sc a&b agenda works m… · october 12, 2015 1 ... members absent: bruce forbes, jason kelly,...

SC Works Greenville Committee Meeting

February 8, 2016

SC Works Greenville Committee Meeting SC Works McAlister Square, Foothills A&B Conference Rooms

February 8, 2016 12:00 Noon

AGENDA

Committee Membership (12 members): Chairperson: Cynthia Eason, Members: Greenville Literacy Association, Bruce Forbes, Beverly James, Jason Kelly, Verlinda Moore, Michelle Neeley, Joe Perry, Kimberly Reynolds, David Turnipseed, Chuck Welch, and Mary Louise Worthy, E’Lois Watson**. I. Open and Quorum Validation (7 required) Ms. Cynthia Eason, Chair II. * Minutes Approval (October 12, 2015)

III. WIOA Updates Mr. Dean E. Jones

1. SC Works Certification Standards 2. State Unified Planning 3. Survey Questions for Local Areas and

Optional and Required Partners 4. Upstate WIOA Region and Sector Strategies 5. SC Works (One‐Stop) Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU)

IV. Roundtable Updates SC Works Partners V. Other Business VI. Adjourn

* Denotes action item. ** Ex‐officio member (non‐voting)

SC Works Greenville Committee Meeting Minutes

October 12, 2015 1

SC Works Greenville Committee Meeting SC Works McAlister Square, Foothills A&B Conference Rooms

October 12, 2015 12:00 Noon

MINUTES

Members Present: Chairperson: Cynthia Eason Members: Carol Browning, Beverly James, Michelle Neeley, Joe Perry, Kimberly Reynolds, David Turnipseed, and Chuck Welch Members Absent: Bruce Forbes, Jason Kelly, Verlinda Moore, E’lois Watson‐Thomason**, and Mary Louise Worthy Staff Present: Elayne Gray, Dean Jones, and Eva Jorgensen‐Graham

Visitors: None I. Open and Quorum Validation (7 required): Eight members were present, and a

quorum was validated. The meeting was called to order at 12:06 p.m. II. *Minutes Approval (August 10, 2015): Approved as submitted III. SC Works/WIOA Updates: Mr. Dean E. Jones, Workforce Development Director

1. Disaster Relief for Flood Victims: Article included in meeting package In reference to a press release published in the Columbia Regional Business Report on Monday October 12, 2015, the following announcement was communicated: “Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available to flood victims” in various counties in South Carolina. Flood victims, workers, and/or business owners must meet the criteria. The state of SC will also apply for a National Emergency Grant made available by the Department of Labor (DOL) for national disasters. For additional information, please visit: http://www.columbiabussinessreport.com. Mr. Jones also stated that additional dollars are anticipated to flow into SC to assist individuals and companies impacted by the flood disaster.

2. McAlister Square Customer Visitor Report: Report provided and reviewed As mentioned in previous meetings, this report is a work in progress. Mr. Jones asked the committee to please bear with us as staff continue to make improvements. In reference to the customer visitor report category entitled “Other,” the illustration represents more business services events and workshops in the month of September 2015. As far as the WIOA program, enrollment has been somewhat delayed until additional funds are received in October 2015. To date, funds have not been received. On another note, Mr. Jones was asked to explain the acronym “RESEA” which stands for “Re‐employment Services Eligibility Assistance.” This acronym was recently changed from REA to RESEA. Mr. Jones described it as a quality assurance program that determines whether an unemployment claimant meets the requirements to


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receive unemployment insurance (UI).

3. PY15 SC Works One‐Stop Partner Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Update: A handout was provided for informational purposes, and Ms. Jorgensen‐Graham gave a brief update on the PY15 MOU status relative to specific partner agencies.

4. WIOA Planning Regions: Handout provided and reviewed One component under the new WIOA requires State Board to establish regions within their respective states. These planning regions may be comprised of 1 or more Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs). Our SWDB has developed a draft of what the planning regions will look like under the new WIOA system. Now that this has been identified, what’s next? Mr. Jones went on the say that the state agency has acquired a consultant company to help put together a statewide combined plan. The intent is to have a more robust labor force. A public notice was posted for 7 days. Committee members interested in additional information on the WIOA Planning Regions may request a package of information from Mr. Jones.

