SECTION ONE: Workforce Investment Act Overview 1
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 Legislation The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) was passed into law in 1998 for the purpose of federal reform of the workforce development system. Goals of the WIA: Provide workforce investment activities that increase employment, retention, and earnings of participants. Increase occupational skill attainment by participants. Improve the quality of workforce. Reduce dependency on state and federal assistance programs. Enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the Nation's economy. Seven Key Principles of the WIA: Streamlining services through better integration at the street level in the One-Stop delivery system. Programs and providers will co-locate, coordinate and integrate activities and information, so that the system as a whole is coherent and accessible for individuals and businesses alike. In addition, a seamless, tiered level of service delivery will be established. Empowering individuals to make their own training decisions. Eligible participants who are determined to need training in order to obtain and retain self-sufficient employment will be given an Individual Training Account voucher to purchase the training they require at the institution of their choice. Participants make their choice after receiving in-depth case management which includes review of each training programs' performance. Universal access. Any individual will have access to the One-Stop system and to core employmentrelated services. Information about job vacancies, career options, student financial aid, relevant employment trends, and instruction on how to conduct a job search, write a resume, or interview with an employer is available to any job seeker in the U.S., or anyone who wants to advance his or her career. Increased accountability. Consistent with the goals of WIA, the Act identifies core indicators of performance that State and local entities managing the workforce investment system must meet. The Act establishes an incentive system to reward state and local entities who exceed their performance. It also establishes a sanction system for those who do not meet performance. Training providers and their programs also have to demonstrate successful performance to remain eligible to receive funds under the Act. To survive in the market, training providers must make accountability for performance and customer satisfaction a top priority. Strong role for local workforce investment boards and the private sector, with local, business-led boards acting as "boards of directors," focusing on strategic planning, policy development and 2
oversight of the local workforce investment system. Business and labor have an immediate and direct stake in the quality of the workforce investment system. Their active involvement is critical to the provision of essential data on what skills are in demand, what jobs are available, what career fields are expanding, and the identification and development of programs that best meet local employer needs. State and local flexibility. States and localities have increased flexibility, with significant authority reserved for the Governor and chief elected officials, to build on existing reforms in order to implement innovative and comprehensive workforce investment systems tailored to meet the particular needs of local and regional labor markets. Improved youth programs linked more closely to local labor market needs and community youth programs and services, and with strong connections between academic and occupational learning. Youth programs include activities that promote youth development and citizenship, such as leadership development through voluntary community service opportunities; adult mentoring and follow-up; and targeted opportunities for youth living in high poverty areas. WIA Programs: Title I -Workforce Investment System Programs Title IB Adult Title IB Dislocated Worker Title IB Youth Job Corps Native American Programs National Farmworker Jobs Programs Veterans Workforce Programs Youth Opportunity Grants Title II -Adult Education and Literacy Programs Title III - Wagner- Peyser, Employment Services Programs Title IV - Rehabilitation Act Programs Title V - Older Americans Act Programs WIA Performance Measures: Adult and Dislocated Worker Entered Employment Rate Adult and Dislocated Worker Employment Retention Rate Adult and Dislocated Worker Average Earnings Youth Attainment of Diploma or Credential Youth Placement Rate Youth Literacy and Numeracy Gains 3
