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Michigan PYs 2020-2023

WIOA State Plan Common Elements

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—

III. a. 2. A. Core Program Activities to Implement the State’s Strategy

Describe the activities the entities carrying out the respective core programs will fund to implement the State’s strategies.  Also, describe how such activities will be aligned across the core programs and Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan and among the entities administering the programs, including using co-enrollment and other strategies, as appropriate.

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2018-2019

Current Narrative:

The Governor indicated that every agency within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) portfolio has a critical role in delivering on our mission and vision for Michigan.  Breaking apart our big challenges and attacking each component is the only way to address our state strategies efficiently. 

Our strategy is integrated into the Governor’s overall strategic plan for Michigan.  This strategy includes the alignment of policies, operations, and administrative systems to avoid duplication of workforce programs and activities, as well as providing a way to leverage discretionary funding and formula-based investment across all programs.  Our collaboration with workforce agencies, employers, economic developers, post-secondary education providers, and other partners with shared interests provides us with opportunities to leverage partner funds for services not funded under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).  Our workforce programs are being implemented with innovation and efficiency in mind to deliver results-driven training and services in order to address educational and credential attainment, provide access and equity for self-sustaining employment, assist employers with their workforce training needs, and revitalize our education system and opportunities to better prepare youth.

Core Program Activities to Implement the State’s Strategy

Sixty by 30: Newly established statewide goal to increase the number of Michiganders between the ages of 16 and 64 with a post-secondary credential/obtainment to 60 percent by 2030.

Summer Young Professionals Program:  Michigan pilot summer young adult employment program to reduce youth unemployment by introducing under-represented young adults, ages 14-24, to the world of work while providing participants and their families with income. 

Michigan Reconnect:  Increase training opportunities for adults who have already started their careers and are seeking an in-demand industry certification or associate degree to
up-skill and qualify for local in-demand careers.

Michigan Opportunity:  Newly developed scholarship program that will provide two years of tuition assistance at a four-year, not-for-profit college or university for students who graduate from a Michigan high school with at least a B average. 

Registered Apprenticeships:  LEO’s Industry Engagement Division is utilizing a strategic approach and sector partnerships to create a pipeline of professional workers through work-based learning.  The training model combines job related, classroom-based learning, with paid on-the-job training in high-skill, high-wage, in-demand industry occupations.  Registered Apprenticeships have benefits for employers, apprentices and our economy.  Efforts to drive expansion by ingraining Registered Apprenticeships into the fabric and service delivery at the local level continues.  These efforts help to provide career paths to high-skilled, high-wage jobs in industries such as Agriculture, Construction, Energy, Health Care, Information Technology and Manufacturing for Michigan residents, including underrepresented populations, youth, women, ethnic minority communities, Native Americans, persons with disabilities, and veterans.  Apprenticeship Success Coordinators functions in each of the 16 MWAs statewide.

State Apprenticeship Expansion:  To further education and career success initiatives in the state, Michigan is leveraging this project to expand Registered Apprenticeship utilization and support, enhance Michigan Training Connect and the Michigan Education and Career Pathfinder career exploration websites, and to map Career Pathways in Michigan. 

LEOs Industry Engagement Division leads this effort with guidance from and collaboration with partners and stakeholders in the business community, workforce development, education and training, community organizations, and labor and economic development.  Partners include the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget – Office of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, and the United States Department of Labor – Michigan Office of Apprenticeship.

High School Completion Pilot: LEO is implementing a new High School Completion (HSC) Pilot beginning January 1, 2020, to count hours in high school completion or equivalency as core hours when determining if a PATH participant met the work participation requirement.  One of the greatest challenges to serving PATH participants in adult education is that adult education services are not considered a core activity for work participation, so even participants that may be in need of adult education programming often are not referred for this valuable service because of the negative impact on performance.  The recent and sustained success of Michigan’s PATH program has substantially reduced the liability of not meeting the federally imposed 50 percent work participation rate and all associated penalties.  Michigan has the ability to expand and extend the opportunity for PATH participants to pursue a high school completion or equivalency without facing the adverse effects of not meeting the work participation requirement.  Increased collaboration between program counterparts at the state level has resulted in a deeper understanding of program operations and allows better alignment of state policies to eliminate barriers for local programs when possible.

LEO collaborates with and participates in strategic partnerships with MWAs for the administration of all major workforce programs, including the WIOA, Adult Education, Wagner-Peyser, Trade Act, Partnership.Accountability.Training.Hope (PATH), Fidelity Bonding, Veterans, migrant and seasonal farm workers, and with the Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) as core program partners to provide Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services.

LEO will fund eligible adult education providers to offer adult education services, including adult basic education, adult secondary education, high school completion, high school equivalency testing preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), Integrated Education and Training (IET), Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE), workforce preparation, workplace literacy, and family literacy.  Adult education providers must collaborate with Michigan Works!, career and technical education centers, community colleges, or other training providers to develop and implement IET programs.  Adult education providers are encouraged to partner with Michigan Works!, VR, and other community partners to connect participants with supportive services and remove barriers to success.

Core program partners have identified increased co-enrollment, data sharing and shared credential attainments, as measurements of successful partnerships that are imperative throughout regions and the state. 

MRS and BSBP are encompassed within Title IV - Vocational Rehabilitation.  Michigan is seeking a waiver from the state workforce development board requirements outlined at Sections 101(b) and 101(c) of the WIOA of 2014 and 20 CFR 679.110(a),(c) and (f), which specify board membership, chairperson, and category/sub-category representation requirements.  The state workforce development board composition provides better support for true engagement of employers and education providers with the state’s workforce development system.  The composition also provides an enhanced opportunity for the creation of innovative solutions to the challenges employers in key sectors are facing.  An increase in Michiganders possessing post-secondary credentials is also anticipated to occur.  The director of the state’s workforce development department/agency or their designee will provide strong representation for WIOA Titles I-IV, including MRS and BSBP.

MRS’ and BSBP’s strategy for the alignment of core programs and other available resources includes assuming a leadership role to foster cooperation and collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels with partners involved in the employment and independence of individuals with disabilities.

MRS and BSBP collaborates with, and participates in, strategic partnerships with the MWAs as a One-Stop center partner.  The VR maintains a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each local Michigan Works! Service Center.  The MOU defines the manner in which MRS and BSBP participates in the One Stop center.

Collaboration includes:   

  • MRS, BSBP, and the core programs have together, developed a joint vision for the workforce development system that is inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
     
  • MRS and BSBP are included in the LEO meetings, including conferences and staff meetings.

 

  • MRS and BSBP are represented on the State Workforce Development Board.

 

  • MRS and BSBP are represented on Local Workforce Development Boards and are included in regional plans for the planning regions.

 

  • MRS and BSBP collaborates with other LEO staff.
     
  • MRS and BSBP are a Disability Awareness Resource Team under LEO.
     
  • MRS and BSBP offer subject matter expertise to assist One-Stops to meet their requirements under Section 188 of the WIOA.

 

  • MRS and BSBP, under LEO, are working toward an enhanced MRS and BSBP presence in the One-Stops by discussing how to strengthen referrals and cross train staff of the six core agencies.

 

  • MRS and BSBP are developing a coordinated process with State and local educational agencies in assisting individuals with disabilities, especially youth with disabilities who are considering subminimum wage employment or who are already employed, at a subminimum wage, to maximize opportunities to achieve competitive integrated employment through services provided by MRS, BSBP, and the local educational agencies.
     
  • MRS and BSBP are expanding pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities.