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—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements. This includes—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 1. B. Data-collection and reporting processes used for all programs and activities, including those present in one-stop centers
Data-collection and reporting processes used for all programs and activities, including those present in one-stop centers.10
[10] For the PY 2016 state plan, descriptions of data collection and reporting processes need only include currently known indicators.
Current Narrative:
Core partners of this Unified Plan utilize the following case management and management information systems (MIS): Adult Education uses MaineSTARS, Vocational Rehabilitation utilizes AWARE, and workforce programs administered by the Maine Department of Labor use Maine JobLink a system developed and maintained by America’s Job Link Alliance.
The systems comply with current federal reporting requirements for each program. The data elements required for each program are being collected and will be used to support the coordinated implementation of Maine’s strategic objectives.
MaineSTARS is a federally approved MIS system compliant with adult education’s National Reporting System. Local adult education programs are required to use MaineSTARS for all intake, demographic, assessment, and attendance data. At the state level, aggregate numbers are compiled in MaineSTARS and used to perform data matches against Maine Department of Labor employment data, high school equivalency completion data, and the National Student Clearinghouse database for postsecondary enrollment.
The AWARE system collects and reports data required by the Rehabilitation Services Administration in the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services, as well as serving as a case management tool for the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The system is maintained by its vendor, Alliance Enterprises, and has been updated to meet WIOA reporting requirements.
The Maine JobLink (MJL) is a multi-faceted system with ability to interface with other MIS systems. MJL components include ReportLink which collects and dispatches the data required for federal and state reporting on behalf of multiple employment and training programs, ServiceLink, a case management system from which participant eligibility is determined and documented, employment and training plans are developed and updated, services are tracked, and assessment and outcome data captured, FiscalLink a financial management system that tracks program expenditures and funds leveraged from other resources, JobLink, which provides labor exchange services that match job seekers to employers position listings, ProviderLink also referred to as the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) which provides information on providers and programs approved for WIOA purposes, and finally, CertLink which provides a portal in which Maine employer can submit applications for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). The Maine JobLink system serves the following programs: Title IB Adult, Dislocated worker and Youth programs, Employment Services, Trade Act, Veterans, National Farmworker Jobs Program, Apprenticeship, Competitive Skills Scholarship Program, National Dislocated Worker Grant programs, H1B programs and more as necessary. The system interfaces with Unemployment Compensation’s – ReEmployME system, Adult Education’s – Maine Stars system, and Vocational Rehabilitation’s – AWARE system.
The Maine JobLink system also tracks services to employers from which part of the annual Effectiveness Serving Employers report is generated. Employer assistance staff from multiple agencies enter information about the services provided directly in the employer account. The State has issued a policy delineating requirement for employer service tracking along with a guide for employer assistance staff from all service agencies to use. See PY19-01Employer Services Tracking policy.