Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- a. State Strategy Implementation
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include–
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
- a. State Strategy Implementation
III. a. 2. C. Coordination, Alignment and Provision of Services to Individuals
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 (e.g. transportation), to individuals, including those populations identified in section II(a)(1)(B), and individuals in remote areas. The activities described shall conform to the statutory requirements of each program.
Current Narrative:
Vermont is very focused on coordinating and aligning the delivery of services to individuals with barriers to employments. Not only are the core partners engaged in strategic planning related to coordination, including the development of resource and process maps, but are they are teamed together to coordinate workforce services for SNAP & TANF recipients (VDOL, VR, AEL, Community Action Agencies (CAA), Vermont Technical College, SNAP, TANF), working together with mental health and substance abuse treatment providers to provide employment services at recovery centers (VR, VDOL), participating as part of the network of providers for the support of New Americans in communities and the workplace (VDOL, VR, AEL), and piloting ex-offender re-entry skills development and employment supports (VDOL, VR, AEL, DOC).
As discussed in earlier sections of the plan, workforce service providers are unifying around the challenges that inadequate or unaffordable transportation options present in helping individuals access career services and training and education options – in addition to permanent employment. Vermont’s Agency of Transportation (VTRANS) has become a much more involved partner in local and state efforts to review, revise, and pilot initiatives aimed at reducing the tremendous barrier that lack of reliable and affordable transportation places on many members of Vermont’s current and future labor force.
In 2019, VDOL (including WIOA, Wagner-Peyser, Registered Apprenticeship, JVSG, and TAA staff), AOE, VR, CCV, DOC, TANF, SEP, AEL providers, local employers, regional development corporations, and other local workforce development stakeholder participated in 12 regional workforce summits designed to:
- Facilitate cross-training among workforce training providers;
- Provide employers with state and local tools and information about how and where to access resources to help them meet their labor force needs;
- Generate regional feedback on pre-determined questions that would be used to inform aspects of planning a 2020 Workforce Summit and the development of the 2020 WIOA State Plan; and
- Create a directory of local workforce education, training, and support providers, programs, and relevant resources.
The Regional Workforce Summits built upon past collaborations among the RDCs, employers, and state and regional service providers and educators. The summits were meant to establish a process where state action reflects local realities, increasing information flow and improving transparency across a statewide workforce development system, providing both a source of knowledge and a means of advancing the conversation while avoiding duplication of past efforts.
The Regional Workforce Summit series generated a significant amount of information that included statewide and and regional strategies. The statewide strategies were considered and incorporated, when agreed to, in the development of the state’s strategies outlined in this plan. The timeline for completion is consistent with the timeline of this plan. Regional strategies will be considered on a region-by-region basis. VDOL intends to work with the RDCs to ensure that regional convenings of employers and workforce development service providers convene at least annually and that consideration and work on the regional strategies be part of the ongoing work of those groups.