WIOA State Plan Common Elements

The activities identified in III. a. 2. A. (Core Program Activities to Implement the State’s Strategy include), but are not limited to:

Sixty by 30:  Newly established statewide goal to increase the number of Michiganders between the ages of 16 and 64 with a post-secondary credential/obtainment to 60 percent by 2030.

Summer Young Professionals Program:  Michigan pilot summer young adult employment program to reduce youth unemployment by introducing under-represented young adults, ages 14-24, to the world of work while providing participants and their families with income. 

Michigan Reconnect:  Increase training opportunities for adults who have already started their careers and are seeking an in-demand industry certification or associate degree to up-skill and qualify for local in-demand careers.

Michigan Opportunity:  Newly developed scholarship program that will provide two years of tuition assistance at a four-year, not-for-profit college or university for students who graduate from a Michigan high school with at least a B average. 

Registered Apprenticeships: LEO’s Industry Engagement Division utilizes a strategic approach and sector partnerships to create a pipeline of professional workers through work-based learning.  The training model combines job related, classroom-based learning, with paid on-the-job training in high-skill, high-wage, in-demand industry occupations.  These efforts help to provide career paths to high-skilled, high-wage jobs in industries such as Agriculture, Construction, Energy, Health Care, Information Technology and Manufacturing for Michigan residents, including underrepresented populations, youth, women, ethnic minority communities, Native Americans, persons with disabilities, and veterans.   

State Apprenticeship Expansion:   Education and career success initiatives in the state. Michigan leverages this project to expand Registered Apprenticeship utilization and support, enhance Michigan Training Connect and the Michigan Education and Career Pathfinder career exploration websites, and to map Career Pathways in Michigan. 

High School Completion Pilot: Implementation of a new High School Completion (HSC) Pilot beginning January 1, 2020, to count hours in high school completion or equivalency as core hours when determining if a PATH participant met the work participation requirement.  One of the greatest challenges to serving PATH participants in adult education is that adult education services are not considered a core activity for work participation, so even participants that may be in need of adult education programming often are not referred for this valuable service because of the negative impact on performance.  The recent and sustained success of Michigan’s PATH program has substantially reduced the liability of not meeting the federally imposed 50 percent work participation rate and all associated penalties.  Michigan has the ability to expand and extend the opportunity for PATH participants to pursue a high school completion or equivalency without facing the adverse effects of not meeting the work participation requirement.  Increased collaboration between program counterparts at the state level has resulted in a deeper understanding of program operations and allows better alignment of state policies to eliminate barriers for local programs when possible.

The activities identified in (A) above will be aligned with programs and activities provided by required One-stop partners and other identified One-Stop partners through identifying commonality between workforce core program partners and the economic efforts shared collectively with other one-stop partners to identify the measurement of success throughout regions and the state.  This includes implementing co-enrollment, data sharing and shared credential attainment, as appropriate.  Continuing to build partnerships and specifically offer support to the adult education, youth and students with disabilities, and the local area’s business managers and staff.  This includes coordinating with partners and enhancing workforce and training programs for VR customers while increasing co-enrollment and industry driven talent pipelines.  Increased employer engagement activities through the Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) Business Network Division and collaboration with WIOA core program partners through continued communication, team meetings and succession planning.

To assure coordination of, and avoiding duplication among these activities, the State strategy includes the alignment of policies, operations, and administrative systems to avoid duplication of workforce programs and activities, as well as providing a way to leverage discretionary funding and formula-based investment across all core and non-core programs.  In addition, new and stronger partnerships are created and renewed in order to improve service delivery, to avoid duplication of services, and to enhance service coordination, including sharing information across programs.