5. WIOA Operator Path Forward: Mr. Jones informed members that the SC Works Committee will be involved in the process of securing a service provider and/or operator to manage the One‐Stop center. The selected operator must be in place by July 1, 2017. In the upcoming year, Mr. Jones’ intent is to get a sense of which entities are interested in submitting a bid by issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The Work Investment Act (WIA) allowed LWIBs to hire staff to operate the resource center. The WIOA does not allow Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) to hire staff to operate the resource centers. Instead, it requires that service providers are competitively procured. A Request for Proposal (RFP) will be made available for entities interested in submitting a bid. Experience in operating a center will be taken into consideration. In closing, Mr. Jones informed members that this committee will work with the Greenville County procurement department on the evaluation process. All questions and comments were addressed by Mr. Jones.

IV. Roundtable Updates: SC Works Partners The following partners and committee members provided updates relative to their organizations: Greenville Library System: Ms. James distributed the library newsletter and

communicated that plans are underway to build a new library branch in the Five Forks area in Simpsonville, SC.

Goodwill Industries of the Upstate: Ms. Neeley provided updates to include but were not limited to: an increase in the number of individuals trained and job placements; an increase in new foot traffic; an expansion of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP); Youth Build contract received.

AARP: Mr. Perry responded to Goodwill Industries in reference to the SCSEP. With the number of individuals being served, there cannot be any competition. In support of partner agencies, AARP will continue to refer individuals to register


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with the Goodwill Job Connection. Greenville Literacy Association (GLA): Ms. Browning provided information

regarding a partnership with Miracle Hill. Through this partnership, approximately 47 Work‐Keys® Certificates have been earned. In going forward, GLA will collaborate with the United Ministries and receive funds from the United Way to administer pre‐GED work at the United Ministries facility. An Employment Readiness Counselor will be available in the GLA office located at McAlister Square mall.

Greenville Housing Authority: Ms. Reynolds shared information relative to the construction of a new senior building and reported that cottages will also be made available to individuals with disabilities in the future.

Lifelong Learning: Mr. Welch reported that the Greenville County Detention Center is interested in resuming their collaboration with Lifelong Learning on a Work‐Keys® program for individuals who are incarcerated.

V. Other Business: None VI. Adjourn: Being there was no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:54 p.m.

* Denotes an action item. ** Ex‐officio Member (Non‐voting)

SC Works Certification Standards


Menu: One Stop Services to Job Seekers

A common menu of basic job seeker services to be offered to all job seekers in every SC Works Center

1. Outreach, intake (may include worker profiling and rapid‐reemployment services. 2. Initial assessment. 3. Eligibility and service information for all partner workforce development and support. 4. Job search assistance, career information and career guidance. 5. Resume development services. 6. Job matching and referral. 7. Local, regional and statewide labor market information. 8. Information on financial aid, including unemployment insurance (UI). 9. Access to unemployment insurance information and MyBenefits portal. 10. Information on certified education and training providers, local performance outcomes for

service providers, job fairs and supportive services. 11. Orientation to use of personal computers for utilizing virtual tools available through the SC

Works System, including resume software, and enabling job seekers to perform job search activities, secure an email address and use email, and conduct research on employers.

12. Job search/self‐marketing skills training. 13. Assistance with options for financing further education or training. 14. Information about Entrepreneurship development skills. 15. Access to free virtual tools for job search, self‐assessment and career development.

A common menu of services for those enrolled in WIOA or partner programs

1. Comprehensive assessment of knowledge, skills, abilities and interests by use of various

assessment tools. 2. Development of individual employment plans. 3. Individual career planning. 4. Case management. 5. Occupational skills training. 6. On‐the‐Job Training (OJT). 7. Programs that combine workplace training with related instruction. 8. Adult education and literacy activities. 9. Customized training.

Job Seeker Standards:

1. Every SC Works Center measures satisfaction with both processes and outcomes for existing job seeker customers.

2. Feedback from job seekers is used to improve services. 3. Every SC Works Center will have a system in place to assess projected employer demand. 4. Job seekers will have multiple access points to SC Works services beyond the SC Works Center

and virtually. 5. Every SC Works Center offers a consistent menu of job seeker services. 6. SC Works Center staff provides job seekers services they need as efficiently as possible while

maintaining a customer service focus. 7. Every SC Works Center will have well trained staff.


