Case Studies

Policy and Program Analysis

The Challenge

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (DOL/ETA) requested HeiTech Services to conduct an in-depth evaluation and revision of its Employment Services Forms Preparation 385 Handbook (ETA 385 Handbook). The ETA 385 Handbook had once been considered the definitive source for the applications and forms necessary to administer federal-state employment services, but had failed to keep up with changing ETA policies, programs, and technological innovations. DOL/ETA tasked HeiTech Services to, not only update the information in the ETA 385 Handbook, but also propose procedures to more effectively disseminate this information.

The Strategy

After an in-depth examination of the ETA 385 Handbook and a series of meetings with the DOL/ETA clients, HeiTech Services developed a plan of action for meeting the clients' goals. First, HeiTech Services interviewed numerous officials at both Headquarters and at the Regional level. Second, HeiTech Services conducted independent research and reviewed historical program documents - conducting a process evaluation to compare the procedures outlined in the ETA 385 Handbook with how ETA actually implements the various programs in the present day.

Based on its interviews and research, HeiTech Services determined that many of the forms in the Handbook were outdated and that the Handbook itself had fallen into disuse. HeiTech Services also determined that the clients' goals might be better served if DOL/ETA considered other options rather than simply revising the existing Handbook.

The Result

HeiTech Services prepared a comprehensive report that examined all 46 applications/forms in the ETA 385 Handbook and evaluated their present and future viability based on changes in DOL/ETA policy. The report also presented a list of proposals for DOL/ETA consideration so that important employment service information could be cost-effectively disseminated in the 21st century. HeiTech Services was able to develop this report under budget and four months prior to the client's deadline.