Governance of the Workforce System State Workforce Investment Boards Membership: Appointed by the Governor Majority of private sector. Chair must be from private sector. Other members are various workforce development, government, youth, labor, and human services representatives. Role of the State Board Develop a 5 year strategic plan to create and continuously improve a statewide workforce development system. Develop and improve state performance measures. Prepare annual report to the U.S. Department of Labor. Review Local Strategic plans. Develop a statewide employment statistics system. KANSASWORKS State Board Mission Statement The KANSASWORKS State Board serves as a review board and change agent empowered with the responsibility of making recommendations to the Governor and to state agencies to align workforce development with the needs of economic development in the state by helping to produce: a highly skilled and productive workforce; high skill, high wage jobs; and lifelong learners. Purpose Position KANSASWORKS as THE premier workforce system in the state. Goals Champion a unified statewide vision and direction for the Kansas workforce system. Engage in active and intentional communication and collaboration to achieve desired outcomes. Catalyze energies around best practice models of training and job matching. Steer continuous system improvement through high standards of performance and accountability. Articulate Kansas' experience and showcase success to garner new financial resources and drive 4
the national workforce dialogue. KANSASWORKS State Board Staff: Zoe Thompson, Executive Director KANSASWORKS State Board Website: http://kansasworksstateboard.org/pages/default.aspx KANSASWORKS State Board Officers: Ken Daniels, Chair Founder/Chairman Midway Sales and Distributing, Inc. Mike Brown, Vice Chair General Managing Partner Brown Midwest, LLC. 5
Local Elected Official Board Chief Elected Official Definition: The chief elected executive officer of a unit of general local government in a local area; and In a case in which a local area includes more than one unit of general local government, the individuals designated under the chief elected official agreement Responsibilities of the CEOs: Appoint members to the Local Board; Serve as grant recipient and assume fiscal liability for grant funds for WIA Title I adult, dislocated worker and youth programs; Approve budgets for carrying out the responsibilities of the Local Board; Provide comprehensive oversight of the activities of the Local Board; Ensure that local area partnerships are functioning effectively Responsibilities in partnership with the Local Board: Appoint members to the Youth Council, as a subgroup of the Local Board, based on WIA criteria; Develop a Local Area Plan; Conduct oversight of One-Stop delivery system, youth activities, and employment and training activities; Select One-Stop operators and eligible service providers and oversee compliance (may subsequently terminate these for cause); Agree on Memorandums of Understanding between the Local; Board and the One-Stop operator(s); Negotiate and reach agreement on performance standards and any additional local performance measures. Responsibilities in partnership with the Governor: Agree on whether the Local Board may provide core services, intensive services, or both; Agree on whether the Local Board may serve as a One-Stop operator; and Negotiate waiver requests as needed Requirements of LEO Agreement between the LEO and the LWIB: Procedures for the selection of the One-Stop operator in cooperation with the Local Board; Name, business address and telephone number of the One Stop operator(s); Specific responsibilities of the CEOs, which shall include the roles of the individual officials in the 6
appointment of the Local Board and in carrying out any other responsibilities assigned the CEO under WIA Section 117; Specific responsibilities of the Local Board; Acknowledgment of financial responsibility by the CEOs including distribution of potential financial liability among the CEOs; Joint CEO responsibilities in conducting oversight according to WIA, in cooperation with the Local Board, for Youth activities tyvia Section 129), Employment and Training activities tyvia Section 134), and the One-Stop delivery system; and Specific time period for the CEO Agreement. 7
Local Workforce Investment Boards (LWIB) Membership: Appointed by LEO Board Primarily Private Sector Chair must be from Private Sector Other Requirements include representation from: o Education (2) o Labor (2) o Community-Based Organizations (2) o Economic Development (2) o One-Stop Partners (1 from each) Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Local Education Act Vocational Rehabilitation Job Corps Unemployment Insurance Wagner-Peyser Veterans Programs (USC Chapter 41 of Title 38) Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers WIA Title I (Adults, Dislocated Workers and Youth Services) Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Community Services Block Grant Act (if Applicable) Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (If applicable) Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 Adult Education and Literacy (authorized under Title II) Native American programs (If applicable) Role of the Local Workforce Investment Boards Develop a Local Strategic Plan for workforce development services. Build links between workforce and economic development and related activities. Convene industry-specific groups and general business organizations to identify occupational skill needs and discuss basic employment skill requirements. Form strategic alliances, negotiate relations and broker resources. Identify training service providers who meet industry standards. Ensure training meets business and labor market needs. Designate, certify, guide and oversee Workforce Centers. Create measures for customer satisfaction both employer and job seeker customer groups. 8
