Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- a. State Strategy Implementation
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include–
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
- a. State Strategy Implementation
III. a. 2. C. Coordination, Alignment and Provision of Services to Individuals
Describe how the entities carrying out the respective core programs, Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan, and required and optional one-stop partner programs will coordinate activities and resources to provide comprehensive, high-quality, customer-centered services, including supportive services (e.g. transportation), to individuals, including those populations identified in section II(a)(1)(B), and individuals in remote areas. The activities described shall conform to the statutory requirements of each program.
Current Narrative:
Over the next four years, ARIZONA@WORK partners will engage in cross-functional teams, using shared expertise, successes and challenges, and together implement the strategies for the State plan. The strategies will be measured, and problem solving will be implemented to check and adjust throughout the life of this Unified State Plan to continue improvement for the ultimate goals of the ARIZONA@WORK system. System-wide resources will be used, such as the Arizona Career Readiness Credential (ACRC), to promote a customer-centric model for identifying skills and assisting in job placement. Specific strategy implementation and alignment activities designed to coordinate the provision of services to individuals include:
Strategy 6 Implementation: Creating a framework to support statewide models for identified career pathways, all individuals, regardless of education or skill level or of the program serving them, will see a path based on their intended career. For example, students enrolled in adult literacy classes or individuals who are justice-involved and re-entering the workforce, will be able to identify where they are on a pathway of interest, what additional skills, training, and/or postsecondary credentials (including registered apprenticeships) are needed, and engage with the ARIZONA@WORK system to identify support and resources (e.g., transportation, training) to meet their goals. The pathways will utilize labor market information to ensure sustainable careers and engage partners (including eligible training partners and other educational institutions) and businesses to develop the pathways. Arizona intends to utilize the developed career pathways across all Core and non-core programs (e.g., TANF Jobs, SNAP E&T) to align as a system to assist all customers to meet their potential.
Strategy 7 Implementation: To streamline services to individuals, especially those with barriers to employment who may qualify for more than one program, a cross-functional team will identify best practices to improve processes for strategic co-enrollment across partners to share costs and case management. The team will capitalize on successes within Arizona, including the effort to increase co-enrollment between TAA and Title I-B, which through problem solving and implementing improvement strategies, resulted in doubling statewide co-enrollment across Arizona.
Strategy 8 Implementation: To ensure individuals who use the ARIZONA@WORK system can access the supports and services needed, Arizona will develop and implement a plan for universal design to remove barriers and create a system designed, to the greatest extent possible for all customers. Using the knowledge and successes of current core program implementation (Title II universal learning implementation through Center for Applied Special Technology [CAST] and Title IV’s expertise in serving individuals with disabilities), ARIZONA@WORK will develop alternative delivery methods for services and training, e.g. use of technology, and educate and assist ARIZONA@WORK team members to support ARIZONA@WORK customers.