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

CareerSource Board has adopted the definition for “Eligible Spouse” as defined at section 2(a) of the JVA (38 U.S.C. 4215[a]) which means the spouse of any of the following: a. Any veteran who died of a service-connected disability; b. Any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, at the time of application for the priority, is listed in one or more of the following categories and has been listed for a total of more than 90 days: (1) Missing in action; (2) Captured in the line of duty by a hostile force; or (3) Forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power; c. Any veteran who has a total disability resulting from a service-connected disability, as evaluated by the Department of Veterans Affairs; or CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 88 | P a g e  d. Any veteran who died while a disability was in existence. A spouse whose eligibility is derived from a living veteran or service member (i.e., categories b. or c. above) would lose his or her eligibility if the veteran or service member were to lose the status that is the basis for the eligibility (e.g. if a veteran with a total service-connected disability were to receive a revised disability rating at a lower level). Similarly, for a spouse whose eligibility is derived from a living veteran or service member, that eligibility would be lost upon divorce from the veteran or service member. Implementing Priority of Services in the CareerSource Centers The priority of services refers to those veterans and spouses who are eligible for priority of services as “covered persons” and refer to those not eligible for priority of services as “non- covered persons.” Priority of services means that veterans and eligible spouses are given priority over non- covered persons (Within the population receiving the services) for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services provided under a qualified job training program. Priority means that veterans and eligible spouses are entitled to precedence over non-covered persons (Within the population receiving the services) for services. This means that a veteran or an eligible spouse receives access to a service before a non-covered person; or, if the resource is limited, the veteran or eligible spouse receives access to the service instead of or before the non-covered person. For a service such as classroom training, priority of service applies to the selection procedure: a. First, if there is a waiting list to start a training class, priority of services is intended to require a veteran or eligible spouse to go to the top of that list. b. Second, priority of services applies up to the point at which an individual is both: (1) Approved for funding; and, (2) Accepted or enrolled in the training class. Therefore, once a non-covered person has been both approved for funding and accepted/enrolled in a training class, priority of services is not intended to allow a veteran or eligible spouse who is identified subsequently to “bump” the non-covered person from that training class. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 89 | P a g e Administering Priority of Services Qualified job training programs fall into two basic categories: a. Universal access programs; or b. Programs that require participants to meet specified eligibility criteria. Universal Access Programs -- For workforce programs that deliver services to the public as a whole without targeting specific groups, veterans and eligible spouses must receive priority of services over all other program participants. For example, the primary universal access services are the “core” services delivered through the one-stop system under the Wagner-Peyser and WIOA programs. Veterans and eligible spouses receive the first level of priority in universal access programs. Programs with Eligibility Criteria -- Eligibility criteria identify basic conditions that each and every participant in a specific program must meet. It is important to note that a veteran or eligible spouse must first meet any and all of the statutory eligibility criteria in order to be considered eligible for: a. Enrollment in a qualified program; b. Receipt of priority for enrollment in the program; and c. Priority for receiving services in the program . (9) Training Services: Please describe how training services will be provided, including, if contracts for training services are to be used, how such contracts will be coordinated with the use of ITAs. WIOA §134(c)(1)(A)(v). WIOA made some significant changes to how services are delivered to adults and dislocated workers in the one-stop delivery system. Under WIOA, adults and dislocated workers may access career services and training services. WIOA provides for a workforce system that is universally accessible, customer centered, and training that is job-driven. Training is supported through a vigorous Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL), comprised of providers with a proven capability of securing quality employment outcomes for participants. WIOA also provides enhanced access and flexibility for work-based training options, such as Registered Apprenticeship (RA), on-the-job training, customized training, and incumbent worker training. Training services are critical to the employment success of adults and dislocated workers. There is no sequence of service requirement for training services. This means that CareerSource staff may determine training is appropriate regardless of whether the individual has received basic or individualized career services first. Under WIOA, training services may be provided if the CareerSource staff determine, after an interview, evaluation or CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 90 | P a g e assessment, and career planning, that the individual: a. Is unlikely or unable to obtain or retain employment, that leads to economic self- sufficiency or wages comparable to or higher than wages from previous employment through career services alone; b. Is in need of training services to obtain or retain employment that leads to economic self-sufficiency or wages comparable to or higher than wages from previous employment, through career services alone; and c. Have the skills and qualifications to successfully participate in the selected program of training services. Training services, when determined appropriate, will be provided either through an Individual Training Account (ITA) or through a training contract. Training services must be linked to in- demand employment opportunities in Okaloosa and Walton Counties or the planning region, or in a geographic area in which the adult or dislocated worker is willing to commute or relocate. There are exceptions to the use of an ITA for training. In these situations, a contract for services may be used to provide for the training services. The exceptions include: a. OJT, which could include placing participants in a registered apprenticeship, customized training, incumbent worker training, or transitional jobs. b. Where CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board determines there are an insufficient number of eligible providers in the local area to accomplish the purpose of an ITA. If this process is initiated, CareerSource Okaloosa Walton will: (1) Follow the guidance outlined in CareerSource Florida Administrative Policy Number #90, effective March 1, 2016, for Initial Eligibility and Continued Eligibility for eligible training providers. (2) The following will be taken into consideration when making the decision whether to approve provider: (a) The training to be provided; (b) Prior performance of the Training Vendor; (c) Eligibility to provide contracted services with the state of Florida; (d) Certification as a Training Provider by the Department of Education or CIE; and (e) Agreement to provide performance data FETPIP or CIE or the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton. c. If the CareerSource Okaloosa Walton Board determines a community-Based Organization or other private organization provides effective training services to individuals with barriers to employment. If this process is initiated, CareerSource Okaloosa Walton will follow the procedures outlined in the paragraph above. In addition to the criteria above, the following will also be taken into consideration: (1) Completion rate. (2) Employment rate in related occupation at 1 Year. (3) Percentage of individuals who obtain unsubsidized employment. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 91 | P a g e  (4) Wages at placement in employment. (5) Retention rate in unsubsidized employment at six months after employment. (6) Wages at six months after employment. (7) Rate of licensure. (8) Cost per participant. d. Training for multiple individuals in in-demand industry sectors or occupations, as long as the contract does not limit the individual's consumer choice. e. Circumstances in which a pay-for-performance contract is appropriate, consistent with 20 CFR 683.510. This policy includes “individuals with barriers to employment” instead of the term “special participant,” as used under WIA. “Individuals with barriers to employment” is broader than “special participants” and includes: Displaced homemakers (20 CFR 680.630); low-income individuals; Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians; individuals with disabilities; older individuals; ex-offenders; homeless individuals; youth who are in or have aged out of the foster care system; individuals who are English learners, have low literacy levels, or face substantial cultural barriers; eligible MSFWs; individuals within 2 years of exhausting lifetime eligibility under TANF; single parents (including pregnant women); long-term unemployed individuals; and members of other groups identified by the Governor. (10) Customer choice process: Describe processes utilized by the local board to ensure customer choice in the selection of training programs, regardless of how the training services are to be provided. WIOA §108(B)(19). The WIOA consumer choice requirements are similar to those established under WIOA. The term “career planner,” used in WIOA, replaces the term “case manager,” used in WIOA. CareerSource staff or Career Planners will coordinate funding for ITAs with other funding sources in order to assist individuals in obtaining training services. Priority consideration will be given to programs that are aligned with in-demand industry sectors or occupations on the Regional Targeted Occupational List. WIOA training services will be provided in a manner that maximizes consumer choice in the selection of an eligible provider of such services and includes the following functions: a. Eligible Providers. The