The Workforce Development System

Objectives  Overview of the Workforce Development System  Why does the system need a Navigator?  What is the Navigator’s role within the system?

WIA was designed to unify a fragmented employment and training system and create a single universal system…a One-Stop system that could serve the needs of all job seekers and employers. Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998

Provides funding to states to establish a statewide One-Stop system. Outlines the framework for the delivery of workforce investment activities through the One-Stop system.

Six Key Principles of WIA 1)Streamlining services 2)Universal Access 3)Increased Accountability 4)State and Local Flexibility 5)Strong Role for Local Boards 6)Improved Youth Programs

One-Stop Delivery System Created one physical location for employment & training services. Linked workforce, education and economic development. Business-led Board do strategic planning, set policies, coordinate programs. Local flexibility in designing the system.

Key Players State Workforce Investment Boards (SWIBs) Local Workforce Investment Boards (LWIBs) One-Stop Career Centers

SWIBs Composition: Governor Two members of each chamber of State Legislature Representatives appointed by the Governor, including: –Business (which must be a majority) –Chief Elected Officials –Labor Organizations –State Agency Heads –Individuals with related experiences –Others as designated by the Governor

SWIBs Duties: –Develop a 5-year Strategic Plan –Continuously improve the system –Designate Local Workforce Investment Areas (LWIAs) –Develop Allocation Formulas –Prepare Annual Report –Develop Statewide Employment Statistics System –Apply for Incentive Grants

LWIBs Composition: Community leaders representing –Business (majority) –Labor –Education –Economic development –Workforce partners Have policy making authority

LWIBs Roles: Comprehensive, long-term planning Coordinate workforce, education and economic development Promote private sector involvement Evaluate performance Identify and select service providers Define role of one-stop operator NOT: service provider, One-stop operator

One-Stop Career Centers Cornerstone of WIA Centers where customers can access a broad range of employment-related services in a central location to include: core, intensive, and training services

The Funding Process… U.S. Department of Labor State Workforce Investment Boards (Includes Business, Government and Labor Leaders) Local Workforce Investment Boards (Includes Business, Labor and Other Community Leaders) Local One-Stop Career Centers (Delivers Services to Employers and Job Seekers) Publicly Funded Deliver Federal, State, and Local Employment and Training Programs $$ $

One-Stop Mandatory Partners Department of Labor programs: Programs authorized under WIA Employment Service Adult Education Trade Adjustment Assistance Veteran’s Employment and Training Unemployment Insurance Job Corps Welfare-to-Work Senior Community Service Employment Program Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Program Native American Employment and Training Program

Mandatory Partners, cont. Department of Education programs: Adult Education and Literacy Vocational Education (Perkins Act) Dept. of Health &Human Services programs: Community Services Block Grant Dept. of Housing & Urban Development programs: HUD-administered employment and Training

One-Stop Partners Roles: Serve on Board Make core services available and other services accessible through one-stop Contribute fair share to the cost of the One-stop system and operations Carry out role as mandated in their own legislation (eg. Wagner-Peyser, Vocational Rehabilitation) Establish MOUs

One-Stop Customers One-Stop Centers serve 2 customers— job seekers and employers: Streamlined set of services for job seekers. Flexibility to provide a variety of tailored services to employers, including hiring, assessments and training services.

Participant Eligibility All adults over age 18 eligible for some services. (Employment Service and WIA core) Many low-income youth ages who face certain employment barriers are eligible for services. Eligibility for Partner programs are unique to each program.

One-Stop Customers w/ Disabilities Services are to be “readily accessible”: most individuals with disabilities should not have to ask for accommodations. Persons w/ disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations to access services under WIA.

Core Services Each local area must include one comprehensive physical center that provides core services. Each One-Stop partner is responsible for making available the core services applicable to the partner’s program.

Core Services Cover basic employment assistance, such as: Skill assessments Job searches Resume writing Interview practice Eligibility Determination for other programs Labor market information These services are available to everyone.

Intensive Services: Eligibility Individuals who have received at least one core service and are unemployed or under-employed. When funding is limited, priority for intensive services is given to low-income job seekers and recipients of public assistance.

Delivery of Intensive Services Must be provided through the One-Stop system. May be provided directly by the One-Stop Operator or through contracts with Service Providers.

