Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports 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—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements. This includes—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 9. Addressing the Accessibility of the One-Stop Delivery System for Individuals who are English Language Learners
Describe how the one-stop delivery system (including one-stop center operators and the one-stop delivery system partners) will ensure that each one-stop center is able to meet the needs of English language learners, such as through established procedures, staff training, resources, and other materials.
Current Narrative:
Limited English Proficiency Guidance
As outlined in Workforce Services Directive WSD17-03, in providing any aid, benefit, service, or training under a WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity, a recipient must not, directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements, discriminate on the basis of national origin, including Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
Local Areas are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that LEP individuals have meaningful access to their programs and activities. Reasonable steps may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Conducting an assessment of an LEP individual to determine their language assistance needs.
- Providing oral interpretation or written translation of both hard copy and electronic materials, in the appropriate non-English languages, to LEP individuals.
- Conducting outreach to LEP communities to improve service delivery in needed languages.
- Reasonable steps for providing meaningful access to training programs may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Providing written training materials in appropriate non-English languages by written translation, or by oral interpretation, or summarization.
- Providing oral training content in appropriate non-English languages through in-person or telephone translation.
Furthermore, Local Areas should ensure that every program delivery method, whether it be in person, electronic, or by phone, conveys in the appropriate language how an LEP individual may effectively learn about, participate in, and/or access any aid, benefit, service, or training available to them. It should also be noted that as new methods for the delivery of information or assistance are developed, Local Areas are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that LEP individuals remain able to learn about, participate in, and/or access any aid, benefit, service, or training available to them.
In order to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to allow meaningful access for LEP individuals, California highly recommends that Local Areas develop a written LEP plan. For languages spoken by a significant portion of the population eligible to be served or likely to be encountered, Local Areas must translate vital information in written materials into these languages. These translations must in turn be readily available upon request in hard copy or electronically. Local Areas address these accessibility issues by taking reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access for LEP Individuals, providing language assistance services, and interpreter services.
Pathways to Services Guidance
As outlined in Workforce Services Directive WSD18-03, California seeks to support economic growth by preparing a workforce for the state’s employers, ensuring that the workforce system in California is inclusive of all populations, and promoting flexibility in how services are delivered across the state. The state issued guidance in an effort to assist Local Areas in collecting evidence of authorization to work and in providing important and valued services to all individuals, including but not limited to, individuals with limited English proficiency, homeless individuals, ex-offenders, transient youth, and those engaged in citizenship attainment.
The guidance addresses verification of authorization to work documents, including which services require verification, when to ask, and where to refer individuals for additional services. This Directive also provides a pathway to services for those individuals who do not possess authorization to work documents. California seeks to prohibit discrimination and make workforce services accessible to all populations.
Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act
California’s Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act requires state and local agencies serving a substantial number of non-English speaking people, to employ a sufficient number of qualified bilingual staff in public contact positions and to translate documents explaining available services into their clients’ languages.
California ELL Navigator Initiative
California also dedicated WIOA statewide funds to support an ELL Navigator Initiative, which included an ELL Navigator Pilot Program. These funds are intended to support projects that increase access for target populations, align WIOA programs, implement co-enrollment strategies, leverage other program funding, and provide supportive services for California’s ELL population.