8. Every SC Works Center will have a well‐equipped resource room with trained staff to provide a broad range of job seeker services.

9. All customers learn about the full range of services that are available through the SC Works Center in a customer‐focused, program‐neutral way.

10. Every SC Works Center offers effective assessment and career guidance to all job seekers. 11. Every SC Works Center provides resources to assist customers with marketing themselves for

employment. 12. Every SC Works Center will have information on as many jobs as possible. 13. SC Works Center help job seekers advance their skill, education and occupational skill

attainment.

Business Services Standards:

1. The Business Services Team operates from a written LWDB business engagement plan designed in response to business needs.

2. There is a fully integrated multi‐agency business services team comprised of representatives from each of the federally mandated partners.

3. The Business Services Team is facilitated as a unified activity. 4. There is a link between the activities of the Business Services Team, economic development and

education entities. 5. Businesses are consulted on the critical success factors for the workforce area. 6. Satisfaction with both processes and outcomes is measured for existing business customers. 7. The workforce area offers a consistent menu of demand‐driven services.

Management Standards:

1. Partner integration is evident through non‐duplication of services and efficient service delivery. The customer sees the Center as a single business.

2. The management structure is clear, as are the role and responsibilities of partners at the SC Works Centers as they relate to the management and governance of the center.

3. SC Works Centers have integrated staff development plans. 4. The SC Works Center is accountable for results. 5. Every SC Works Center is accessible so that all job seekers and businesses can fully participate in

the services offered. 6. Every SC Works Center maintains a professional appearance. 7. Every SC Works Center has access to sufficient space and capacity for key functions. 8. Every SC Works Center is safe and secure.

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WIOA Unified Plan Executive Summary

Background

Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the Governor of each state must submit either a Unified

or a Combined State Plan outlining a four‐year strategy for the state’s workforce development system. The plan must be

submitted to the US Department of Labor and the US Department of Education on or before April 1, 2016. The

Secretaries of Labor and Education have 90 days from the date the plan is submitted to approve the plan. States must

have an approved plan in place to receive funding for the core programs.

A Unified State Plan covers the six WIOA core programs, including –

‐ the Adult program (Title I of WIOA),

‐ the Dislocated Worker program (Title I),

‐ the Youth program (Title I),

‐ the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act program (Title II),

‐ the Wagner‐Peyser Act program (Title III), and

‐ the Vocational Rehabilitation program (Title IV)

Alternatively, a Combined State Plan outlines a strategic plan for the six WIOA core programs plus one or more

additional program partners.

Type of State Plan

The agencies representing the WIOA core programs1 agreed to submit a Unified State Plan. Four (4) subject matter work

groups were formed to examine operational and program alignment, resource sharing, data integration and information

systems alignment, and serving priority populations. Several additional partners contributed to the unified plan through

their participation in one or more of the work groups mentioned above. The ideas and strategic recommendations of

each work group were incorporated in various sections of the plan.

In the past, each program submitted a separate and often unrelated strategic plan to the appropriate Federal

administrative agency. One of WIOA’s principal areas of reform is to require states to plan across core programs and

include this planning process in the Unified State Plan. Thus, the Unified Plan outlines a shared vision and strategic goals

that will be adopted by all core programs. It also provides recommendations for better alignment and coordination of

programs and resources.

Key Sections of the Unified State Plan

There are several keys sections of the plan, including the Economic and Workforce Analysis, and the State Strategic

Vision and Goals, which warrant a close review by the State Workforce Development Board (SWDB). A summary of each

section is provided below.

Economic and Workforce Analysis

The Unified State Plan must include an analysis of the economic condition, economic development strategies, and labor

market in which the State’s workforce system and programs will operate. It must also include an analysis of the current

workforce, including individuals with barriers to employment. The DEW Business Intelligence Division prepared an

economic and workforce analysis for the state plan. Highlights of the economic analysis are provided below:

1 In South Carolina, the agencies representing the six core programs are the SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), the SC Department of Education, the SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department (SCVRD), and the SC Commission for the Blind (SCCB).

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‐ South Carolina’s labor force and employment have been increasing since the end of the Great Recession. The

unemployment rate dropped considerably until the past year when improving economic conditions attracted more

people into the labor force searching for work.

