Located in:
- III. Operational Planning ElementsThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that support 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 ImplementationThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include—
- 2. Implementation of State StrategyDescribe 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. D. Coordination, Alignment and Provision of Services to Employers
Current Narrative:
CareerSource Florida will continue to focus on its Expanding Business Engagement initiative. Led by the Business and Workforce Development team at CareerSource Florida and its LWDB partners, this initiative is designed to encourage Florida employers to more fully utilize the state’s employee recruitment, retention, and training services. Building upon early success, CareerSource Florida will continue efforts to identify and address any challenges employers note in accessing workforce services; work to enhance employer satisfaction; and measure effectiveness of employer outreach programs.
State board and local boards work with core programs to engage employers
CareerSource Florida also works with the team of business-focused managers in each LWDB, typically called business liaisons, who work closely with area employers to meet their hiring and training needs. To support these efforts, Florida uses the Salesforce software platform as a customer relationship management tool to allow best-in-class management of its interactions with stakeholders. This common system enables Florida’s LWDBs to work together and enhance collaborative opportunities from a business services perspective. The Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services are engaged in conversations to explore using this system in their business outreach activities as well. Additionally, quarterly webinars are conducted with CareerSource Florida, the business liaisons from the local workforce boards and the business services managers from Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation. CareerSource Florida will encourage local boards to include their local adult education partners in these calls. Further, Florida’s 24 local workforce development boards are aligning business outreach services with the Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation, Blind Services, and AEFLA programs to better coordinate employer outreach. The result of this coordination is enhanced and aligned service to employers. This allows all core partners to better identify projected workforce needs within each local area, identify businesses with growing employment needs, and aligning the outreach and customer service provided to those business customers.
Adult Education Programs
AEFLA programs will partner with CareerSource local workforce development boards to identify employer needs in their regions. Employer relationships also exist with AEFLA programs in identifying soft skills needed in their workplace and other elements to add to the curriculum being delivered. Professionals from the Florida Department of Education Division of Career and Adult education serve on a steering committee established to provide input on skill gap analyses done by CareerSource Florida and the Department of Economic Opportunity. This participation provides for AEFLA programs to understand employer needs and implement findings of these studies. Also, local adult education classes engage in outreach to businesses to speak to their classes about industries, occupations, and job opportunities. Additionally, employers provide opportunities for hands on learning with business site visits.
Vocational Rehabilitation
VR has recently formalized a Business Relations Program, with the vision to build and sustain partnerships with business and industry through effective services that are driven by the needs of employers. These partnerships will lead to competitive integrated employment and career exploration opportunities for VR customers.
FDBS also is expanding business relationships with employers at the local level to identify and maximize competitive integrated employment opportunities and career exploration opportunities for adults and students. FDBS plans to provide ongoing training to employment staff, increase utilization of the Talent Acquisition Portal among job seekers and employers, increase utilization with the Abilities Work Web Portal at abilitieswork.employflorida.com and its Help Desk, develop new vocational training programs at the residential rehabilitation center; continuation of sponsorship of self-employment opportunities; sponsorship of technology training; sponsorship of academic and vocational training; encourage careers in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics to qualified individuals; and provide consultation and technical assistance to community partners and employers to promote the employment of individuals with disabilities.
One current example is a pilot project in Florida of the Vermont Progressive Employment Model, designed to increase employment outcomes for hard to place FDBS clients through strong business relationships, and early and multiple work experiences for clients. The duration of the project is from April 1, 2015 - March 31, 2016, and is being implemented in six districts throughout the state.
Florida’s goal is to increase collaboration between employer services to leverage expertise and prevent and eliminate duplication. Florida will continue to increase employer penetration and work to coordinate employers’ services across WIOA program partners.