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—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements. This includes—
- 6. Program Data
- A. Data Alignment and Integration
Describe the plans of the lead State agencies with responsibility for the administration of the core programs, along with the State Board, to align and integrate available workforce and education data systems for the core programs, unemployment insurance programs, and education through postsecondary education, and to the extent possible, the Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan. The description of the State’s plan for integrating data systems should include the State’s goals for achieving integration and any progress to date.
- A. Data Alignment and Integration
- 6. Program Data
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 6. A. i. Describe the State’s plans to make the management information systems for the core programs interoperable to maximize the efficient exchange of common data elements to support assessment and evaluation
Current Narrative:
(i) Describe the state’s plans to make the management information systems for the core programs interoperable to maximize the efficient exchange of common data elements to support assessment and evaluation.
| WIOA Program | Data System(s) Used | Year Contract Expires |
| Adult Program | MWE | 2020 |
| Dislocated Worker Program | MWE | 2020 |
| Youth Program | MWE | 2020 |
| Wagner-Peyser Act Program | MWE | 2020 |
| Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Program | LACES | 2020 |
| VR Program | AWARE | 2020 |
| TANF Program | WORKS | 2020 |
| Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program | MWE | 2020 |
| JVSG Program | MWE | 2020 |
| SCSEP | MWE | 2020 |
| REO | N/A | N/A |
| Community Service Block Grant | N/A | N/A |
| Unemployment Insurance | MABS & MWE | NOTE: UI will move from MABS, a legacy system, to a new modernized BEACON system in 2020. |
WIOA Program Data and System Alignment
Although MD Labor, MSDE, DHS, and DHCD report on each individual program to the respective federal oversight agency, Maryland does not currently have an integrated system with all partner programs. MD Labor is therefore currently unable to report data from agencies, like MSDE-DORS and DHS-FIA, which report using their own established systems.
Table: WIOA Program Data and System Alignment
As shown, the MWE currently houses WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, Wagner-Peyser, JVSG, Trade, and SCSEP program participants, however, TANF, VR, Adult Education, REO, and Apprenticeship are not currently in MWE. Due to contract end dates in 2019 and 2020, the WIOA leadership team recognizes that Maryland needs both short- and long-term solutions and goals to data sharing and alignment. To reach the long-term goal of system integration or alignment, the WIOA Alignment Group leadership team continues to identify potential options for common platforms and data integration. The team will schedule demonstrations with vendors and will work together to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the options available.
DHS is leading discussions with WIOA partners on long-term solutions in the development of prototypes, using multiple technologies to evaluate which best suit the needs of the state. Overall requirements and features are to be defined based on the suggestions from various stakeholders. MD THINK is a cloud-based technology platform to revolutionize Maryland’s delivery of human services. MD THINK will eventually integrate data systems from numerous programs and agencies. Currently, these agencies all have their own systems, housing disconnected yet overlapping in information. MD THINK represents the largest Information Technology project in the history of Maryland. This modern “client-centric” integrated platform will eventually provide employees, partner providers, and constituents of Maryland’s human services agencies an efficient and effective platform for delivering collaborative services. A web and mobile front end will provide a central place to access any service from any participating agency. MD THINK is being implemented program-by-program.
The WIOA partners intend to replace the multiple, existing systems, shown above, with a new system that will be adaptable across multiple Maryland State agencies. All require a system with similar attributes: a flexible, robust case management platform with safeguarding of Personally Identifiable Information, and a comprehensive, adaptable rules engine.
In the short-term, the WIOA leadership team and the Data and Dashboard workgroup are committed to working together to address data alignment and information sharing concerns through the following methods:
- Creating an inventory of data that is collected, by WIOA program, to determine which data elements (SSN, demographic data, etc.) would be helpful to partner WIOA organizations for eligibility purposes, etc.;
- Establishing Memoranda of Understanding between WIOA agencies, when applicable;
- Developing one standard confidentiality/ethics form for use with all personnel within the WIOA system to ensure staff understand, and agree with signature, to their responsibilities related to safeguarding confidential WIOA records;
- Developing one standard waiver for use with customers at first touch within the WIOA system to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws (e.g.: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA); etc.);
- Granting “read-only” basic access, with the appropriate releases, to limited WIOA system staff;
- Recognizing that if a WIOA partner agency has verified eligibility documentation, then the same documentation does not need to be duplicated by another state agency for a common customer; and
- Expanding partner access to the MWE system to a read-only level requires a team approach, where agencies must triage clients in order to properly enroll them and provide the most appropriate services.