WIOA State Plan Common Elements

The CareerSource Florida Board includes representation of WIOA’s core programs within the Florida Department of Education Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Blind Services (FDBS) and Adult Education (DCAE). WIOA core program teams are focused on strategic policy development and implementation and performance accountability reporting as discussed in section II(c)(2). WIOA core program partners continue their focus on areas for improvement and strategy execution. Core program partners report on WIOA primary indicators of performance and other performance information used to ensure continuous improvement.

All core programs work to:

• VR is working collaboratively with partners to identify barriers across all partner agencies by implementing an Employment First Toolkit and Resource guide. This will identify barriers and provides a common core of requisite skills and terminology to serve as the basis for a shared process to support and serve individuals with disabilities.
• Continue implementation of an interagency supported program and fiscal planning process that defines and projects the number of people who require intensive and extended services for each fiscal year. VR has added policy and procedures to fund extended services to youth 24 and under who do not have access to an alternative funding source.
• Pilot innovative service models such as Individual Placement and Support (IPS) through peer specialists to provide more service options to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. VR has entered into an Intensive Technical Assistance agreement with the Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center (WINTAC) to expand the VR self-advocacy service of Youth Peer Mentoring statewide. This collaboration will leverage agency resources to deliver training that would typically cost in excess of $40,000 if delivered using traditional methods. VR now offers Discovery and Customized Employment statewide and is increasing provider capacity to deliver these services. VR develops agreements with and partners 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 that engage and support Florida’s employers and increases access to employment and educational services.
• Design and implement enhancements to the Vendor Profile document to assist customers in making informed choices about employment providers.
• Establish casework quality assurance review practices to validate data entry; continue data validation practices to detect errors prior to reporting.
• Share cross-referral outcomes.
• Educate potential employees who do not have a high school diploma (or equivalent) and whose English-speaking skills need improvement. By obtaining required education and skills for today’s workplace, welfare dependence will decrease, and opportunities will increase for high-skill and high-wage careers.
• Continue efforts to ensure partners recognize and support VR’s role as the primary employment agency for all individuals with disabilities, including those with most significant disabilities. VR works closely as a member of the Statewide Employment First Interagency Committee, including the Department of Economic Opportunity, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Division of Blind Services, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Service, Department of Children and Families - Mental Health, Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Florida Developmental Disability Council and CareerSource Florida. This promotes the coordination and collaboration of services on a statewide basis.
• 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.
• Provide Career Counseling Information and Referral Service for individuals participating in subminimum wage employment. The curriculum provides opportunities to learn about employment and the variety of supports available to assist in the obtainment of successful employment. Youth 24 and under are now required to apply for VR services prior to seeking subminimum wage employment. VR counselors provide an array of counseling and information services designed to support individuals seeking competitive integrated employment. Policy has been updated to reflect these additional requirements found under WIOA.
• VR continues to expand TPCA and/or similar work-based experiences to all Florida school districts. Additional initiatives continue to increase provider and partner capacity to offer more opportunities for youth to explore careers and acquire work skills, including work readiness training delivered by CareerSource Florida centers, revision of Certified Business Technical Assistance Consultant (CBTAC) recertification procedures and increase CBTAC providers. VR also collaborates with Volunteer Florida, Centers for Independent Living, The Arc of Florida and High School High Tech to increase community-based work experiences needed to develop employability and soft skills youth need to be competitive in a 21st century workforce.
• Develop a network of qualified benefits planners to augment the SSA contracts for WIPA services which will enable more VR customers who are ticketholders, youth and SSI/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries not yet working or ready to work, to be served.
• Review pilot and innovative employment practices and assess the feasibility of replicating successful programs. Participate in developing a consortium of supported employment providers that identify, share and promote innovative employment practices.