(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;

(2) A school dropout or an individual who has dropped out of school and has subsequently reenrolled; and

(3) Is one or more of the following:

(i) A member of a low-income family;

(ii) A youth in foster care;

(iii) An 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.

(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 § 688.120, despite attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized State equivalent (including recognized certificates of attendance or similar documents for individuals with disabilities); 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 if such referral is to a YouthBuild program offering a secondary school diploma.

Special rules for determining income for veterans are found in § 683.230 of this chapter 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 and workforce activities including:

(1) Work experience and skills training (coordinated, to the maximum extent feasible, with registered apprenticeship programs), including:

(i) Supervision and training for participants in the rehabilitation or construction of housing, including residential housing for homeless individuals or low-income families, or transitional housing for homeless individuals and in additional in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the region in which the program operates (as approved by the Secretary);

(ii) Supervision and training for participants in the rehabilitation or construction of community and other public facilities, except that not more than 15 percent of grant funds-appropriated to carry out this section may be used for this activity; and

(iii) Supervision and training for participants in in-demand industry sectors or occupations in the region in which the program operates, if such activity is approved by the Secretary;

(2) Occupational skills training;

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

(4) 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 participants who are English language learners;

(iii) Secondary education services and activities, including tutoring, study skills training, and school dropout prevention and recovery activities, designed to lead to the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including recognized certificates of attendance or similar documents for individuals with disabilities);

(iv) Counseling and assistance in obtaining postsecondary education and required financial aid; and

(v) Alternative secondary school services;

(5) Counseling services and related activities, such as comprehensive guidance and counseling on drug and alcohol abuse, referrals to mental health services, and referrals to victim services;

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

(7)(i) Supportive services and needs-based payments necessary to enable individuals to participate in the program and to assist individuals, for a period of time not to exceed 12 months after the completion of training, in obtaining or retaining employment or applying for and transitioning to postsecondary education or training;

(ii) To provide needs-based payments, a grantee must have a written policy which:

(A) Establishes participant eligibility for such payments;

(B) Establishes the amounts to be provided;

(C) Describes the required documentation and criteria for payments; and

(D) Applies consistently to all program participants; and

(8) Job search and assistance;

(b) Payment of the administrative costs of the applicant, including recruitment and selection of participants, except that not more than 10 percent of the amount awarded under § 688.210 may be used for such costs;

(c) Adult mentoring;

(d) Provision of wages, stipends, or benefits to participants in the program;

(e) Ongoing training and technical assistance that is related to developing and carrying out the program; and

(f) Follow-up services.

At a minimum, in order to qualify as a work site for the purposes of the YouthBuild program, a work site must:

(a) Provide participants with the opportunity to have hands-on training and experience in two or more modules, each within a different skill area, in a construction skills training program that offers an industry-recognized credential;

(b) Be built or renovated for low-income individuals or families;

(c) Have a restrictive covenant in place that only allows for rental or resale to low-income participants as required by § 688.730; and

(d) Adhere to the allowable construction and other capital asset costs applicable to the YouthBuild program.

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) Education and related services and activities designed to meet educational needs, such as those specified in § 688.320(a)(4) through (7), during at least 50 percent of the time during which they participate in the program; and

(b) Workforce and skills development activities, such as those specified in § 688.320(a)(1) through (3), during at least 40 percent of the time during which they participate in the program.

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

Grantees must provide follow-up services to all YouthBuild participants for a period of 12 months after a participant successfully exits a YouthBuild program.

At a minimum, to be a successful exit, the Department of Labor requires that:

(a) Participants receive hands-on construction training or hands-on training in another industry or occupation, in the case of Construction Plus grantees; and

(b) Participants meet the exit policies established by the grantee.

(1) Such policies must describe the program outcomes and/or individual goals that must be met by each participant in order to successfully complete the program; and

(2) Grantees must apply the policies consistently to determine when a successful exit has occurred.

In those local areas where the grantee operates its YouthBuild program, the grantee is a required partner of the local one-stop delivery system and is subject to the provisions relating to such partners described in part 678 of this chapter.