WIOA State Plan Common Elements

The delivery of services is available and accessible to all customers which includes veterans, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, individuals with disabilities, ex—offenders, welfare—to—work participants, and the general public. In addition to administering the WIOA, Wagner—Peyser, and Adult Education programs, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity administers:

• Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope. (PATH) — Provides job assistance and training to parents receiving cash assistance.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — Provides employment—related services to able—bodied individuals without dependents receiving food assistance.
• Trade Act — Provides training to workers who have lost their jobs as a result of an increase in imports or shift of jobs to foreign countries.
• Veterans — Provides specialized services that promote employment and training for veterans.
• Jobs for Veterans’ State Grant — Targets certain categories of veterans and spouses of veterans.
• Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers — Provides specialized services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers that are delivered through the Agricultural Employment Specialists in collaboration with Michigan Works!
• Foreign Labor Certification — Assists employers in filling their personnel needs that cannot be met with United States (U.S.) workers, while protecting U.S. workers from competition from low—wage foreign workers.
• Michigan Offender Success — The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity works with the Department of Corrections to coordinate prisoner re—entry services in the workforce system.
• Fidelity Bonding Program of Michigan — The program assists high—risk job seekers in obtaining employment by providing an incentive for employers to hire job seekers who are qualified, but may be considered high—risk. A fidelity bond is available to any job seeker who has a bona—fide offer of employment. Those eligible include people with poor credit records including bankruptcies, economically disadvantaged youth and adults who lack a work history, welfare recipients, recovering substance abusers, ex—offenders, those dishonorably discharged from military service, youth in apprenticeships, and those who cannot be commercially bonded.
• The Martin Luther King Jr. — Cesar Chavez — Rosa Parks Initiative Programs are designed to assist students along the academic pipeline from the seventh grade through graduate work.

Additional State strategies and collaborations include the following:

Serving Youth in Need: In order to meet the Governor’s goal of keeping our youth — our future — here, services must be dedicated to the youth population. Because the need is great and WIOA funding is limited, it is necessary for our system to leverage resources and services from other organizations. The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, in conjunction with the Michigan Works! Agencies, provides linkages between workforce development, education, juvenile justice, and social service agencies as well as coordinating with local employers to provide “at—risk” youth entry—level jobs, internships, mentoring, on— the—job training, and work experience in high—demand occupations.

Services provided by the Michigan Works! Agencies’ One—Stop system include intensive case management, mentoring, advocacy, referrals to shelter and housing, health care, supportive services, childcare, transportation, job training, and education. At—risk youth’s employment and life barriers are identified and addressed in Individual Service Strategies, which lay out plans for overcoming identified barriers. The Individual Service Strategies also set participation benchmarks and goals designed to lead to self—sufficiency, including continuing education and employment.

Furthermore, the following strategies help promote collaboration and service to those youth most in need:

Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates: The statewide Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates program helps Michigan’s young people who are at risk of dropping out of high school, or who have already dropped out, graduate and make successful transitions to post—secondary education or meaningful employment. Students enrolled in the program are youth who have barriers to success, including deficiencies in basic skills, transportation, income, and economic status. Many are from families with low educational attainment levels.

Pathways to Potential: Pathways to Potential, created in 2012, brings services directly to families. It is a customer—centered service delivery model that transforms the way the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services conducts its business and interacts with clients in the communities it serves. More than 200 centers are staffed by nearly 280 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services representatives that provide Family Independence Program families with help through education, employment, food, and daycare. The initiative also includes the expectation of a part—time Michigan Works! Agency presence at these sites.

Summer Youth Employment Program for Foster Youth: The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Chafee— funded Summer Youth Employment Program provides meaningful summer employment opportunities for youth in foster care. The program may include any combination of allowable WIOA youth services that occur during the summer period, as long as it includes a work experience component. Eligibility for the program is restricted to Chafee—eligible foster youth, ages 14 and older, without a goal of reunification or likely to remain in care until age 18 or older. The Summer Youth Employment Program participants are provided work experience and employment development for a minimum of six weeks, for at least 20 hours per week at no less than minimum wage.

YouthBuild Programs: Eight YouthBuild programs are in operation in Michigan, predominantly in urban areas. Michigan Works! Agencies are the sponsoring organization for one of the programs (Benton Harbor) and partnering agencies with others. The partnership allows additional opportunities for out—of— school youth to combat poverty, homelessness, and illiteracy. The program provides a means for job training by gaining leadership and other skills needed to become gainfully employed, while overcoming negative habits and attitudes. In addition to Benton Harbor, two programs are located in both Grand Rapids and Detroit, and the three remaining programs are located in Jackson, Flint, and Saginaw.

Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope (PATH): With the passage of federal Welfare to Work legislation in 1996, cash assistance evolved from an entitlement to a safety network program designed to provide families with temporary financial assistance while they secure employment. However, many families seeking cash assistance through the Michigan Family Independence Program face significant barriers in securing and retaining employment. From childcare to transportation and literacy, caseworkers cite a long list of barriers that can keep families from achieving self—sufficiency.

On January 1, 2013, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, and Michigan Works! Agencies began the implementation of Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope. (PATH). PATH is a robust, results—oriented work participation program designed to identify barriers and help clients connect to the resources they need to obtain employment, and is administered by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity through Michigan Works! One— Stop Service Centers. Funds are awarded by formula to each of the Michigan Works! Agencies. The PATH formula allocation is based on the relative number of Application Eligibility Period attendees and PATH participants in the local area, compared to the total number of Application Eligibility Period attendees and PATH participants statewide within the recent 12 month period.

Michigan Works! Agencies may also enter into agreements with their local Michigan Department of Health and Human Services offices for the purpose of providing additional Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding for employment— related support services. The funds are transferred to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity via an Interagency Agreement and then allocated to the local Michigan Works! Agencies. The additional Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds provided by the local Department of Health and Human Services offices may be used to increase the availability of current Michigan Works! Agency funds for other PATH services or activities.

The PATH program features a 21—day assessment period during which barriers to employment are identified and caseworkers work individually with clients to connect them with resources to address these barriers. The coursework offered during the 21—day assessment period is critical in helping clients find employment, particularly those who have been unemployed for quite some time or have difficulties with sustaining employment. The extended assessment period helps connect clients to resources ranging from professional clothing to transportation. Additionally, the PATH curriculum prepares clients for both the pursuit of a job and the skills necessary to keep a job. Resume writing and job search skills are included in this curriculum, as well as instruction on acceptable workplace behavior and employer expectations.

Individual participants who are eligible may also be referred to education and training activities funded through the WIOA to maximize the effectiveness of resources.

Food Assistance Employment and Training Program (FAE&T): The FAE&T Program provides participants opportunities to gain skills, training, or experience to improve their ability to obtain self-sustaining employment. Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) subject to the ABAWD work requirement may choose the option of finding a job on their own and working a minimum of 20 hours per week, to participate in self-initiated community service with a local Michigan Department of Health and Human Services office, or to be referred to a Michigan Works! Agency for employment and training services through FAE&T. For individuals referred to a Michigan Works! Agency, an Individual Services Strategy is completed and supportive services are available. Intensive case management services designed to support ABAWDs’ efforts toward employability may be provided, as appropriate, throughout the duration of their participation in employment and training activities. Participants, who are eligible, may also be referred to education and training activities funded through the WIOA to maximize the effectiveness of resources. Funds for the program are awarded by formula to ten Michigan Works! Agencies, and allocations are based on the total number of food assistance households during a recent twelve-month period.

In addition to serving ABAWDs, the Food Assistance Employment and Training Plus program (FAE&T Plus) extends employment and training services to include individuals with minor children by connecting with third party partners to deliver these services with non-federal funding. The program design focuses on employer demand while offering skills training and credentials required to obtain self-sustaining employment. The State qualifies for a 50 percent reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for all qualified expenditures. The Michigan Works! Agency is responsible for monitoring contractors for compliance with the both program policies. The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity also monitors the local workforce development boards and contractors for compliance. Each Michigan Works! Agency is required to report participant data via the state’s One-Stop Management Information System.

Refugee Services: The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Services has provided additional employment support services to refugees that receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance through the Family Independence Program. Seven counties in Michigan have been identified by the Office of Refugee Services as serving the majority of refugees. Michigan Works! Agencies may refer refugees who are receiving Family Independence Program assistance to Office of Refugee Service contractors for employment support services.

Trade Adjustment Assistance: The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has an integrated strategy to align services between the WIOA Rapid Response, the WIOA Dislocated Worker, and the Trade Adjustment Assistance programs. To increase alignment among the programs, the Trade Adjustment Assistance Section within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity was relocated to the Office of Talent Policy and Planning (with the WIOA Rapid Response and Dislocated Worker programs). This adjustment will increase collaboration among the programs.