‐ Many of the state’s jobless face significant barriers to employment. Those populations include Hispanics, Native

Americans, homeless, ex‐offenders, and others.

‐ Professional and Business Services; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; and Leisure and Hospitality led the state in

private sector industry employment growth from 2009 to 2014. South Carolina had over 1.876 million wage and

salary employees in 2014 with an average hourly wage of $19.03. The state’s industry and occupational

employment are projected to grow by 11.54 percent over the period 2012 to 2022. The Local Workforce

Development Area (LWDA) employment projections are uneven across the state with urban areas generally growing

faster than the rural areas.

‐ An extensive analysis of the job skills gap shows that the question may be more of quality and quantity. Employers

are finding the soft skills of many potential candidates to be lacking. Many students and graduates have career

desires or awards in professions that either have an oversupply of recent potential workers or low employer

demand, while projected job openings in several career clusters/geographic combinations are bereft of potential

graduates. Other findings generally show an oversupply of labor force compared to job demand on the upper half of

the education spectrum.

The strategic goals and corresponding actions discussed below address the skills gap identified by the economic and

workforce analysis.

Vision and Goals for South Carolina’s Workforce System

The Unified State Plan must describe the state’s strategic vision for its workforce development system, and the goals for

achieving this vision. This section must include goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce, including

preparing youth and individuals with barriers to employment, and goals for meeting the needs of employers. The plan

outlines the following the vision and strategic goals.

Vision. South Carolina will transform its workforce development system through innovative and collaborative practices

into an effective, customer‐driven workforce system that facilitates financial stability and economic prosperity for

employers, individuals, and communities.

To achieve this vision, the core partners propose the following strategic goals and corresponding actions.

Strategic Goal #1. Strengthen the Workforce Pipeline

‐ Facilitation of middle skill and middle wage attainment,

‐ Creation of education and career pathways,

‐ Development of one, consistently delivered soft skills competency‐based curricula, and

‐ Enhancement of school‐to‐work transition and youth‐focused programs

Strategic Goal #2. Align the State’s Current Public Workforce Development Resources to Ensure a Customer‐

Centered Delivery System

‐ Coordinate agency business engagement activity,

‐ Build and use data driven decision making and evaluation methods, and

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‐ Expand specific partnerships and collaboration

Strategies for Alignment and Coordination. Several sections of the plan require the State to identify and describe

strategies for alignment and coordination among the core programs and with other workforce, economic development,

and education partners. The strategies described in the plan are closely aligned with the goals and corresponding actions

identified above. One key area of opportunity for alignment is the integration and/or coordination of data systems to

allow for common intake, case management, data collection, and reporting. Other strategies for alignment include

developing and implementing sector strategies and career pathways, coordinating business engagement across

agencies, and expanding specific partnerships and collaborations.

Public Comment

The Unified Plan will be available at the end of February for a two week review and public comment period. During this

time, the SWDB will have an opportunity to review the plan in its entirety. DEW staff will compile comments and send to

SWDB after the public comment period closes.

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Governor’s State Workforce Development Board Priority Populations Committee

Charter

COMMITTEE PURPOSE:

To strengthen South Carolina’s workforce system through the development of strategies and policies that ensure priority populations are served.

COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS/DUTIES:

Promote outreach efforts to all WIOA priority populations with a focus on youth, ex-offenders, veterans, low-income, and individuals with disabilities

Work with the State Youth Coordinator to establish a written strategic plan and subsequent policies to support WIOA Youth program services

Serve as, or provide a working group structure for, the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Advisory Board

Develop benchmarks and baseline standards to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and services for individuals with barriers to employment

Initiate statewide operational practices to improve service delivery to priority populations

Improve communication with appropriate agencies and community based organizations that already serve priority groups

Other responsibilities as assigned by the SWDB

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION: Chairperson Vice Chairperson

Survey Questions for Local Areas and Optional and Required Partners

1. Describe your agency’s vision for preparing an educated and skilled workforce in South Carolina. Click here to enter text.

2. Describe your agency’s role in preparing an education and skilled workforce in South Carolina. Click here to enter text.

3. List and describe in detail the workforce development activities, including education and training,

funded by your agency.

