Workforce, Working Together:

Regulations and Partnerships

Local Workforce Area Director’s

presentation to the

Governor’s Resilient La Commission:

Subcommittee on Education and Workforce Taskforce

L

Local Control of WIOA Funding

Federal Allocations are distributed via flow through from the state to the local areas based on employment formulas and demographics

Federal model stresses local control to assure that the employment needs of the

communities are considered when allocating funding

Funds are used to address the needs of the local

businesses, community, and employable workforce

There is a required strategic alignment at the local level

due to limited training resources

Local areas must review labor market data, determine demand

occupations and allocate funding to those employment

areas in most need

WIOA PROGRAMS

ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

WAGNERPEYSER

Core Required Co-located Partners

In Comprehensive One-Stop Centers

Can be co-located but must have MOU’s for operation

UNDERSTANDING THE ONE-STOP PROCESS AND ROLE OF THE OPERATOR

Career Services Comprehensive and specialized assessments

Development of an individual employment plan, including the list of and information about, eligible training providers

Group and/or individual counseling and mentoring

Career planning (e.g. case management)

Short-term pre-vocational services, including development of learning skills, communication skills, interviewing skills, punctuality, personal maintenance skills, and professional conduct to prepare individuals for unsubsidized employment or training, in some instance's pre-apprenticeship programs may be considered as short-term prevocational services;

Internships and work experiences that are linked to careers

Workforce preparation activities that help an individual acquire a combination of basic academic skills, critical thinking skills, digital literacy skills, and self-management skills, including competencies in utilizing resources, using information, working with others, understanding systems, and obtaining skills necessary for successful transition into and completion of postsecondary education, or training, or employment;

Financial literacy services;

Out-of-area job search assistance and relocation assistance; and

English language acquisition and integrated education and training programs.

Local Career and Business Services(Last 3 months)

Individuals 347,703 People

Registered for assistance

857,940 Services provided

Employers 30,595 Employers

Assisted

12,823 Job orders Created

72,225 Job Referrals Created

Local Workforce Centers operated during COVID Crisis to serve the citizens of Louisiana.

Training ServicesTraining services can be critical to the employment success of many adults and dislocated workers. There is no sequence of service requirement for “career services” and training. This means that one-stop center staff may determine training is appropriate regardless of whether the individual has received basic or individualized career services first. Under WIOA, training services may be provided if the one-stop center staff determine, after an interview, evaluation or assessment, and career planning, that the individual:

Is unlikely or unable to obtain or retain employment, that leads to economic self-sufficiency or wages comparable to or higher than wages from previous employment through career services alone; Needs training services to obtain or retain employment that leads to economic self-sufficiency or wages comparable to or higher than wages from previous employment, through career services alone; and Has the skills and qualifications to successfully participate in the selected program of training services.

Training services, when determined appropriate, must be provided either through an Individual Training Account (ITA) or through a training contract such as OJT, Incumbent worker, or customized training.Training services must be linked to in-demand employment opportunities in the local area or planning region or in a geographic area in which the adult or dislocated worker is willing to commute or relocate. The selection of training services should be conducted in a manner that maximizes customer choice, is linked to in-demand occupations, informed by the performance of relevant training providers, and coordinated to the extent possible with other sources of assistance

WIOA Program Eligibility

Dislocated Worker• There is no age limit. • Income eligibility• Authorized to work in United States

and one of the following:• Terminated or laid off, eligible for or

exhausted UI and unlikely to return toindustry or occupation

• Lost job from permanent closure orsubstantial layoff of a plant, facility orenterprise

• Was self-employed and nowunemployed because of economicconditions or natural disaster

• Displaced homemaker• Spouse of a member of Armed

Forces who lost employment due topermanent change in duty station or isunemployed, underemployed and hasdifficulty finding or upgradingemployment

