Narrative: III. a. 2. C.

Representatives from Adult Education and Literacy (AEL), Career and Technical Education (CTE), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Wagner-Peyser (WP), and WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth programs (Title I) worked collaboratively to develop a process that will facilitate smooth referrals between and among the various one-stop partner agencies. This integrated service delivery model expects that each partner holds their staff accountable for knowing enough about each available service in order to give an individual the information they need to make an informed choice. If a partner is unsure of an agency to refer customers to, the partner may make a referral to the local job center.

This model helps ensure that partners are providing high-quality, customer-centered services, including supportive services, throughout the workforce system. It brings together workforce development, education, and other human resource services in a seamless customer-focused delivery network that enhances access to services. Long-term employment outcomes are improved for jobseekers, as partners administer separately funded programs in compliance with their individual statutory requirements while continuing to provide a set of integrated streamlined services to customers.

• Scholars@Work: Title I and Title II are partnering to provide an exciting opportunity for those receiving both services. The participants in this pilot receive AEL education classes concurrently with employment and employability skills. Youth earn a paycheck while pursuing their high school equivalency. This project overcomes one of the greatest challenges youth face in meeting a career goal. Through stipends to take care of financial needs along with individualized coaching and training, youth can earn the equivalent of a high school diploma on a pathway to success.
   
• Title II: Lack of a high school diploma, low educational skills and lack of English language skills are each barriers to self-sustaining employment. Missouri’s AEL provides classes so that individuals can overcome educational barriers. Because attendance in class is necessary to be successful in gaining education, Title II has shared the most common barriers to attendance with all WIOA partners and is designing ways to address these barriers for each client.
   
• Missouri partners are researching ways to maximize limited resources and reduce duplication of services where possible.
   
  The new strategic framework for Missouri’s workforce system includes the following:
   

1. Integrate Services to Better Serve Customers

a. Missouri’s workforce system will continue to move beyond mere partnership to true integrated service delivery for all customers.

b. The Title I, AEL, WP, VR, and TANF program partners will continue to strengthen partnerships so shared clients have access to the full benefits of the workforce system

c. Enhanced opportunities will be provided for the customers of AEL, VR and TANF program partners to be easily co-enrolled in the Title I and WP programs, so customers can benefit from comprehensive workforce services.

2. Lean Processes and Streamline Service Delivery by Removing Bureaucratic Barriers and Waste

a. Missouri strives to provide customer-focused quality services to allow staff time to focus on service delivery rather than bureaucratic processes. Missouri continuously pursues avenues to streamline processes, remove bottlenecks and breakdown organizational silos. Missouri is consistent and progressive in taking measures to limit waste by utilizing electronic filing systems when possible and identifying and eliminating unnecessary paperwork and outdated practices. 

b. Office of Workforce Development (OWD) will continue to focus on monitoring quality service delivery and compliance as a necessary responsibility. Local partners will continue to streamline their own policies, procedures and practices and follow required state policy regarding customer eligibility and data system management.

• All WIOA partners mutually agree to make services available to participants referred by another partner. The partners mutually agree that regardless of which partner initiates services, it is the shared responsibility of all partners to contribute, as appropriate, to the success of a participant’s career pathway.
   
• Missouri’s Title II AEL programs have a student advocate, who is a designated staff person, responsible for connecting students with combined and required partners, local employers, and postsecondary institutions. The student advocate connects targeted AEL students with available partners, services, and opportunities to achieve employment and/or postsecondary enrollment.
   

Missouri consistently explores avenues to collaborate on carrying out respective partner programs. Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind is a member of the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) Missouri Vision Quest Employment Initiative (MOVQ) workgroup along with the Department of Mental Health, Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation, OWD and the Veterans Administration. This workgroup is paving the way in the coordination and alignment for providing high quality customer-centered services to individuals, specifically those with the most significant barriers to employment. 

The MOVQ team has made many strides in collaborating to develop integrated, competitive employment within the State of Missouri workforce. The group’s goals are centered around increasing participation of individuals with disabilities in the workplace by ensuring individuals who want to work are provided the opportunity, training and supports that build on their individual strengths to achieve career goals. Since inception, the group has accomplished many collaborative efforts including in-person workshops in St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City utilizing subject matter experts to communicate effective job development strategies. Other accomplishments are holding stakeholder summit events with keynote speakers to introduce each agency or department to Employment First and developing guides for human resource units on hiring veterans with disabilities.

The FSD will continue with a client-based focus by ensuring internal staff and provider staff receive training to assist with understanding long-term poverty and barriers. This training will be shared with other partners. The FSD will continue research through the Missouri National Guard Foundation to determine overarching barriers in various locations in Missouri and engage with local organizations on strategic planning. Research, other programs and best practices will be shared with partners, local providers, the federal government and other stakeholders that may benefit. The FSD will continue program monitoring to ensure clients are able to achieve expected outcomes, determine if providers are consistently delivering supportive services and ensure clients have a clear employment plan they understand. The FSD will collaborate with other Department of Social Services divisions including Youth Services and Children’s Division to determine opportunities to assist families, reduce intergenerational poverty and create linkages for client employment and training opportunities.