WIOA State Plan Common Elements

State Operating Systems that Support Coordinated Implementation of State Strategies

Florida’s workforce system data infrastructure comprises a strong federated model (interconnected) for data collection, management and reporting systems. The first system is responsible for collection, management and reporting of unemployment compensation data; the second system is the central hub for data collection management and reporting for Wagner-Peyser (WP) Act, Trade Adjustment Act (TAA), WIOA and state workforce/employment initiatives; and the third system collects data on SNAP and TANF individuals required to participate in employment and training. While all three systems operate under different business rules, according to their programs, all systems communicate with each other on both transactional and data-warehouse technology levels.

Employ Florida is the state’s official job-search portal that helps connect job seekers to jobs and helps businesses find the talent they need. Employ Florida is administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and located at www.employflorida.com. This virtual job-matching tool provides access at no charge to individuals, helping them develop a resume, assess their skills, find training to gain the skills they need, and apply for jobs. Businesses use the system to post jobs and find the talent they need. In addition, the system includes labor market information by industry, occupation, and region.  Employ Florida’s Virtual One-Stop provides a comprehensive online software that encompasses a full suite of components that fulfill the requirements of labor exchange, case management, labor market information, service tracking, fund management, provider services, and federal reporting.

Necessary data points required by workforce programs are collected using a single Common Intake, making it easier for CareerSource Career Center staff to deliver effective services to individuals. The system encourages collaboration and improved performance across WIOA Title I and III workforce programs, and the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) programs. Virtual One-Stop saves a significant amount of staff time by determining eligibility of multiple programs through a single form that collects all required data fields.

Florida’s CONNECT system is responsible for collection, eligibility and monetary determinations, management and reporting of unemployment compensation data. The CONNECT system interfaces claimant data into Employ Florida for additional or program required job assistance services and assessments.

Florida’s One-Stop Service Tracking (OSST) collects referral, participation, and non-compliance data on SNAP and TANF recipients required to participate in employment and training activities. Work requirement participants are referred from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) FLORIDA system to OSST nightly for program engagement. Employment and program non-compliance is also reported to DCF in the nightly interface. The OSST system interfaces with Employ Florida, as well, sharing certain data elements intended to prevent staff having to reference multiple systems.

While all three systems operate under different business rules, according to their programs, all systems communicate with each other on both transactional and data-warehouse technology levels to support the continuous stream of service without interruption. The Department of Economic Opportunity provides daily operational management of these systems and has access to all system databases where data quality and data integrity are assessed. Data is analyzed which supports informed program decisions and implementation strategies.

The Division of Public Schools, The Division of Florida Colleges and the Division of Career and Adult Education must coordinate to develop consistent system-wide relational databases for student, personnel, and facilities data. The databases are described fully below in section (B) Data-collection and Reporting Processes.

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation uses an automated process to upload customer work goals from the Rehabilitation Information Management System (RIMS) to Salesforce, which allows the Abilities Work Help Desk and VR Business Relations staff to facilitate referrals of qualified job seekers to positions with VR business partners. Business customers are provided information on the Abilities Work web portal at abilitieswork.employflorida.com which link employers and job seekers with disabilities. Job seekers are referred to Employ Florida to post their positions where they have the option to indicate their preference to recruit and hire individuals with disabilities in their Employ Florida profile.

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation uses the Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP) to increase opportunities for competitive integrated employment. The TAP is a portal with a national talent pool of individuals with disabilities looking for employment and a platform for businesses to post jobs and find talented individuals to fill their vacancies. The Occupational Information Network (O*Net)is used for career planning by VR customersand counselors. O*Net includes detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and human resource professionals, students, and researchers.

The Florida Division of Blind Services uses an automated process to upload client data from its comprehensive case management system, AWARE,  to the Ability Works Job Portal; thus, enabling upload into Employ Florida. The Florida Division of Blind Services uses the Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP) to increase opportunities for competitive integrated employment and interfaces with the Occupational Information Network (O*Net).  O*Net includes detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and human resource professionals, students, researchers.

Greater utilization of these systems increases exposure of job-ready clients to potential employers for enhanced employment opportunities.