Intensive Services Work-related evaluations Career counseling Job searches in other geographic areas/relocation assistance Basic skills training (such as GED, language and computer classes) Work experience Internships

Training Services Available to job seekers who have received at least one intensive service and are still unemployed or under-employed. If funds are limited, priority is given to low-income job seekers and recipients of public assistance.

Training Services A broad range of training is available, including: Job readiness training Vocational classes Customized training with local employers willing to train and then hire those who successfully finish On-the-Job training Entrepreneurial training Skills upgrading and retraining

Delivery of Training Services Individual Training Accounts: –Established on behalf of participants to pay for training services; –Participants choose from a list of Eligible Training Providers; –Providers are required to submit annual performance data and achieve established performance levels to remain on the list.

Supportive Services Eligibility: Individuals participating in core, intensive or training services; Unable to obtain supportive services through other programs; Only provided when necessary to enable individuals to participate in WIA activities.

Supportive Services Transportation Child Care Dependent Care Housing Needs-related payments *Local area must develop a policy to ensure resource coordination.

Performance Measures All Employment & Training programs have Performance Measures. Performance is reported back to Federal Agencies. Incentive $ may be awarded to high performers. In some cases, performance measures can drive services.

System is Moving to Common Measures… DOL/ETA Department of Education HHS Veterans Administration HUD Department of Interior/Bureau of Indian Affairs

Common Measures: Adult –Entered Employment –Retention –Earnings Increase –Efficiency

Common Measures: Youth –Placement in Employment or Education –Attainment of Degree or Certificate –Literacy & Numeracy Gains –Efficiency

In the current system… There are barriers to providing quality One-Stop Services for persons with a disability, such as: –Lack of Physical Accessibility –Lack of Program Accessibility –Lack of Program Integration –Lack of Job Development

Physical Accessibility Programs or activities of One-Stop Centers must be readily accessible and useable by people with disabilities. This means that… A One-Stop Center may not refuse to provide services because a person has a disability.

Program Accessibility Lack of Customer Choice –Result of limited staff knowledge and comfort level serving people w/disabilities. –Directly referred to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) or, –Inappropriately Served

System Performance Employment Service data indicates that only 2.1% of participants served have a disability (PY ’01 data). WIA data indicates that only 7.2% of program exiters had a disability (PY ’01 data.)

The numbers are misleading… Many locals only include those that self-report a disability. Automatic referrals to “disability agencies” limit perceived volume. Result…the numbers may be artificially low.

Program Integration Lack of Collaboration: Programs may be co-located yet still operating independently. Participants not benefiting from co- enrollment, joint case management, and limited knowledge of different programs available to people w/disabilities.

Job Development Job Developers need to know: Marketing tools to place people w/disabilities Accommodations –Job Accommodations Network (JAN ) Employer Benefits (WOTC) Employer Assistance Referral Network (EARN): Ticket to Hire:

What we have learned through… Fours years of WIA Implementation Three Rounds of Work Incentive Grants National, State and Local Initiatives

Strategies for Serving Job Seekers Goal: Improve the job seeker’s ability to receive appropriate services. Strategy: Educate program staff to better understand all available One-Stop services.

Strategies for Serving Job Seekers Goal: Reduce duplication of efforts and burden on job seeker to navigate multiple programs. Strategy: Consolidating case management and intake procedures for job seekers.

Strategies for Serving Employers Goal: Gain a better understanding of labor market needs, and avoid multiple employer contacts. Strategy: Dedicate specialized staff to establish relationships with employers.

Strategies for Serving Employers Goal: Market services/expand the customer base. Strategy: Work with intermediaries to engage and serve employers. Goal: Increase employer satisfaction with and use of the system. Strategy: Provide tailored services to meet employers’ specific workforce needs.

Strategies for Building One-Stop Infrastructure Goal: Better integrate One-Stop programs and services. Strategy: Empower partners to collaborate through functional teams and joint projects.

Strategies for Building One-Stop Infrastructure Goal: Improve operations despite lack of dedicated WIA funds and restrictions on partners’ funding streams. Strategy: Raise funds through fee- based services, grants and contributions from partners and state and local government.

Navigators and the WDS Charged with building the capacity of the WDS by… serving as an expert on workforce development issues and policies impacting persons with disabilities. facilitating access to programs and services.

Navigators and the WDS, cont. Developing linkages and collaborating on an ongoing basis with employers. Conducting outreach to agencies and organizations that serve people with disabilities. And much more…

More information… Or call/ … Lynn Kinzer at (312)