Narrative: III. a. 2. D.

Statewide Business Services Alignment Initiative

In June 2011, business development services teams from workforce centers across the state began a dialogue that evolved into part of the workforce system’s strategic effort to address gaps in serving businesses across all workforce programs. The vision of the Statewide Business Services Alignment Initiative is “to provide seamless access to business development for all employers and produce positive economic return for business/industry and our communities.” The areas of focus have expanded and are addressed by workgroups comprised of Business Development Representatives and charged with the mission of standardizing business practices. The key topic areas addressed by workgroups under this initiative include:

• Technology
• Developing partnerships under WIOA
• Marketing/outreach
• Communications
• Staff development, and
• Enhancing the talent pool available to employers.

These areas of focus are embedded in a plan of action, approved by the State’s local workforce directors, to create an integrated system that responds rapidly to Colorado business needs through easy to use technology and services that result in ready access to a skilled and competitive workforce.

This initiative is a key element in the implementation of the Colorado Blueprint to align services, and is supported by the Colorado Workforce Development Council, CDLE’s Workforce Development Programs and the local workforce areas. As part of the initiative, representatives from the business services teams and subject matter experts from CDLE created a comprehensive job order and business services policy to establish statewide standards regarding services to businesses. The Business Services Team and CDLE expanded this guidance to include the use of metrics to track the 11 primary services provided to Colorado’s employers. It is based on the current job order policy, which was expanded and enhanced to reflect national best practices. In addition, the Connecting Colorado database will see continued enhancements to the tracking and reporting of business services activities. After piloting the new uniform metric tool to track key services provided to businesses, it was fully implemented in PY14. Colorado will continue to use the business service metrics reports to track business services and show that the workforce system is able to meet the business community’s need for qualified workers.

A priority for PY15 is to develop partnerships that enhance service to Colorado businesses while reducing redundancy and silos. The statewide Business Services Team will expand to engage additional staff from the required one–stop partner programs. Efforts have already begun to integrate and align DVR’s internal Business Outreach Specialist Program with the statewide team as well as Job Navigators from the Department of Corrections Division of Adult Parole. Other partners will be engaged in the next two years and these partnerships will be leveraged to create one primary public point of contact for an employer while also connecting the business with a broad pipeline of workers across programs and agencies.

DVR has had a long history of providing services to employers and, in addition to collboartion with the Business Services Team, will adapt its strategies to maximize the benefits of a demand–driven system. Specifically, DVR will update the Disability Awareness Training Tool Kit and make these materials, including DVR staff subject matter expertise, available to core and combined plan partners to meet the needs of Colorado employers and promote a diverse workforce. DVR will use the resources and tools that are available through the local business services programs and through local sector partnerships to train local DVR staff. That training will encompass the adoption of common terminology among one–stop partners, how to use labor market information to educate individuals with disabilities about opportunities, and the language and culture of business and the private sector. Finally, pre–employment transition services will be provided to students with disabilities, including work experiences, to assure that youth and young adults are better–prepared for the services they will receive through other core and partner programs.

While five of the six core programs have experience working with businesses, serving employers is a new concept for adult education and family literacy. Therefore, AEI will provide guidance and support for programs so that they can incorporate employer feedback to ensure effective and efficient programming. Further, AEI will develop and provide technical assistance for adult education and family literacy providers funded through Title II on utilization of new or existing business and industry advisory committees to ensure that necessary workplace readiness skills are integrated into curriculum so that adult education and family literacy clients are prepared to transition to post–secondary education and training to increase wage–earning capability.

Finally, SCSEP has always been a demand–driven program that supports on–going communication and continual feedback with employers and workers. The State collaborates with the WFCs, community college system and local employers to maximize unsubsidized employment opportunities for SCSEP participants. SCSEP job developers work with regional chambers of commerce, labor unions, community colleges and local employers to identify employment positions available and training needs, and these efforts will also be integrated into the Statewide Business Services Team.

Efficient services to businesses across all partners requires data integration, and system alignment efforts between the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) and the State’s labor exchange and workforce case management system, Connecting Colorado, have been under way for nearly 2 years. This improved system integration will enable users of both systems to serve customers more fluidly across workforce and human service programs, thus reducing duplicate effort and data entry, and will support business service staff in both systems through the ability to better understand and match participants to employer need. Human service staff who specialize in business development will be invited to participate in the business services alignment group through the workforce system.

Moving forward, the Business Services Team, inclusive of one–stop partner staff, will be the primary vehicle for alignment of efforts and coordinated services to employers. CDLE will continue to hold annual Business Services Summits to provide a forum for business services staff to discuss ways to improve statewide branding, service delivery and performance outcomes, and develop new innovations and strategies.