Wagner-Peyser Act

(3) Administration of the work test for the State unemployment compensation system, including making eligibility assessments (for referral to UI adjudication, if needed), and providing job finding and placement services for UI claimants; and

Maryland utilizes permanent Wagner-Peyser staff to conduct RESEA activities under Title III WIOA changes. From the UI first pay list, the WPRS will profile claimants weekly, with those profiled as most likely to exhaust assigned to the RESEA program along with UCX claimants. The remaining claimants will be assigned to the ROW. RESEA claimants may be referred to ROW as a result of the RESEA after the eligibility review and if determined that it will assist in reducing the length of unemployment. Historically, Maryland‘s WPRS system profiles between 20,000-30,000 annually.

The elements which comprise Maryland’s RESEA are AJC Orientation, Labor Market Information provision, Individual Reemployment Plan, Referral to Reemployment and Training Services, and Eligibility Review Interview. Claimants and trainers will mutually agree upon which of the array of AJC services are most beneficial to assist in a job search. Examples of AJC program referrals may include WIOA training, POAC, other workshops, specific training for ex-offenders, GED^® seekers, seniors, and other targeted populations. The mutually agreed upon service is recorded in MWE and on the claimant’s Individual Reemployment Plan. The trainer follows the Individual Employment Plan to assure compliance with the agreement. If a claimant fails to follow through on agreed upon reemployment services within 45 days, they will be referred to UI for adjudication.

The ROW provides reemployment assistance to UI claimants not served by the RESEA program. ROW trainers provide services at AJCs. The goals of the program include shortening the duration of UI and connecting UI claimants to Employment Service programs. The delivery of reemployment services involves a coordinated approach, involving DUI, Wagner-Peyser, and WIOA Title I staff. ROW is open to all jobseekers, whether they are a current UI claimant or employed. Each identified profiled candidate is contacted regarding participation in a job finding and career enhancing workshop for a six hour presentation that covers, at a minimum, the job acquisition process, which includes self-assessment, career transition, employment related correspondence, and interviewing.

Local programs are encouraged to provide well-rounded programs with additional topics for customers and partners. Each workshop participant knows by the end of the workshop that successful employment is the ultimate goal, and all AJC staffers are available to assist with their job search. Each workshop completer receives targeted and specific job search assistance, beginning in the workshop, with emphasis on appropriate and necessary Labor Market Information. Self-assessment instruments, access to supportive services and partner agencies, and individual and group counseling (career guidance) are available. The workshop includes referral and access information to program staff, training, and additional resources. In addition, local training staff can access lists of workshop completers to provide follow up inquiries to potential dislocated workers. Job matching services, one-on-one conferences, follow-up activities, and meetings are used as tools to help customers obtain rapid reemployment. Each workshop participant is contacted for follow-up assistance and additional services.

Workshops are available that address interviewing skills, application preparation, résumé writing, social media, and job searches on the Internet. Participants access services and attend workshops at the AJC. They also receive referrals to upcoming job fairs and employer recruitment events and link with other AJC partners. Partners participate in the ROW or RESEA workshops to provide pertinent information on-site or through their websites. Participants who need additional training to obtain employment are assisted through other WIOA programs.

With increasing numbers of LEP individuals filing UI claims, Maryland is responding to the need for Spanish-language workshops. Workshop materials have been translated into Spanish, and Spanish-speaking workshop facilitators provide Spanish-language workshops in the areas with the largest numbers of LEP claimants. Spanish-language services are available in the rest of the state as well.

Maryland profiles all Spanish-speaking UI claimants that file a claim certification for request for payment. This is a change from the previous method of calling-in based on first payment of a claim. If a claimant does fail to report to a required reemployment activity a referral will be made to UI for review. This allows labor exchange staff to have claimants engaged within two weeks of filing for UI. Claimants that fail to report and register in the MWE are referred to unemployment staff for fact-finding and adjudication for their continued eligibility for benefits.

DWDAL and the DUI continue to work collaboratively to ensure that staff questions, concerns, and challenges are quickly identified and addressed. There is great importance attributed to the fact that DWDAL and the DUI’s administration meet regularly, to orient themselves toward the highest standards for the RESEA program. The Reemployment Program Manager and the UI Administrator jointly host regular program staff meetings to allow for frequent training and technical assistance in such areas as UI eligibility issues, fact finding processes, data system operations and reporting, site-specific issues from a more global perspective, and integration of the RESEA program into the AJC fabric.