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

CareerSource Board, through the CareerSource centers, will make available the list of eligible providers of training services described in WIOA section 122(d), and accompanying information. b. Individual Training Accounts. An individual who seeks training services and who is eligible pursuant to previous guidance, may, in consultation with a Career Planner, select an eligible provider of training services from the list of providers on the ETPL. Upon such selection, the Career Planner involved will, to the extent practicable, refer such individual to the eligible provider of training services, and arrange for payment for such services through an individual training account. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 92 | P a g e  c. Coordination of Funds. The CareerSource Board, through the Career Planner, will coordinate funding for individual training accounts with funding from other Federal, State, local, or private job training programs or sources to assist the individual in obtaining training services. d. Priority consideration will be given to programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials that are aligned with in-demand industry sectors or occupations in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. (11) Individual training accounts: Describe the process and criteria for issuing Individual Training Accounts. WIOA §108(b)(19). Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) are the primary method used by CareerSource Okaloosa Walton to procure training services under WIOA. In certain circumstances a contract for training services may be used instead of an ITA. The CareerSource Board may also determine that providing training through a combination of ITAs and contracts is the most effective approach. This approach could be used to support placing participants in programs such as Registered Apprenticeships and other similar types of training. Individual Training Accounts are established on behalf of eligible participants. ITA services are made available to employed and unemployed adults and dislocated workers who have met the eligibility requirements for WIOA Individualized Services, and have been determined to be unable to obtain or retain employment leading to the local definition of self-sufficiency. The participant after an interview, evaluation or assessment, and career planning, has been determined to be in need of training and has the necessary skills and qualifications to successfully complete the selected training program. Selection of a training program must include the identification that the training is directly linked to occupations that are on the Regional Targeted Occupations List. An ITA may be used for a training program that is up to two years in length. Limited additional time may be pre-approved by the Executive Director or Chief Operating Officer on an individual basis, and is dependent upon the participant’s circumstances. Funding for training is limited to individuals who: a. Are unable to obtain grant assistance from other sources to pay the costs of their training; or b. Require assistance beyond that available under grant assistance from other sources to pay the costs of such training. ITA funding can only be utilized after Pell Grant, TAA, and any other scholarship/aid for training. Payments for training may be made through electronic transfers of funds, vouchers, or other appropriate methods. Payments may be made at the beginning of the training program or on an incremental basis. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 93 | P a g e Workforce Planning Areas Because of the commonalities of the labor market of surrounding workforce regions and the geographical proximity of the labor market as well as for Training Vendors in neighboring Workforce Planning Regions, the CareerSource staff are empowered to use discretion in issuing ITA’s. Staff are authorized to issue an ITA for training for an occupation that does not appear on the Regional List but does appear on one of the planning regions list; or on the statewide list, providing the individual is willing to move if necessary to find employment or to commit to an out of the region commute. Impacting this decision is the willingness of the trainee to relocate, if necessary, in order to find employment in a training-related field. However, commuting between Regions in the Workforce Planning Area is a natural work commute for individuals seeking employment in northwest Florida. A. Describe any ITA limitations established by the board. ITA’s are utilized to procure training services for WIOA adult and dislocated workers. The amount of an ITA per person may vary based on other financial assistance. The CareerSource ITAs are capped at $4,000.00 maximum per person. The cap amount includes the costs for covered tuition, required books, and fees of training providers and other training services prescribed and authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. The Executive Director (ED) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) may approve specialized courses or programs on a case-by-case basis for those that exceed the established limit, assuming the reason is at no fault of the participant. Request for exceptions must be made prior to enrollment. B. Describe any exceptions to the use of ITA. In general, providers of on-the-job training, customized training, incumbent worker training, internships, and paid or unpaid work experience opportunities, or transitional employment shall not be subject to the ITA requirements. Under section 134(c)(3)(G)(ii) of