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

employer-provided training and advancement opportunities; and d. Other factors the State or local boards may determine appropriate (e.g. the number of employees participating in the training, wage and benefit levels of the employees (both pre and post participation earnings)), and relation of the training to the competitiveness of the participant). Customized Training Customized training is defined as training that is designed to meet the special requirements of an employer or group of employers that is conducted with a commitment by the employer to employ one or more individuals; or in the case of incumbent workers, continue to employ an individual on successful completion of the training and for which the employer pays for not less than fifty percent of the training. Customized training is employer driven and may be provided for an individual employee or a group of employees. Employers requesting customized training are required to complete and sign a Customized Training Agreement. A copy of the agreement will be placed in each participant’s case file. An Employed Worker Application will be completed for each participant identified in the employer agreement. CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 100 | P a g e Customized Training may be provided for any of the following reasons: a. Introduction of a new technology; b. Introduction to new production or service procedure; c. Upgrading to a new job that required additional skills or workplace literacy; and d. To increase productivity and retention. The employer is to pay a significant portion of the cost of training, as determined by the CareerSource Board, taking into account the size of the employer and such other factors as the local board determines to be appropriate, which may include the number of employees participating in training, wage and benefit levels of those employees (at present and anticipated upon completion of the training), relation of the training to the competitiveness of a participant, and other employer-provided training and advancement opportunities. The minimum amount of employer share in the Customize Training depends on the size of the employer: a. At least 10 percent of the cost, for employers with 50 or fewer employees; b. At least 25 percent of the cost, for employers with 51 to 100 employees; and c. At least 50 percent of the cost, for employers with more than 100 employees Transitional Jobs Transitional jobs are a new type of work-based training that is allowed under WIOA. Under WIOA, CareerSource has a new tool in the toolbox to help the long-term unemployed. Transitional jobs: a. Are time-limited work experiences that are subsidized and are in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors for individuals with barriers to employment who are chronically unemployed or have an inconsistent work history; and b. Are combined with comprehensive career planning and supportive services. The goal of transitional jobs is to establish a work history for the individual that demonstrates success in the workplace, and develops the skills that lead to entry into and retention in unsubsidized employment. Unlike OJT, there is no assumption that the individual will be retained in their transitional job after the experience is over, although, that would be a successful experience and outcome. Under section 134(d)(5) of WIOA, CareerSource may use CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 101 | P a g e  up to 10 percent of its adult and dislocated worker funds to provide transitional jobs to individuals. CareerSource will use transitional jobs as part of its service delivery strategy. The CareerSource Business Services Team will adopt policies and identify employers (public, private or nonprofit) that can provide quality experiences for individuals to eventually obtain unsubsidized employment. The CareerSource OJT and Supportive Services policies will be used to determine reimbursements for the job; what supportive services should be included; and, any limits on the duration of transitional jobs. Career Pathways WIOA requires states and local areas to develop career pathways. The Business Competitiveness Council, which includes economic development organizations, education representatives from secondary and post-secondary schools, will oversee the development of any career pathways and make recommendations to the full Board for approval. Career Pathways are a combination of education, training, career counseling, and support services that align with the skill needs of industries. Career pathways enable an individual to attain a secondary school diploma and a postsecondary credential. To ensure that they are responsive to the employment and educational needs of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals, the Business Competitiveness Council will engage additional partners as needed in developing and implementing career pathways models. In addition to training activities, TANF and WIOA funds can also be leveraged where appropriate to provide supportive services (such as child care assistance) that can help low-skilled individuals sustain participation in career pathways programs. (15) Service Provider Continuous Improvement: Describe the local board’s efforts to ensure the continuous improvement of eligible providers of services, including contracted services providers and providers on the eligible training provider list, through the system and ensure that such providers meet the needs of local employers, workers and jobseekers. WIOA §108(b)(6)(A). WIOA sec. 134(a)(2)(B), requires that the CareerSource Board must ensure that the State' ETPL is disseminated publicly through the local one-stop system, and its partner programs. The list is a tool to assist CareerSource customers in evaluating training programs and provider options. The CareerSource Board encourages Training Providers to apply for designation as an Eligible Training Provider (ETP) through its website, social media, and periodic solicitation in publications. In response to a request for an application, the Board provides the application packet that includes the Region’s Targeted Occupational List that also designates those occupations deemed to be High Skills/High Wages. Following the receipt of a completed application, Board staff will review the application and make a recommendation to the Business Competitiveness CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 102 | P a g e Council to approve/disapprove the application. This decision is made based on: 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. The Eligible Training Provider List and copies of the Regional Targeted Occupational Lists are provided to all One-Stop Center staff within the workforce region. Additionally, these lists are included on the website and maintained in each Resource Room of the CareerSource centers. Individual Training Accounts can only be issued for training identified as meeting the needs of a Targeted Occupation for the Region; and the provider of the training must be on the Regional Eligible Training Providers List (RETPL). Workforce Planning Areas Because of the geographical proximity of the labor market as well as for training vendors in neighboring Workforce Planning Regions, the CareerSource staff do not have discretion when enrolling a student with a Provider that is not on Region 2’s RETPL until such time a common application can be developed. However, staff are authorized to issue an ITA for training for an occupation that does not appear on the RTOL but does appear on one of the surrounding regions 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 considered a natural work commute for individuals seeking employment in northwest Florida. The Workforce Board will continue to evaluate the performance of existing training vendors as well as to solicit applications for approval as an Eligible Training Provider through its website, social media, publications, and direct solicitations. The Business Competitiveness Council will provide oversight of the Regional Eligible Training Provider List. The CareerSource Eligible Training Providers will be required to report information on employment and earnings outcomes for all individuals in a program of study. Failure to submit such reports on a timely and accurate basis will undermine the ability of the CareerSource Board to take such outcomes into account. The Board must ensure the key principles of the ETPL and WIOA are achieved: a. Performance accountability; b. To meet the needs of local employers and participants, and CareerSource Okaloosa Walton April 30, 2016 103 | P a g e  c. To ensure informed customer choice. The procedure established by WIOA sec. 122(i) provides that the Governor may establish transition procedures under which providers eligible to provide training services under chapter 5 of subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, as such chapter was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, may continue to be eligible to provide such services until December 31, 2015, or until such earlier date as the Governor determines to be appropriate. Florida’s Policy Number 90, WIOA Eligible Training Provider List, March 1, 2016, updated the above guidance to say: “NOTE: Consistent with TEGL 41-14, this Administrative Policy requires all Local Boards to revise their policies for the selection and retention of Eligible Training Providers and Programs to be consistent with WIOA and this Policy no later than June 30, 2016.“ This means that all training providers who are currently on the approved Eligible Training Providers list for CareerSource Okaloosa Walton must have their eligibility re-determined no later than June 30, 2016. Below is a summary of the categories and steps that must be taken to be included on the CareerSource Eligible Training Providers List: a. Training Providers Already Eligible Before The Transition Period: Training providers eligible to provide training programs under chapter 5 of subtitle B of title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIOA) before the effective starting date of this Policy may continue to provide services up to and during the transition period, but are required to apply for “Continued Eligibility” and be approved before the end of the transition period (June 30, 2016). The eligibility of the providers will be determined under the application procedure for “Continued Eligibility” established by CareerSource Florida, on behalf of the Governor. b. Initial Eligibility