Narrative: III. a. 2. C.

Job seekers in Minnesota are served by the statewide network of WorkForce Centers as well as by the myriad government, education, and nonprofit organization locations of one–stop partner programs. All WorkForce Centers offer the full range of WIOA Title I–B, Wagner–Peyser, Veterans, TAA, and state–funded youth and Dislocated Worker services in a co–located model. Many WorkForce Centers across the state include partners from other WIOA titles represented in this plan.

All WorkForce Centers serve customers of the public workforce system with highly–trained professional staff. Both job seekers and businesses have access to services designed to meet their specific needs. DEED developed a training program called the Reception and Resource Area Certification Program for staff who work at WorkForce Center reception desks and resource areas. To date, 327 staff from Title I and Title III partners have been trained and certified through this program. Within the parameters of each statutorily defined program, Minnesota has implemented special initiatives to provide comprehensive, customized and coordinated services to targeted populations with barriers to employment.

The WorkForce Centers inclusive of several affiliate sites offer assistance to all individuals. All individuals are greeted by trained professional staff who gather information to best assess priority of service, urgency, and make the initial referral(s) to service(s). Individuals are then guided and assisted by program staff to identify all resources the individual may be eligible for, and identify opportunities for co-enrollment. All staff, including core and other combined partner staff and those not physically located with the center, meet on a regular and ongoing basis to discuss program changes, eligibility, and activity. The communication ensures coordination, alignment, and leveraging of resources for better outcomes for the employer and the individual. In addition, the Minnesota 2015 legislature provided funding to support five regional career counselors to serve as a liaison and coordinator of regional programming in greater Minnesota. This has demonstrated value through identification of new programs and broadening access across one of Minnesota’s six regions. Under WIOA, the state board has determined professional development of staff as a key priority and responsibility to keep staff well-informed of opportunities within industry sectors, labor market trends, technology tools, and new or expanded programming. The Operations Committee of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board will complete an annual review of professional development activities and make recommendations for improvement, capacity, or new programming. Minnesota is one of 14 states selected to participate in the National Governors Association Talent Pipeline Policy Academy. This academy has brought together seven key state agencies and education and has led to a shared vision with two key strategies and ten goals to address the education and workforce needs of individuals and businesses in Minnesota. The agencies represent the core and combined partners in this plan: DEED, MN Department of Education, MN Department of Higher Education, MN Department of Human Services, MN Department of Human Rights, MN Department of Labor and Industry, MN State Colleges and Universities, and the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, Chair (private sector). The policy academy represents coordination and alignment across these agencies and delivers outcomes by leveraging resources between education, DEED, DLI, and DHS.

Services to Laid–Off Adults

• Unemployment Insurance – DEED houses the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) division. WorkForce Centers provide co–location for UI staff members to coordinate reemployment initiatives for claimants and the long–term unemployed. The Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) engages UI claimants within the first weeks of their benefit payments to provide earlier engagement and increased services through WorkForce Centers to expedite their return to work.
• Dislocated Worker Program – This program mitigates the negative impact to businesses, communities, and employees who are facing a layoff. It assists laid–off workers in returning to work with comparable wages and benefits and connects employers with skilled staff. The Rapid Response team is the first responder when a business has closed down or is planning to lay off workers. The team is trained to assess the situation and inform the affected workers of available services. Participants enrolled in the program can access career planning and counseling; job search and placement services; short–term training upon counselor approval; and support services for expenses such as family care and transportation upon counselor approval. Minnesota maintains both a federally and state–funded Dislocated Worker program.
• Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) – This program assists laid–off workers in returning to the workforce as quickly as possible by offering them help with work searches, relocation, job training, and weekly cash benefits. There are two major components, separately funded by the U.S. Department of Labor: Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA), which are special extensions to unemployment insurance; and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) which includes reimbursement of training costs, job search allowances, relocation allowances, and similar costs.
• Sector Partnership National Emergency Grant (SPNEG) – In 2015, Minnesota received a SPNEG to temporarily expand capacity to serve dislocated workers and meet the increased demand for employment and training services with the goal of quickly reemploying laid off workers and enhancing their employability and earnings. This grant will utilize sector strategies to advance and complement the more integrated and comprehensive dislocated worker services envisioned by WIOA. The specific activities targeted by this grant, which continues through 2017, include regional sector planning and strategies, enhanced career services to dislocated workers, and work–based training opportunities.
• Assessments for Job Seekers – Minnesota offers ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) assessments along with ACT KeyTrain training to all Minnesotans through the WorkForce Centers. In many parts of the state, the NCRC is a key component of a regional economic development strategy and is recognized by hundreds of employers. To assist with diversity recruiting efforts, the NCRC is offered to minority and women job applicants for transportation and heavy equipment operator positions at the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Services to Adults with Barriers to Employment