• Recently separated veteran

Out of School Youth• 16-24 years old and not attending compulsory

school and School Dropout; or• Youth who required to attend school but has not

attended for at least the most recentcomplete school year's calendar quarter; or

• Homeless or Runaway; or• In foster care or aged out of foster care• Pregnant or Parenting; or• Subject to the juvenile or adult justice system; or• Has a disability or• At least one of the following apply:

• received HS Diploma/equivalent and is low income and is Deficient in Basic Skills (8.9 or below in reading and/or math) or

• is an English learner; or• Requires additional assistance to

complete an employment program, or secure and hold employment

Adult• 18 years or older customer is requesting

individualized services from workforcesolutions

• Authorized to work in the United States• Family income at or below 100%

poverty line or 70% lower livingstandard; or

Meets one of the following criteria:• Deficient in Basic Skills (8.9 or below in

reading and/or math)• Customer receives or is a member of

a family that receives (currently or in the past six months) one of the following:

• TANF, SNAP, SSI, or other publicassistance

• Foster Care• Homeless• Receives or is eligible to receive free

or reduced-price lunch• Disability

Types of Training Services High-skill and High-demand Occupational Training – mostly thru ETPL:

Community & Technical Colleges, Private Training Providers, On-Line, Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship

Supportive Services for Individuals enrolled in Skills Training: Childcare, Transportation, Books/Supplies, etc.

Employer Based Training Activities: On-the-Job, Customized, IWTP, Internships, Transitional Jobs

Special career development and work experience programs offered for youth ages 16-24

WIOA Funding is Funding of Last Resort- All other avenues should be exhausted, including Pell Grant

Future of Integrated Training Needs(A hypothesis of the need)

Approximately 600,000 citizens still on unemployment 50% may return to current employer as business continue to open

Leaving 300,000 who will need employment and training

High estimate 40% have no family/responsibilities so can enter formal training- ~ 120,000

This is where the ETPL providers will have to be ready to offer high demand training be it in the short term (4 week or less) leading to jobs or long term ( greater than 4 weeks) leading to careers. We have funding however please work with the local areas as demand jobs differ by area. We have been working with local LCTCS and Proprietary programs to email students in ETPL approved programs currently enrolled and seeking enrollment to refer them to us if they have financial needs.

This leaves ~ 180,000 individuals who need to return to work and cannot enter formal training This is where On-the-Job Training (on steroids) will play a major factor in

getting Louisianians back to work quickly In doing so we will need the local Chambers of Commerce, LABI and local

and state Economic Development agencies to work in partnership with us in informing employers of the program and referring them to our offices.

Federal WIOA Performance Accountability Measures-Mandated for any WIOA participant

Employed 2nd Quarter after exit

Employed 4th Quarter after exit

Median earnings

Credential Attainment

Measurable Skills Gain throughout education/training program

Local Workforce Boards Best Practices and Proof Partnerships Work for Louisiana

Rapides American Job Center

Elaine Morace, WDB Director 61Kadie Miller, RAJC Assessment Facilitator/ WDS III

“Assessments that HELP put People to WORK”

Assessments at RAJC• Rapides American Job Center (RAJC) is a comprehensive one-stop

center and for over 20 years has provided assessment services as a valuable resource for both job seekers and employers in our community.

• Designated assessment staff provide no cost assessment services daily.

• At no cost to employers or job seekers, assessments are a valuable tool and provide an opportunity for RAJC to build valuable relationships.

• Administers the ACT WorkKeys Assessment, as well as other assessments on a daily basis.

• From 2017-2019, provided 3,090 assessment services as a tool to assist with linking local employers and job seekers.

Local Employer Success and ACT WorkKeys NCRC

5% decrease in turn over rate

$270,000 in savings over a three year period

30% of employees hired from WoodWorks program, which uses ACT WorkKeys NCRC

75% improvement in employee retention

59% decrease in safety incidents

68% increase in employee tenure from 2011-2017 leading to savings cost of new hires

RAJC is Part of the Work Ready Community

• RAJC is a partner of the ACT Work Ready Communities and the Cenla Work Ready Network.