WIOA, the contract exceptions to an ITA have been expanded to include the full list of exceptions as provided below: a. On-the-job training, which may include placing participants in a Registered Apprenticeship program, customized training, incumbent worker training, or transitional jobs; b. If the CareerSource Board determines that there are an insufficient number of eligible providers of training services to use ITAs; c. If there is a training services program of demonstrated effectiveness offered in the Region by a community-based organization or other private organization; d. If the CareerSource Board determines that the most appropriate training could be provided by an institution of higher education to train multiple individuals for jobs in in-demand sectors or occupations; and e. If the CareerSource Board determines, a pay-for-performance contract is the most CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 94 | P a g e  effective means of providing training services (note that no more than 10 percent of the local funds may be spent on pay-for-performance contract strategies as they are defined in section 3(47) of WIOA). (12) Microenterprise and Entrepreneurial Training: Please describe mechanisms that are currently in place or will be in place to provide microenterprise and entrepreneurial training, and support programs and co-enrollment, where appropriate, in core programs as described in WIOA section 134(a)(3)(A)(i). WIOA §108(b)(5). CareerSource Okaloosa Walton recognizes the importance of coordinating workforce and economic development activities in order to focus on long-term economic growth. Part of the CareerSource plan for long-term economic growth is a strong referral mechanism through the one-stop system; and coordination strategies established to enhance entrepreneurial training and microenterprise services. Funds allocated to a local area for adults under paragraph (2)(A) or (3), as appropriate, of WIOA section 133(b), and funds allocated to the local area for dislocated workers under WIOA section 133(b)(2)(B), may be used to provide, through the one-stop delivery system, innovative programs and strategies designed to support and meet the needs of employers. The CareerSource Board supports implementing innovative programs and strategies designed to support and meet the needs of employers (Including small employers). The CareerSource Board will work with the economic development organizations in Okaloosa and Walton Counties to identify training and support programs that may benefit microenterprises (Generally, less than six employees) and entrepreneurials in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Programs and strategies may include incumbent worker training, customized training, and other appropriate training. (13) Enhancing Apprenticeships: Please describe how the LWDB enhances the use of apprenticeships to support the local economy and individuals' career advancement. Describe how job seekers are made aware of apprenticeship opportunities in the area's career centers. TEGL 3-15. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton is committed to promoting Registered Apprenticeship (RA) opportunities as a career pathway for job seekers; and as a job-driven strategy for employers and industries. Resources will be made available to support eligible participants of apprenticeship programs in the form of ITAs; OJT contracts for new hires; supportive services to include training materials such as books and tools; and employed worker training funds for companies that carry out programs under the National Apprenticeship Act. There are no local apprenticeship programs in Okaloosa and Walton Counties; however, CareerSource will work with the Florida Department of Education Division of Career and Adult Education and regional apprentice training representatives to assist in the expansion of existing, or development of new apprenticeship programs in the local area based on employer demand in LWDA 2. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 95 | P a g e The coordination with eligible training providers, employers, joint apprenticeship training programs; and local educational institutions at the secondary and post-secondary levels will also be encouraged to provide support to these programs to meet industry demand and align with local workforce initiatives. Additionally, apprenticeship programs will be promoted to employers as a solution to the challenges of finding workers with the skills required to fill essential positions. Apprenticeship programs will be promoted to job seekers in the CareerSource centers; and through partner organizations co-located in the centers; as a career pathway. Promotion of apprenticeships will include resource room staff; and, other career development planning with center staff and Career Planners. Promotion items may include the organization’s website, flyers, and brochures. An additional resource is target recruitment efforts for regional openings in specific programs. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton will also assists regional apprenticeship programs with the placement of apprentices not currently engaged with a participating employer by providing referrals of job seekers seeking an apprentice to employers. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton sees Registered Apprenticeship as an important component of potential training and employment services that the workforce system can provide to its customers. CareerSource staff, specifically, Career Planners will be encourage to use RA; and it should be used more often as a career pathway for job