FEDERAL-AID POLICY GUIDE
December 9, 1991, Transmittal 1

G 3524.1

CHAPTER 2

YOUTH OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (EXTERNAL)

OPI: HCR-10

Par.

  1. Purpose

  2. Authority

  3. Policy

  4. Definitions

  5. Background

  6. Applicability

  7. Promotion

  1. PURPOSE. To actively promote employment opportunities for disadvantaged youths, ages 16-21, by the State highway agencies, contractors, vendors, material suppliers, subcontractors, consultants, motor carriers, and county and local governments. The activity offers affirmative action potential for employment of minorities and women consistent with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Civil Rights-Equal Opportunity Program goals.

  2. AUTHORITY. Executive Order 11330, issued by the President in 1967, established the President's Council on Youth Opportunity.

  3. POLICY. It is the policy of FHWA to actively promote and encourage employment of youths, especially those considered disadvantaged. Every effort should be made to identify work which can afford the participants meaningful experiences.

  4. DEFINITIONS

    1. Youths - men and women ages 16 to 21 years.

    2. Economically Disadvantaged - determined from guidelines taken from the Department of Labor (DOL) definition of "poor" which is established by income level. The DOL publishes in April of each year a new listing based on the cost-of-living index.

  5. BACKGROUND

    1. The earnings gained during the summer have enabled many youths to return to school in the fall. Experienced personnel managers know that young people can develop marketable skills through this work experience, and have supported the External Youth Opportunity Program (EYOP) with enthusiasm. Many summer aides eventually join the ranks of the permanent employees of the State and of the contractors' work forces. The tangible results achieved in the EYOP have made this program a viable part of the FHWA Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Programs.

    2. It should be emphasized that jobs for youths, who are relatively unskilled, do not conflict with job opportunities for adults. Rates of pay for youths are usually minimum compared to labor rates for adults.

    3. The Solicitor of Labor issued Memorandum No. 96 referring to summer employment of youths on federally financed and federally assisted construction projects. It provided that DOL would take no exception to the practice of paying summer employees below the predetermined journey level rate pursuant to a bona fide EYOP. The Secretary of Transportation has expressed Department of Transportation policy on the EYOP in a series of memorandums. Predating those memorandums is correspondence of the Bureau of Public Roads and FHWA on the EYOP issued periodically since 1967.

  6. APPLICABILITY. The EYOP will be promoted and implemented in all States, the District of Columbia, andPuerto Rico. It is not limited to programs financed as Federal or Federal-aid projects. The promotion of employment of youths may extend to public (State, county, or local) and privately financed employment in highway or transportation related industries.

  7. PROMOTION

    1. Information on the EYOP objectives should be disseminated in January of each year. The promotional approach should be positive and reflect the commitment of the office (agency) head to stimulate enthusiasm for the program.

    2. Advice and assistance should be provided from region to division and State staffs and, further, to contractors and their associations, subcontractors, vendors, suppliers, and truckers' associations regarding sources of disadvantaged youth referral including minority and female organizations, schools, and churches.

    3. Promotional efforts should be systematic. The EYOP promotional campaign should be planned to address those areas with the highest potential return on investment considering the funds available; the employment situation in the tar get States; the needs of employers and potential EYOP participants; and the constraints imposed by time and availabilities for employment. Efforts should include but not be limited to:

        (1) Gaining the broadest scope of community participation in the program. Every effort should be made to contact regional repre sentatives of minority and female organiza tions and contractor association chapters to obtain assistance in promoting the EYOP.

        (2) Identifying previous EYOP participants now working for a State, subrecipients, or con tractors, and publicizing their progress as part of the promotional effort.

        (3) Making positive incentives available, such as letters of recognition to employers for exceptional levels of productive employment of youths.

        (4) Formally recognizing exceptional performance by program participants and using the information to publicize the next year's EYOP effort.

        (5) Establishing contact with high school, local college, and university counselors to inform them of job opportunities in highway construction, maintenance and administra tion, and related areas.


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