• ACT Work Ready Communities provide a community-based infrastructure to close skill gaps and obtain attain a competitive advantage.

• Cenla Work Ready Network (CWRN) is a program created in 2011 by the Rapides Foundation designed to link education and workforce development efforts and align them with regional economic needs.

• Foundation based upon individuals who earn an ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (ACT WorkKeys NCRC) and employers who recognize ACT WorkKeys.

• The Rapides Foundation/Orchard Foundation and Rapides WIOA collaboratively fund ACT WorkKeys Assessments at RAJC.

• No cost assessments provide RAJC an opportunity to build relationships with local employers and provide them with a valuable tool to find highly skilled candidates. Creating an environment where highly skilled candidates and the right job are combined……..leading to employment!

Local ACT WorkKeys NCRCSince 2017, 1,042 individuals earned anACT WorkKeys NCRC at Rapides American Job Center

*Data since program start date (2011)

*Data since program start date (2011)

LWDB 81

PARTNERSHIPS IN PUTTING NORTHEAST LOUISIANA TO WORK

BEST PRACTICESWORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD 83

Best Practices WDB 83•First local Incumbent Worker contract in the state of Louisiana

•18 Trainees•$34,000 (40 hours of training; 18 employees x $1800 per employee)•Maintenance training to expand knowledge and hands-on skills•Trainees promoted to Maintenance Technician with pay increase.

•HIP (Helping Individuals Progress) - WIOA Youth Program for OSY•Work Experience•HiSet Classes•Job Readiness Training

• WDB-83 Convenes the NELA Healthcare Alliance

•Multi-faceted healthcare providers: hospitals, long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home health organizations, etc.

•The “go-to” in Region 8 for healthcare providers to bring and solve shared non-competitive issues.

•Nationally Recognized Sector Partnership• 2019 International Economic Development Council Bronze Award• Dallas Federal Reserve Case Study

•Awarded a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation Collective Impact Grant ($300,000) and a Living Well Foundation Grant ($44,000) to address the RN shortage in Region 8 - funding supports adjunct faculty teaching clinicals at LA Tech, LDCC and ULM.

Discretionary Funding for LWDA-83•2000 - 2005 $20,000,000 Youth Opportunity Grant (YOG)

•2005 – 2007 $ 1,000,000 Juvenile Offenders Grant

•2009 – 2012 $ 2,000,000 Community Based Job Training Grant (CBJT) for Advanced Manufacturing

•2010 – 2015 $15,000,000 Health Profession Opportunity Grant I (HPOG)

•2015 – 2021* $16,200,000 Health Profession Opportunity Grant II (HPOG)

*$11,876,139 WIOA funding levels for 2015-2021

$54,200,000 additional funding for LWDA-83

Local Workforce Development Area 21 East Baton Rouge Parish

Wednesday June 10, 2020Resilient Louisiana Commission

Education and Workforce

Scaffold Program:

Partners: River Parish Community College & BrandSafway

Objective: Create a direct pathway from employment training toemployment for EmployBR clients interested in the industrial field.

Program: EmployBR clients enrolls, attends, and successfully completesRiver Parishes Community College’s Scaffold Basic Access Program. Oncecourse is complete, clients are referred to BrandSafway for employmentopportunities. EmployBR assists clients with tuition, transportation, childcare,tools, uniforms, TWIC cards, and/or other needed resources.

Results: Since October 2019, more than 70 EmployBR clients have successfullycompleted the Scaffold Basic Access program. Over 70% employment placementfor clients that possess a TWIC card. Program has grown to include an On-the-Job Training agreement between EmployBR and BrandSafway.

HandUp LA:

Partners: DOC – Probation and Parole, Christian Outreach, CAPARC, Louisiana Workforce Commission, & UpLIFTD

Objective: Create a transitional employment program for FormerlyIncarcerated Persons (FIPs) that includes an employment/life skillscomponent.