Assist in the developing of local employment statistics. Assess the effectiveness of local workforce system programs and services. Provide direct operational oversight of the WIA Title IB Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth Programs. Kansas Local Workforce Investment Areas: Local Area I: Kansas WorkforceONE 62 Counties Local Area II: Heartland Works 17 Counties Local Area III: Workforce Partnership 3 Counties Local Area IV: Workforce Alliance 6 Counties Local Area V: KANSASWORKS Southeast Kansas 17 Counties 9
One-Stop Delivery System Overview: Each local area must have one certified comprehensive One-Stop Center. Local Boards, in collaboration with the CEO, oversees the One Stop System. Local communities have flexibility in designing the system. All required partners of the One-Stop System must provide universal access to their core services. Centers may be supplemented by other centers, electronic access points and other affiliated sites. Required Partners: WIA Title 18 Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth Programs. Employment Services (Wagner-Peyser) Adult Education Postsecondary Vocational Education under Perkins Act Vocational Rehabilitation Title V of the Older Americans Act Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) Veterans Employment and Training Community Service Block Grant HUD if Administering Employment and Training Programs Unemployment Insurance One-Stop Service Delivery Structure: 10
One-Stop Job Seeker Services Core Services Intensive Services Training Services Outreach, Intake & Orientation Initial Assessment of Skills & Aptitudes Development of an Individual Employment Plan Comprehensive and Specialized Assessments Occupational Skills Training On-the-Job Training Eligibility Determination Case Management Apprenticeship Training Job Search and Placement Job Development Customized Training Career Success Workshop (Job Readiness) Job Search Workshop Provision of Labor Market Information Provision of Supportive Services Provision of Information on Unemployment Insurance Provision of Cost & Performance of the Local Area Provision of Cost & Performance for Training Providers Follow-up Services (12 months after placement) Referral to Community and Partner Services Career Counseling Short Term Pre-Vocational Training Group and individual counseling Out of Area Job Search Assistance Relocation Assistance Entrepreneurial Training Adult Basic Education in conjunction with Occupational Skills Training Skills Upgrade Training Supportive Services 11
One-Stop Employer Services Job Orders Public Labor Exchange Screening for Tax Credit Eligibility Job Fair Career Success Workshop Facilitation Labor Market Information Occupational Testing On-the-Job Training/Customized Training Sexual Harassment Workshop Facilitation Referral & Interview Scheduling Recruitment Rapid Response / Lay-off Aversion Local Area I Employer Services Kansas WorkReady Certificate The certificate, powered by WorkKeys, a product of ACT, Inc. is a nationally recognized assessmentbased credential that gives employers and job seekers a uniform measure of key workplace skills. There are four levels of certification: platinum,gold, silver and bronze. To earn a Kansas WORKReadyl Certificate, individuals undergo testing related to reading, applied math and locating information through the WorkKeys skills assessment system. Kansas Talent Assessments Employers need a reliable way of predicting job performance beyond basic skills. Also, employers need to provide coaching and development feedback. The WorkKeys Talent Assessment is a selection and employee-development tool that measures a candidate's work-related attitudes and behaviors. TapDance Assessments TapDance is a Windows-based software package that allows you to administer a series of tests to assess applicant and employee skill levels in typing, math, grammar, spelling, data entry, numeric keypad use, word processing, and spreadsheet creation, Rapid Response/ Lay-off Facilitation Rapid Response services provide support for workers and employers facing layoffs to make the transition smoother for both. Once employees are notified of the layoff date, Kansas WorkforceONE Staff will make arrangements for the Rapid Response team to visit the job site. The Rapid Response meeting provides pre-layoff information on employment, training, Unemployment Insurance, educational opportunities and how to deal with the personal and financial impact of unemployment. Additional Rapid Response services include: 12
Guidance in obtaining funding assistance to avert layoffs Training funds for employees who would be laid off without a skill upgrade Facilitating employee meetings to provide information regarding services available to assist individuals with career change Conducting on-site unemployment insurance claims information sessions Holding customized workshops on coping with job loss, resume writing, and interview skills Assisting with special Job Fairs. Members of the Rapid Response include: Rapid Response Coordinator WIA Title IB Case Manager Kansas Department of Commerce Representative Unemployment Insurance Representative Additional Community Service Providers (upon request) 13