Okaloosa County BOCC — April 19, 2016 — CareerSource Okaloosa 2016-2020 Plan for County Commissioners Review — reading text

resource fairs and business roundtables as a One-Stop representative. c. Consulting with mandated and non-mandated partners regularly about accessibility, accommodations and other disability-related topics. d. Organizing or joining an interagency collaboration which focuses on accessibility, sharing of resources and/or improving employment outcomes for persons with disabilities. DPN as a Workforce Resource: a. Being available to answer questions staff have on serving job seekers with disabilities. b. Offering guidelines to One-Stop staff on interacting with people with a wide range of disabilities. c. Presenting orientations on WIOA and One-Stop services to a wide variety of community service providers. d. Coordinating workshops in One-Stops on disclosure, reasonable accommodations, work incentives and job seekers’ rights and responsibilities under the ADA. e. Offering information to the business community on hiring/retaining individuals with disabilities. DPN as a Workforce Facilitator: a. Bringing together multiple partners who are working with one individual to foster a collaborative effort. b. Coordinating staff training on a variety of disability-related topics. c. Improving communication between the One-Stop and partners by educating both about their systems. d. Bridging the gaps between the business and human service communities by organizing forums for discussion. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 57 | P a g e Going forward, CareerSource will establish a partnership with the local/regional Independent Living Centers and incorporate feedback received during consultations regarding compliance with Section 188 of WIOA. Ticket-to-Work In 2009, the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board became an Employment Network (EN) for the Social Security Administration (SSA). The approval of CareerSource as an EN allows the CareerSource Board to operate the SSA Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program, which is the centerpiece of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. This Ticket to Work program provides Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities more choices for receiving employment services. Under the Ticket to Work program the Social Security Administration issues Tickets to eligible beneficiaries who, in turn, may assign those Tickets to an EN of their choice to obtain employment services. Other services include: vocational rehabilitation services or other support services necessary to achieve a vocational goal. CareerSource has responsibility for the coordination and delivery of appropriate employment services to those beneficiaries who have assigned their tickets to the CareerSource Employment Network. B. Please describe how entities within the One-Stop Delivery System are utilizing principles of universal design in their operation. The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board’s vision for WIOA and the One-Stop Delivery System utilizing principles of universal design in its operations includes an integrated, job- driven public workforce system that links diverse talent to businesses. The CareerSource Board will continue to emphasize three hallmarks of excellence included in universal design: a. The needs of business and workers drive workforce solutions; b. CareerSource Centers provide excellent customer service to jobseekers and employers and focus on continuous improvement; and c. A One-Stop System that supports strong regional economies and plays an active role in community and workforce development. The employer and job seeker services are designed and implemented in accordance with the guidance and direction of the CareerSource Board, its Business Competitiveness Council, and Career Council. The CareerSource Board’s philosophy is that CareerSource has three basic customer groups; and, in order to provide excellence to one group, you must also provide excellent services simultaneously to the other groups.” As the CareerSource Board continues to place emphasis on universal design in the delivery of services, it will also continue to CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 58 | P a g e emphasize the importance of providing “outstanding” customer service to the workforce system’s primary customer groups: a. Businesses and organizations that employ individuals; b. Job seekers who are seeking their first job, a better job, and/or who wish to reenter the workforce; and, c. The general public who fund the CareerSource services through payment of taxes. CareerSource staff understands that the One-Stop System is the gateway to employment opportunities and education for many job seekers, which includes individuals with disabilities. To ensure CareerSource produces an excellent product for the business community, CareerSource will provide its job seeking customers with evidence-based education and training tools that lead to success. The CareerSource Board relies heavily on its Integrated Business Services Team, which consist of the CareerSource Business Services Team, Disability Program Navigator, Local Veterans Employment Representatives, and the CareerSource Rapid Response Team to work hand-in- hand promoting the Workforce Development System as a valuable asset in the community. The CareerSource Board understands that “outstanding” customer service is important for the employer community, and equally as important for the job seeker customers. In order to provide outstanding service to One-Stop customers, CareerSource staff will provide effective and quality integrated job seeker and employer services to One-Stop