The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) collaborates with, and participates in strategic partnerships with other state agencies that align with all core programs, including:

• Department of Corrections (DOC), for the administration of the Michigan Offender Success program.  The purpose of the Michigan Offender Success program is to reduce crime by implementing a seamless plan of services, supervision, and opportunities developed with each offender and delivered through state and regional collaboration with the goal of obtaining employment and self-sufficiency. LEO partners with DOC by targeting service provision to meet the identified needs of returning offenders, thereby reducing their risk of recidivism and enhancing their employment opportunities. 
• Fidelity Bonding Program:  The Fidelity Bonding Program is sponsored by the LEO. The Fidelity Bonding Program gives employers the peace of mind to safely provide job opportunities to all individuals with limited risk. The Fidelity Bonding Program was created to assist high-risk, but qualified, job seekers who have bona fide offers of employment. Typically, some employers may view ex-offenders, former substance abusers, and other individuals who have questionable backgrounds as high-risk and potentially untrustworthy workers. With the Fidelity Bonding Program, employers can bond job seekers who are facing barriers to employment for the first six months on the job. It provides a business insurance policy from that protects an employer against dishonest acts of theft, larceny, forgery and embezzlement committed by a bonded employee. As an incentive to hire members of a targeted population, employers receive the bond coverage free of charge for the first six months of employment by the bonded employee. At that time, the employer can extend the bond insurance coverage. Bonding coverage after the initial six months continues at the employer’s expense. 
• LEO, Industry Engagement Division, Registered Apprenticeship Section: A strategic approach and sector partnerships to create a pipeline of professional workers through work-based learning.  The training model combines job related, classroom-based learning, with paid on-the-job training in high-skill, high-wage, in-demand industry occupations.  These efforts help to provide career paths to high-skilled, high-wage jobs in industries such as Agriculture, Construction, Energy, Health Care, Information Technology and Manufacturing for Michigan residents, including underrepresented populations, youth, women, ethnic minority communities, Native Americans, persons with disabilities, and veterans.  Expansion of State Apprenticeships project includes education and career success initiatives in the State. 
• LEO, Post-secondary Licensing Unit for coordination of licensed proprietary schools on our state’s Eligible Training Provider List – Michigan Training Connect (MiTC):  Schools that provide training in a specific trade, occupation or vocation are required to be licensed by the State of Michigan, Proprietary Schools Unit, in accordance with Proprietary Schools Act, Public Act 148 of 1943. Students attending these schools do not receive a degree but may earn a certificate of completion.  Michigan Training Connect (MiTC) coordinates with the Post-secondary Licensing Unit (due to proprietary school licensure processes and requirements) for placement of licensed proprietary schools on our state’s Eligible Training Provider List.
• LEO, Targeted Services Division, for the administration of Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers and Jobs for Veterans State Grant programs:  The Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Program assists migrant and other seasonal employees engaged in farm work to achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment and referral to training and other related services that address their employment-related needs. The Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers (MSFWs) are vital to Michigan’s agricultural and economic growth.  LEO’s MSFW outreach workers work in partnership with our local MWAs, employers, and both core and non-core partners to address the needs for this labor force, such as:  English language proficiency, access to health care benefits, access to grower housing and/or affordable housing, food, hildcare, work clothing, and assistance with basic transportation needs. While MSFWs are working in Michigan, MSFW outreach workers provide direct assistance or refer the MSFW to a partnering agency to remove barriers that they encounter. 
• The Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) program provides federal funding, through a formula grant, to 54 State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) to hire dedicated staff to provide individualized career and training-related services to veterans and eligible persons with significant barriers to employment and to assist employers fill their workforce needs with job-seeking veterans.  The JVSG is a fully integrated partner in our MWA One-Stop centers.  All veterans and spouses of veterans seeking services at our One-Stop centers will receive appropriate services from all One-Stop partners as would any other job seeker, but with Priority of Service for veterans and eligible spouses applied.  Prior to receiving services from the JVSG, a veteran or spouse of a veteran is first assessed by a non-JVSG One-Stop worker prior to referral.  Both Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialists and Local Veterans Employment Representatives are integral, co-located partners in the Michigan Works! Service Centers and rely on their MWA One-Stop partners to assist their job ready clients to secure appropriate employment. 
• LEO, for the administration of the Partnership.Accountability.Training.Hope (PATH) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs:  The LEO works in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services for assistance with families seeking cash assistance through the Michigan Family Independence Program (FIP).  Applicants face significant barriers in securing and retaining employment.  Applicants for cash assistance take part in a robust, results-oriented work participation program.  PATH will achieve independence and reduce the pattern of generational poverty across the state.  The orientation and job placement program under PATH will continue to be administered by the Workforce Development  and Michigan Works! Agencies (MWAs), which hold the contracts for these activities statewide. 
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):  The LEO works in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services to deliver the employment and training program for SNAP recipients., a program that assists people who lack enough income to pay for healthy and nutritious food. In Michigan and other states, the recipient is given a specified amount per month that can only be spent on certain authorized foods. SNAP benefits in Michigan are issued through a card similar to a debit card known as Bridge Card. The employment and training program for SNAP recipients will continue to be administered by the Workforce Development and MWAs, which hold the contracts for these activities for the 11 MWAs that administer the program. 
• Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, for the development and dissemination of state and local estimates of labor market activity for policy development, program planning, job placement, and career decision making.
• The Michigan Works! Agencies (MWAs), to develop infrastructure funding agreements with service providers to achieve better results for job seekers, workers, and businesses.  These partnerships reinforce strategies necessary to provide job seekers and workers with the high-quality career services, education and training, and supportive services they need to acquire and maintain high-skilled, high-demand jobs.
• Carl D. Perkins Post-secondary and post-secondary CTE programs to develop their instructional standards from business and industry experts.  Occupational programs are required to have an industry committee whose membership consists of local business/industry employers to obtain the most up-to-date information on all aspects of the industry and job openings in their community. This program is a partnership between the State of Michigan and community colleges and universities, offering two-year occupational degrees.  The program provides resources and technical assistance to community colleges and universities receiving Perkins Career and Technical Education annual awards in order to meet the occupational career goals of students and their needs. 
• Career and Educational Advisory Council (CEAC):  The CEAC has been set forth by LEO as a partnership that involves key educational, industry and workforce stakeholders to coordinate educational programs and services to find creative solutions to workforce needs and opportunities.  The role of the CEAC is to advise the local workforce development board and encourage the alignment of the secondary and post-secondary Carl D. Perkins plans with local and regional strategic plans to address industry skill demand.  The CEAC is asked to review and comment on those plans.
• LEO collaborates with the Michigan Department of Education to support the Section 107 Special Programs.  The pilot was first established in 2015-2016 in one area of West Michigan to increase the number of adult education participants dual enrolled in adult education and CTE programs at the secondary level.  It was initially proposed as a three-year pilot and because of the success and benefit reported at the local level, the state legislature awarded a total of $4 million in 2018-2019.  There are now 11 Special Programs across the state with the goal of continued expansion in the future. 

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

VR collaborates with, and participates in, strategic partnerships with:

• All core programs in developing a joint vision for the Workforce Development System;

• Centers for Independent Living, community rehabilitation organizations, and private vendors;
• Employer Groups and/or Employer Resource Networks;
• Employer Groups and/or Employer Resource Networks;
• Fortune 500 Companies;
• Fortune 500 Companies;
• Hannahville Indian Community Vocational Rehabilitation Program’s Project Vision;
• Michigan Autism Council;
• Michigan Department of Civil Rights Advisory Council on Deaf and Hard of Hearing;
• Michigan Industrial Leadership Group;
• Michigan Transition Services Association, the Developmental Disabilities Council, and educational entities;
• Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency and other statewide veteran support agencies;
• National Employment Team;
• Other State of Michigan departments and agencies;
• Project SEARCH;
• Small Business Administration (SBA);
• Small Business Administration of Michigan;
• Social Security Administration;
• Talent Acquisition Portal;
• U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Services;
• U.S. Department of Labor;
• U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs;
• Universities and colleges.