Program: Probation & Parole identify and refers medium-to-high risk clientsto EmployBR for WIOA services. Once deemed eligible, clients are placedat UpLIFTD for transitional employment (up to 16-weeks). Clients receiveemployment/life skills training through Christian Outreach’s Jobs for Lifeprogram. EmployBR identifies long-term employment opportunities forclients.

Results: Inaugural cohort receiving Job for Life training and have completed 10-weeks of transitional employment. Recruitment for second cohort currentlyunderway.

BEST PRACTICES

YOUTH SERVICES

In-School Youth Work Experience

Eleven High School Senior worked in our offices during their senior year earning over $40,000.

All 11 graduated from high school

While working they were mentored and worked on enhancing their soft skills to better their opportunities for employment

We are working with them on continuing their education and are transitioning them to post secondary schools.

GeauxJobs will continue this each year with new Seniors

Out of School Youth Program

LWDA 20 funded two Youth Build Programs- Through competitive RFP each $100,000 Quad Area and Bogalusa Youth Build- NTCC Sullivan

Campus

Funding supported 32 additional slots annually for high school dropouts

Students are learning in Pre-Apprentice learning in the field of Carpentry and Construction. Every Student earns NCCR certification and are working towards earning their HiSet.

CUSTOMIZED TRAINING Training for 14 students to work on certification in Medical Assistant

Geaux Jobs funded $ 80,000, Northshore Technical Community College provided the training site and training staff, North Oaks provided the internship site and staff mentoring

Upon completion of the training Geaux Jobs will provide OJT funding to assist with job placement

Region 7: Best Practices

LWDA 70 and LWDA 71 works with a union sponsored apprenticeship program in enrolling new apprentices selected for Shreveport JATC/IBEW 194’s five-year electrical apprenticeship program.

WIOA financial assistance is provided for three years to pay for textbooks, a basic toolkit, and supportive services, if needed. Youth work experience agreement and an OJT Contract with Wilhite Electric – one of the participating contractors under IBEW 194’s collective bargaining agreement.

The apprentices enrolled in our WIOA program who succeed receive great benefits: an increase in pay every year, health insurance paid for by the union, and a union sponsored pension plan.

Combating Generational Poverty

JOB1-New Orleans Workforce

JOB1• Funded with WIOA funds • Trained 25 students to be

Certified Patient Care Techs

• Upon completion of the program the students were hired by LCMC and are now working in the New Orleans Area

Best Practice LWDB 51• LWDA 51 participated in a Customized Training

Program with Ochsner and Sowela Technical College to train Certified Clinical Medical Assistants.

• The training was from September 2019 through February 2020.

• We started 18 students and then life happened for some of them.

• We ended the class with 13 graduates who received their certifications in: Medical Assistant, EKG, Phlebotomy Tech. and OSHA 10.

• All 13 students have gone to work for Ochsner’s in our area.

• This collaborative partnership worked very well and plan to do another one based on the needs of the hospitals in our area.

LWDA 51

BEST PRACTICES LWDB 40 Regional Organizing

In 2017, Parish Presidents and workforce leaders in the Acadiana area of the state took a different approach to addressing workforce services. Through a regional collaboration eight parishes merged systems, resources, and leadership to achieve scale and impact. The parishes include Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion. This is a tremendous undertaking and the first in Louisiana. As such, an assessment of the overall performance is currently in process and will assist in better understanding how to best align partner programs, education, and economic development to engage employer/industry leaders while improving employment outcomes.

This innovative approach revealed strengths and weaknesses including:

Experience with using a Community College as the One Stop Center operator

Coordination of employer services across multiple parishes

Building and implementing program service levels in a large geographic area

Review of the best operational structure

The Local Workforce Directors and our Boards would like to thank the

committee for allowing us to share our story and show how using our

partnerships are the key to getting Louisiana back to work.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS