policy connections in search of practice connections

Policy Connections in Search of Practice Connections

Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA)

• Signed into law July 22, 2014

• Reauthorizes the law through 2020

• The Act

• Section IV – Amendments to the Rehab Act

The Act: Overarching Ideas

• Core Services defined, including VR

• Requires accessible One Stops ( Section 188)

• Requires coordinated State Plans

• Focuses on Disengaged Youth, including youth with disabilities

Section IV: Highlights• VR in the Coordinated State Plan

• MOU with Medicaid and DD

• Increased role of VR in transition• 15% of VR funds on transition activities, including pre-employment:

o Job exploration counselingo Work-based learningo Pot secondary exploration counselingo Workplace readiness trainingo Training on self-advocacy

• Limitations on the use of sub-minimum wage

• Definitions of Competitive Employment and Customized Employment

• Restrictions on 14C certificates

Technical and Adaptive Change:A WIOA Challenge!

Persistent Challenges

• Technical ChallengeRequires information, knowledge or tools

• Adaptive (Relationship) Challenges Requires understanding and a willingness to make behavior changes

Source: Heifetz and Linsky, Leadership on the Line, 2002

Learning that technical solutions are necessary but often not sufficient

Knowing when a persistent problem needs a adaptive (relationship) solution

Building adaptive (relationship) skills as a part of strategy

The Leadership Challenge

Provision: VR in the Coordinated State Plan

• What is the potential value of the provision?

• What is the technical side of the provision?

• What is the human side?

• How what can we do now ..and in the future to make this provision more meaningful?

Provision:MOU with Medicaid and DD





Provision:15% of VR funds on transition activities, including pre-employment





From Your Role…What needs to be done?

• To address the technical challenges?o 1.o 2.o 3.

• To address the adaptive challengeso 1.o 2.o 3.

Who cares? Why do they care?List by role, organization, position, name, etc. Note connection to the issue

Building an Inclusive Community of Practice:

4 Simple Questions

Persistent problems of implementation remain challenging because they require crossing many boundaries to ensure progress in practice. Issues are complex, interconnected, and can look different from the perspective of various implementers. In these situations, we encourage leaders to use 4 simple questions:

•Who cares about this issue and why?Answering this question permits leaders to think beyond their personal/professional aspect or role and to develop a ‘big picture’ of the issue in practice.

Preparing the Field for WIOA

• Tools available through the National CoP on Transitiono LRE and Transitionso Youth developed webinars

• Tools to be created:o PP and Dialogue Guides on WOIA

• We welcome your participation!

policy connections in search of practice connections

Documents