4. Provide an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the workforce development activities identified in (1) above.

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5. Describe the strategies your organization will use to strengthen the workforce development activities described in (1) above.

Click here to enter text.

6. Briefly discuss your agency’s capacity to provide (and continue providing) the activities described in (1) above.


7. Discuss the efforts being made by your agency to strategically align resources and activities with

other workforce organizations, activities, and/or programs. Click here to enter text.

8. Discuss the efforts being made by your agency to coordinate activities and resources to provide high-quality, customer-centered services to individuals.

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9. Discuss any efforts being made by your agency to coordinate activities and resources to provide services to employers to meet their current and projected workforce needs.

10. Discuss any efforts being made by your agency to engage education and training providers,

including community colleges and area career and technical education schools, as partners in the workforce development system.


11. Discuss any efforts being made by your agency to coordinate with economic development entities, strategies, and activities.


12. Describe how your organization will comply with sec. 188 of WIOA (if applicable) and applicable

provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with regard to the physical and programmatic accessibility of facilities, programs, services, technology, and materials for individual with disabilities.


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13. Describe how your programs, services, and/or activities are assessed each year.


South Carol ina Sector Strateg ies Project

Sector strategies ― regional, industry‐focused approaches to building skilled workforces ― are proving to be one of the most effective ways to align public institutions and agencies with industry to address the talent needs of employers; yet Sector Strategies is not “another program.” Done well, it is truly transformative. When fully implemented, it becomes the strategic lens through which regional talent development is carried out, and the operational framework for workforce services. Briefly stated, the vision for this project is that South Carolina will have a talent development system that supports strong regional economies by aligning the resources of all partners, public and private, toward developing a workforce supply chain that enhances development of consensus‐based targeted industry sectors and creates meaningful career pathways for a range of workers and skill levels in important regional industries. The system will be characterized by a sustained, trusted relationship among the workforce system, education (“K to gray”), economic development, and industry.

The collaborative nature of this project is represented by the cross‐agency, Statewide Leadership Team, that is co‐chaired by the agency heads from the Departments of Commerce, Education, Employment & Workforce, and the South Carolina Technical College System. The consulting firm of Maher & Maher will facilitate the Leadership team as well as interdisciplinary public/private sector regional project teams through a process that will plan for, build, begin to implement, and provide for sustaining a talent development system at the regional level. Project activities begin with data analysis that identifies statewide growth industry sectors, and potential growth sectors for each of the State’s regional economies. Those industries are validated – and sometimes adjusted – through intelligence provided by state and regional leaders. A statewide Institute will be convened to provide a “Sector Strategy 101 Seminar” to the planning team from each of the regions. The Institute includes significant time dedicated to action‐oriented Maher‐facilitated planning by regional teams. This expert technical assistance/facilitation staff will then assist their teams by providing specific recommendations on each Region’s Sector Strategies Implementation Plan. A final report will provide the roadmap by which regional sector strategies will be implemented, and will include:

The documented process of the project, and reviews of statewide and regional data reports

A state‐level plan to support regional level sector strategies development

Each region’s implementation plan (including our recommendations)

Specific state recommendations to support regional strategy implementation

Specific recommendations for each region to take to continue the implementation process

Potential revenue resources to support on‐going implementation of sector strategies. Your leadership, insight, and guidance is needed as we embark on this historic initiative and develop the deliverables.

Greenwood

Oconee

Anderson

Pickens Spartanburg York

Laurens

McCormick

Edgefield

Aiken

Lexington

Saluda

Barnwell

Orangeburg

Calhoun

Allendale

Hampton

Jasper Beaufort

Colleton

Bamberg

Charleston

Dorchester Berkeley

Georgetown

Williamsburg Clarendon

Sumter

Florence

Dillon

Lee

Darlington

Marlboro Chesterfield

Richland

Kershaw Fairfield

Lancaster Union Chester

Horry

Cherokee

Marion

Newberry

Abbeville

Greenville

South Carolina Regional WIOA System Upstate

Central

Pee Dee

South Coast

SC Technical College

SC Comm for the Blind District Office

SC Adult Ed Tech Assist Center

sc a&b agenda works m… · october 12, 2015 1 ... members absent: bruce forbes, jason kelly,...

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