customers. The goal of this service delivery is to achieve customer satisfaction for all customer groups. Therefore, it is essential that the CareerSource staff meet or exceed customer expectations; and, the employer’s hiring needs, while meeting the training and employment needs of job seekers, including those with disabilities. The CareerSource integrated services are facilitated through the Employ Florida Marketplace (EFM) management information system. EFM is the lynchpin in the management of the labor exchange and development of our workforce. The CareerSource staff will take the lead in promoting EFM and its integrated case management services to job seekers and the employer community. CareerSource staff has been trained on how to administrator EFM and will continue to receive EFM enhancement training to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction. C. Please describe how the LWDB facilitates access to services provided through the local delivery system, including remote areas, through the use of technology and through other means. WIOA §108(b)(6)(B). In order to better serve all customers in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board procured a Mobile One-Stop Unit to use as a Mobile Business Center so that various services, including special events for employers can be taken directly to customers. The Mobile Business Center has the capability to access the internet via a two-way satellite link and telecommunications; and, printing, copying, and fax capability; includes enough CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 59 | P a g e computers (13 stations) to be able to accommodate various classes, seminars and training sessions that can be delivered to employees, program participants, job seekers and the employer customers. The Mobile Business Center travels to remote locations within the region to bring services to customers that may not otherwise be able to access services. Employers can use the Mobile Business Center for on-site recruitment efforts, job fairs, testing and training. Often times the employer customer has employees who are in need of additional soft skills and/or hard skills training in order to retain employment, be more productive, and be eligible for promotion and pay increases; but time away from work means loss of production Job Seeking customers can search for work, create and print resumes, access local and statewide job listings, and receive referrals to and information about the programs offered by CareerSource. The Mobile Business Center is also available for Disaster Assistance, if needed. CareerSource staff are available to travel to remote locations to assist Florida’s Emergency Management Team and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and disaster affected individuals and employers. The Mobile Business Center is handicapped compliant and will provide a means for continued employment solutions to our local business community and its workforce, including individuals with disabilities. The Career Centers in Okaloosa and Walton Counties and the Mobile Business Center are in compliance with the applicable requirements related to architectural accessibility, as set forth at 29 CFR 32.26 through 32.28. In addition to the aforementioned virtual services that are available to CareerSource employers and jobseekers, the Employ Florida Marketplace (EFM) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The EFM website at www.employflorida.com provides access to employment opportunities, resume-building resources, etc. The Florida Abilities Work portal is available at https://abilitieswork.employflorida.com/vosnet/Default.aspx. The micro-portal is housed on the EFM website. The portal was specifically designed to provide resources to persons with disabilities and to assist employers who are interested in hiring. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton has the capability to develop virtual workshops which universal customers will have easy access to at the CareerSource website: www.careersourceokaloosawalton.com . There will be a variety of workshops offered on a 24/7 basis when the project is completed. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 60 | P a g e Veterans Connecting Outreach The CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board’s Veteran staff conducts transitional assistance for active duty military transitioning to the civil community. The transitional assistance is conducted on a scheduled basis at Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field. The Board has established CareerSource Connecting Sites at Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field Family Support Centers, staff by the CareerSource Veteran team. CareerSource often will adjust services to meet the needs of the transitional military population. Military Family Employment Advocacy Connecting Outreach The Military Family Employment Advocacy (MFEA) Program was established due to the recognition of the challenges that military families face on a daily basis, including frequent relocations, recurring deployments, and lengthy periods of separation. These hardships heighten the anxiety experienced by military families and added to the uncertainties associated with deployments. Florida legislature recognizes these occurrences impact a military spouse’s ability to gain job skills and maintain a career. Oftentimes, this hampers the military spouse from contributing to the financial well-being of the family and/or experiencing personal satisfaction with military life. This negatively affects the military’s mission and it impacts retention. The purpose of the MFEA program is to develop and provide outreach services to engage job seeking military