(C). Coordination, Alignment and Provision of Services to ...



(III). Operational Planning Elements(a). State Strategy Implementation(2). Implementation of State Strategy(C). Coordination, Alignment and Provision of Services to IndividualsThis section describes how the entities carrying out the respective core programs, Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan, and required and optional one-stop partner programs will coordinate activities and resources to provide comprehensive, high-quality, customer-centered services, including supportive services to individuals including those populations identified in section II(a)(1)(B). Describe how the entities carrying out the respective core programs, Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan, and required and optional one-stop partner programs will coordinate activities and resources to provide comprehensive, high-quality, customer-centered services, including supportive services to individuals including those populations identified in section II(a)(1)(B). These activities described shall conform to the statutory requirements of each program. The primary purpose of WIOA is to “increase, for individuals in the United States, particularly those individuals with barriers to employment, access to and opportunities for employment, education, training, and support services they need to succeed in the labor market.” (WIOA Sec (2)(1)). While Idaho’s workforce programs can and do address the need for supportive services, education and training, we must also serve as advocates for the populations we serve, especially with employers.To that end, in addition to the agency-specific activities outlined below in this section, the Combined State Plan programs, via the WIOA Advisory Group, acknowledge the need for coordinated outreach to employers regarding the benefits of hiring employees from groups who have barriers to employment. One such option will be to integrate this outreach into the “single point of contact” model discussed in Part (D) of this section.The remaining information in this section is organized by program, parallel to Part (A) and (B) above:Idaho Department of Labor Programs - includes WIOA Title IB and Title III, and Combined Partner programs of Trade Adjustment, Unemployment Insurance, and Veterans Training & Employment ProgramsTitle II - Adult EducationTitle IV - Vocational Rehabilitation ProgramsCombined State Plan Partner - OAA Title V Senior Community Service Employment ProgramsIdaho Department of Labor ProgramsAs stated previously, the Idaho Department of Labor is the lead state agency for administration of four of the core programs: WIOA youth, adult and dislocated worker programs and the Wagner-Peyser employment service program. The Department of Labor is also the lead agency for the following Combined State Plan and One-Stop partner programs: Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS), and Unemployment Insurance (UI). The department’s primary delivery model for these services is via the One-Stop system in American Job Centers.The One-Stop system is the ideal way to provide customer-centered services to a wide variety of individuals. A robust system of referrals and cross-training will provide a seamless experience for customers. Each American Job Center has a resource list of community supportive services as well as personal connections with suppliers of supportive services in their area.The Idaho Department of Labor used funds from a WIA incentive grant to contract with a consultant to help apply design and innovation thinking to the service delivery in the American Job Centers. The One-Stop staff formed teams to focus on specific segments of customers. Along with implementing a Lean methodology, an ongoing design and innovation thinking project has been instituted to ensure that resources dedicated to customer services are optimized.Idaho’s web-based Unemployment Insurance program (iUS) uniquely coordinates activities and resources to ensure delivery of necessary services to unemployed individuals. With information, services and resources accessible virtually anywhere, Idaho’s One Stop Centers, affiliate sites and all partner locations offer full access. UI program staff, the majority of whom are located at the central Department of Labor office, provide immediate customer service through “click to chat” from the website or by phone.Robust cross-training of One-Stop system staff includes training regarding general eligibility guidelines and user training for iUS, which strengthen linkages between the One-Stop system and the UI program, and increases awareness of UI issues across core programs.The long-term unemployed have been an area of special focus at the American Job Centers. The Wagner-Peyser employment service workforce consultants have had great success in engaging those participating in the Reemployment Assistance Services and other long-term unemployed individuals. Those that need special assistance with skills upgrading are referred to a WIOA career planner. Those with substantial cultural barriers, such as refugees resettled in Idaho, are often One-Stop center customers. The One-Stop centers in Boise and Twin Falls have strong relationships with the Center for Refugees and provide targeted services to those populations.The WIOA career planners specifically work with a variety of special populations such as displaced homemakers, low-income individuals and ex-offenders. WIOA career planners prioritize serving youth with disabilities or those who have aged out of foster care. These customers are served not only by WIOA career planners, but are often co-enrolled in appropriate programs for which they are eligible such as Trade Adjustment Assistance. They are also referred or provided education, workforce development or supportive services as needed.The Department of Labor is currently a recipient of a Disability Employment Initiative grant. This grant has facilitated in-depth training to staff on how to provide employment services to individuals with disabilities. All American Job Centers are Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.Title II Programs - Adult EducationServices to individuals under Title II are carried out locally by eligible providers. The lead agency administering Title II programs (the Division of Career & TechnicalProfessional-Technical Education) will ensure policy alignment with other partner programs at the state level through participation on the WIOA Advisory Group. The Division will require that local providers coordinate services at the local level and will provide guidance and technical assistance to support such efforts. Local providers will be required to demonstrate capacity for and history of (1) local coordination and (2) provision of quality services to individuals, as part of the competitive application process. Effective partnerships are pivotal to maximize resources and align services; the following examples reflect current initiatives to meet this goal:Adult Education staff at the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) and Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) are collocated at the comprehensive AJC, and participate in cross training to refer students to services provided by other WIOA core and one-stop partners. College of Western Idaho (CWI) staff participate in Quarterly WIOA Workgroup meetings to share program resources, referrals and updates. The adult education programs partner with the Title I WIOA Youth and Adult programs to leverage resources for maximum benefit to an individual through education, support services, and employment, and training placement. CWI Adult Education instructors collaborate with WIOA Youth staff to support Canyon County Juvenile Detention youth with their educational goals and connections to training and employment opportunities. Local providers will be expected to demonstrate ongoing coordination and service through annual extension applications thereafter.Title IV Programs - Vocational RehabilitationTitle IV Programs in Idaho are carried out by two agencies: The Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (referred to below as “The Division”) and the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (referred to below as “The Commission.”). This section addresses each agency separately.Idaho Division of Vocational RehabilitationCoordination of service provision will take place at the local area level. Local agreements will be established among One-Stop partners that promote communication and include arrangements for cost sharing to enable the full utilization of external funding sources. The Division will support informational training on programs. The Division will continue to support coordination and co-location with external plan agencies such as the Division of Behavioral Health, the Idaho Department of Correction and our school to work transition partners.Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually ImpairedThe coordination efforts of the Commission will generally reflect those described above for the Division. In addition, the Commission will:Begin to work with youth at the start of high school to foster the development of ongoing transition planning and services specifically connecting School Districts throughout the State.Conduct Assistive Technology Assessments with clients.Increase training availability, effectiveness and access for clients, including minority, and the underserved in rural bined Plan Partner Program - OAA Title V - Senior Community Service Employment ProgramsThe Idaho Commission on Aging will coordinate activities with one stop partners by utilizing local Employment Training Coordinators to connect participants to local one stop programs. The Commission’s SCSEP Program Manager will provide One-Stop partner information to the SCSEP local regional offices to ensure participation at the local level. Participation with the One-Stop programs will be reviewed through annual monitoring reviews. The Employment Training Coordinators will assess participants and utilize program and community resources to meet identified supportive service needs.Quality of service delivery will be measured by participant annual surveys. Annual survey results will be assessed and shared with the local SCSEP offices. Strategies will be developed and implemented to address survey concerns. ................
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