goal will be assessed on a quarterly basis and individual State performance will be compared to previous years. State Youth Leads are requested to file quarterly reports on partner-supported work and training opportunities for the next generation using the SharePoint reporting form that can be found on the BLM Intranet. Please note that partner-supported work and training opportunities include the following categories, some of which are new this year:Corps and other partner work opportunities.Work opportunities provided via corps or other partners, such as service and conservation corps, other government agencies, community-based environmental and heritage organizations, and educational institutions. Resource Assistant Rigorous Internships provided via a third party. Because of the direct hire authority that is available, resource assistant internships will be tracked separately from other corps and partner opportunities. Note that this is a very specific program coordinated by the WO Branch of Recruitment and Retention Programs. Volunteer Internships/Internships for CreditWork and training opportunities provided to student volunteers. Included within this category are internships for college and high school credit in furtherance of a high school diploma, associates, undergraduate, graduate, professional or post-doctoral degree or program. Note that while student volunteers are typically brought on using a Volunteer Services Agreement (OF301-A), they should still be considered "partner hires" if they volunteer more than 80 hours in a year and receive credit from their college or high school.ConcessionairesWork opportunities provided by concessionaires. Reporting of opportunities provided by concessionaires is voluntary. Work and training opportunities are provided through agreements or other arrangements with partner organizations, using the authority provided by the Public Land Corps Act of 1993, the Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970, or other authorities. If partner hires age 35 and under are compensated, the compensation can come in the form of a wage, stipend, or living allowance. Note that BLM funds do not have to be used either directly or indirectly to provide compensation to youth hired through partner organizations. As in previous years, DOI will collect youth employment data for Millennials 35 and under who are in the Federal Personnel Payroll System (FPPS). Therefore, quarterly reports filed by State Youth Leads should not include any employees who are in FPPS. This includes seasonal employees, including firefighting crew members, as well as participants in BLM's Internship Program, Recent Graduates Program, and Presidential Management Fellows Program.Reporting Procedures: Partner-supported hiring information should be provided on forms that can be accessed at BLM intranet. Please read the "Tips for Creating and Editing Forms" and then scroll down to the section on "Partner-supported Youth Hiring Data. State Youth Leads can choose to enter the information themselves or other staff members in the State can be given access to the SharePoint site in order to enter information on work and training opportunities directly. Contributors can request access by contacting Kevin Flynn (kflynn@blm.gov) or Betsy Wooster (ewooster@blm.gov). Alternatively, access can be requested by individuals through the SharePoint site. Regardless of who fills out the forms, State Youth Leads are asked to verify by the reporting deadlines that the information provided is complete and that the partner-supported hires being reported meet the criteria outlined above. Coordination with Field Offices and with Grants Management Officers in the State should facilitate this process and is strongly encouraged.Timeframe: Effective immediately.Budget Impact: Minimal.Manual/Handbook Section Affected: None. Coordination: This IM was coordinated by WO-400 and WO-700.Contact: If you have any questions concerning the content of this IM, please contact Mary Tisdale, Chief, Division of Education, Interpretation, and Partnerships (mtisdale@blm.gov; 202-912-7450), or Betsy Wooster, National Youth Programs Coordinator (ewooster@blm.gov; 202-912-7454).Signed by:Authenticated by:Carl Rountree Assistant Director, National Landscape Conservation System and Community ProgramsCatherine Emmett Division of IRM Governance,WO-860