Equitable Access: Equity Grants & Navigator Grants - Page 4
About
In order to promote equitable access to UC programs, which include eliminating administrative barriers to benefit applications, reducing state workload backlogs, improving the timeliness of UC payments to eligible individuals, and ensuring equity in fraud prevention, detection, and recovery activities, states may use the funds to support innovative strategies and solutions to promote equitable access to UC programs.
Equitable Access Content:
- Equitable Access: What is Equitable Access? - Page 1
- Promising Recommendations to address Equitable Access - Page 2
- Promising Recommendations to address Equitable Access (Continued) - Page 3
- Equity Grants & Navigator Grants - Page 4
This includes strategies to: 1) improve public awareness of the program so more people apply; 2) improve service delivery so people have a better experience and receive their first benefit payments sooner and continue to receive benefits as long as they are eligible; and 3) develop a better understanding of the equity challenges that need to be addressed.
To date, the most common projects for equity grants are Claimant Communications and Claimant Outreach, Equity-Advancing Process Improvements Through Technology, Translation Services, Data Analysis to Understand Equity Disparities, Plain Language Communication, Staff Capacity and Backlog Reductions to Improve Equity and Workflow/Customer Journey Analysis.
UI Equity Grants – As of March 17, 2023, the Department has announced awards of more than $202 million in funds to 39 states and the District of Columbia.
Equity Grants
Learn additional strategies states are working on to pursue equity with ARPA funding by visiting: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/AIR_ARPA_StateEquityGrantsSummaryMemo_Final.pdf
Navigator Grants:
The Department issued Navigator grants which provided over $18 million for selected states to participate in the ARPA UI Navigator Program. States partner with community-based organizations (CBOs) to engage in activities that include outreach, training, education, and general assistance with completing applications for UI benefits. These funds will help workers learn about, apply for, and, if eligible, receive UI benefits and related services (i.e., navigate the UI program) and to support state agencies in delivering timely benefits to workers—especially individuals in groups that are historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.
Map of states who have received Navigator grants:
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- Last Updated:
- Created:
- Resource Publication Date: 2023
- Posted by: Lisa Harrison
- Posted in: Short-Time Compensation