The State’s vision for the Trade Adjustment Assistance program includes continuing to move the administration of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program to a demand—driven approach. This will be accomplished by:

• Participating in statewide Michigan Works! Business Services meetings to inform Business Services Representatives and companies about the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. This not only informs companies who may be closing or laying off workers of the benefits of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, but also informs companies of the Employer—Based Training opportunities available by hiring Trade Adjustment Assistance certified workers.
• Coordinating with local and State economic development partners to inform companies of the Employer—Based Training opportunities available by hiring Trade Adjustment Assistance certified workers.
• Coordination with state efforts to increase apprenticeships in Michigan by including the Trade Adjustment Assistance program as an available funding source for workers that qualify.
• Continuing to promote the alignment of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program with Business Services to increase employment opportunities for Trade Adjustment Assistance certified workers (with strong encouragement for employer— based training).

Wagner—Peyser Programs: Michigan is creating and implementing new policy directives for its Wagner—Peyser program in order to meet the demands of job seekers and employers. In addition, the State and its partners are creating new and stronger partnerships in order to improve service delivery, to avoid duplication of services, and to enhance service coordination, including co—locating agencies within the One—Stop centers. New directives include:

• Wagner—Peyser services will be aligned with Adult and Dislocated Worker services to refer job seekers for training support services and a more intensive level of service which Wagner—Peyser dollars do not fund. Adult and Dislocated Worker providers have established relationships with local community colleges and universities to provide training in high—demand occupations.
• Providing the Unemployment Insurance Agency Work Test for claimants to ensure they are able to work, seeking work, and have not refused suitable work. This is completed when the claimant registers for work at a Michigan Works! Agency by entering their profile on the Pure Michigan Talent Connect — Michigan’s labor exchange system;
• Providing re—employment services to profiled claimants selected by the Unemployment Insurance Agency. Profiled claimants are those claimants who will most likely exhaust their unemployment benefits before finding employment. Re— employment services provide a more guided approach to accessing employment and training services offered by the Michigan Works! Agencies to assist the claimant in returning to work more quickly. The services offered include employability workshops, creating an Individual Service Strategy to guide the customer through their job search, and providing labor market information.
• Partnering with the Unemployment Insurance Agency to deliver the Re—employability Eligibility Assessment (REA) pilot program. This program provides one—on—one service to claimants who will more than likely exhaust their unemployment benefits prior to obtaining employment. This is similar to the re—employment profiling component mentioned above; however, claimants are to receive up to three Re—employability Eligibility Assessments if employment has not been acquired. These Re—employment Eligibility Assessments consist of re—employment services that are more intense and include follow—up case management services.
• Assisting highly—skilled talent in finding demand—driven careers by providing employability workshops to enhance the quality of job seekers’ career searches and provide the connection to employers through job fairs, employer of the day events, and industry fairs.

Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Programs: Michigan is making bold policy changes to help workers obtain better jobs quickly and efficiently by learning new skills. Workers need good paying jobs and companies need skilled workers, so the State is taking action to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to gain credentials sought by employers. Building on participation in national initiatives such as Shifting Gears and Moving Pathways Forward, the Office of Adult Education has made concerted efforts in promoting policies aimed at:

• Helping communities work better together. Delivering lifelong learning through career pathways that involve all three core partners: adult, post—secondary, and workforce education. This helps regions to better serve more people by aligning resources and maximizing the strengths of each partner.
• Educating workers more effectively. Provide education that is flexible, expeditious, and relevant to the workplace. Promising, powerful approaches will become standard — ensuring more people are able to get new skills and better jobs quicker.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) — Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)

The focus for VR is to provide individualized and customized services and supports to individuals with disabilities. VR staff are subject matter experts who will commit to work with the staff of core and combined plan program partners to support their efforts to provide effective services to individuals with disabilities. VR will strive to coordinate individualized VR plans for employment with the plans developed for individuals by other core plan partners, and assure that the VR plan is complementary to these other plans, whenever feasible.

Coordination between programs will be supported by working and, as appropriate, formal partnership agreements with state and community partners to create referral processes and jointly deliver services to customers, including customers from unserved and underserved populations. At the local level, VR will work with core and combined plan partners as well as other community resources, to reach out to unserved and underserved populations. Particularly, VR will focus efforts on unserved, underserved, and emerging populations of individuals with disabilities as identified in the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment.

Collaboration with other State of Michigan departments and agencies includes Michigan Rehabilitation Services, the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, the Michigan Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Civil Rights among other state agencies, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing align disability related programs by linking the state’s workforce and economic development agendas. To achieve necessary collaboration, the workgroup is moving forward with the formation of an ad hoc committee to identify and address the needs of individuals with disabilities and those agencies and respective services that can be leveraged for the purpose of putting qualified individuals back to work.