Florida PYs 2016-2017 Published

WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Section Published
Located in:
  • III. Operational Planning Elements
    The 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 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.

Current Narrative:

Local career centers established by the state’s local workforce development boards are truly one-stop centers that offer a variety of business and job applicant services at one physical location. The local career centers use Wagner-Peyser and WIOA funding as the foundational grants that support the infrastructure costs of the centers. Shared costs paid by other workforce programs such as TANF and SNAP reduce the overall costs of the system to those two foundational grants. DEO has successfully worked with local boards in establishing cost allocation plans and now is one of the few states that has successfully implemented the indirect cost rate requirements of the recently enacted Uniform Guidance. Florida has pioneered the development of one-stop cost allocation plans that fairly distribute one-stop shared costs among benefitting programs and partners.

Following recommendations of the state’s WIOA Task Force, the CareerSource Florida Board is expanding to include WIOA’s core program partners of Florida Department of Education Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), and Blind Services (FDBS), and Adult Education (DCAE). In addition to strategic input into the state boards’ decision-making process, WIOA core program teams focused on strategy implementation and performance accountability reporting discussed in section II(c)(2) will continue to focus on areas for improvement and strategy execution. The core program partners will report on WIOA common measures and other relevant performance information in the spirit of continuous improvement.

Further, all of the core programs will work to:

• Identify issues, policies, and practices that present systemic barriers to effective participation of all individuals, including individuals with all levels of disability, and develop appropriate resolutions to remove such barriers.

• Continue to implement an interagency supported employment planning process for budget coordination which defines and projects the number of people in need of intensive and extended services for each fiscal year and facilitates program and fiscal planning.

• Pilot innovative service models such as Individual Placement and Support (IPS)/peer mentoring to provide more service options to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. VR has expanded the use of Discovery and Customized Employment statewide, and is now focusing on

increasing capacity to provide these services. VR continues to develop agreements with and partner with other agencies and organizations to provide customers more access to community resources.

• Fully implement a coordinated business relations program across core programs that includes leveraging community partnerships to engage and support Florida’s employers and increase access to appropriate employment and educational services.

• Design and implement enhancements to the Vendor Profile document to assist customers in making informed choices regarding employment providers.

• Establish additional casework quality assurance review practices to validate data entry. Continue data validation practices to detect errors prior to reporting.

• Share cross-referral outcomes.

• Inform potential employees who do not possess a high school diploma or equivalent or need to improve their English speaking skills about AEFLA programs and the benefits of education including postsecondary education on their career options. Career pathway programs will be expanded in AEFLA programs with planning, design, and implementation grants for the FICAPS AEFLA programs will develop bridge programs to create awareness of career clusters and job opportunities in the state and to accelerate progress through the program.

• Continue to improve the statewide management of supported employment programs by avoiding duplication of effort and funding while ensuring accountability. This process will provide a coordinated system of program development for supported employment services.

• Maximize the quality of supported employment service delivery, ensuring a comprehensive, continuous, efficient and effective referral process, individual program planning, coordination of intensive vocational services with extended services, information collection and dissemination, confidentiality, and technical assistance.

• Design and implement a program for customers to use to make an informed choice prior to entering subminimum wage employment.

• Continue to offer TPCA to all school districts annually. Additional initiatives are underway to increase provider capacity and offer more opportunities to youth, including approval of CareerSource Florida to provide pre-placement services, revision of Certified Business Technical Assistance Consultant (CBTAC) recertification procedures, and increase in CBTAC and Discovery providers. VR also is partnering with Volunteer Florida, Centers for Independent Living, The Arc of Florida and High School High Tech to offer more On-the-Job Training and community work experiences.

• Develop a network of qualified benefits planners to augment the SSA contracts for WIPA services so more VR customers who are ticketholders, youth, and SSI/SSDI beneficiaries who are not yet working or ready to work may be served.

• Review pilot and innovative employment practices and assess the feasibility of replicating programs with successful strategies. Participate in the development of a consortium of supported employment providers designed to identify, share, and promote innovative employment practices.