• WIOA Adult – The program serves adults who are seeking greater participation in the labor force and prioritizes individuals who receive public assistance, individuals living with low incomes, and veterans. Services include a preliminary assessment of skill levels, support services, occupational or on–the–job training, job search and placement assistance, and career counseling. It also provides resource libraries providing access to employment–related services such as current job vacancies via MinnesotaWorks.net, local education and training service providers, and labor market information. WIOA Adult providers have been partnering with Adult Career Pathway programming to ensure individuals have access to family sustaining wages or beyond.
• Minnesota Pathways to Prosperity – Minnesota Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) is an innovative strategy built on a Career Pathway programming model, which integrates basic skills education, career–specific training, support services, and employment placement and retention to meet the needs of adults. P2P projects are designed for adults who traditionally face multiple barriers to employment, and who are in need of enhanced educational and supportive services to be successful in securing long–term family sustaining wages. This competitively awarded grant program targets populations of color; individuals experiencing housing insecurity; individuals with a criminal record; those lacking a high school diploma or equivalent; individuals with disabilities; and those unemployed for 26 or more consecutive weeks. In addition, special consideration should be provided to veterans, those returning to work after receiving public assistance, low–income, and older workers. Participating individuals obtain, retain, and advance in unsubsidized employment or complete training along an educational path, as demonstrated by annual wage increases, placement and retention in a job or education or training program, and completion of training leading to an industry–recognized credential. P2P is a state–funded, competitive grant program.
• Minnesota Displaced Homemaker Program – This program provides pre–employment services that empower participants to enter or re–enter the labor market after having been homemakers. Customers are women and men who have worked in the home for a minimum of two years caring for home and family but, due to separation, divorce, death, or disability of spouse or partner, or other loss of financial support, must support themselves and their families. The participants need to identify, address and resolve multiple barriers before they can be competitive in the workforce. Often they are worried about basic needs such as facing eviction, having utilities services shut off, or caring for a spouse or child with a disability. Eligibility is based on income guidelines. Seven providers offer services covering 51 counties state–funded program.
• Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP/TANF) – This program helps families with children meet their basic needs, while helping parents move to financial stability through work. Parents are expected to work, and are supported in working with both cash and food assistance. Most families have a lifetime limit of 60 months on MFIP. DEED work with the Department of Human Services (DHS) Economic Assistance and Employment Supports Division to ensure the program goals of MFIP are met.
• SNAP Employment and Training Program (E&T) – SNAP E&T is jointed supervised by DHS and DEED with DEED taking the lead in E&T management. SNAP recipients who are required to participate in E&T in order to continue receiving SNAP benefits are the crux of those served, although the program also serves SNAP recipients who volunteer for E&T services. The program has two current approaches: 1) county supervised programs usually are contracted out to WIOA providers across the state and 2) project supervised programs are overall seen by DEED/WDD staff. DEED contracts directly with these providers and is reimbursed by DHS for project expenditures.
• Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) – The SCSEP program fosters economic self–sufficiency through community service activities for unemployed, low–income persons who are 55 years of age and older and have poor employment prospects. Program clients are Minnesotans 55+ years–old, with an income of less than 125 percent of the federal poverty levels, who want or need additional income. Service providers include five Local Workforce Development Areas, three community action agencies, three counties, two national sponsors, and one Native American tribe. Program operations are sub–granted to 11 local agencies that serve workers in 60 counties throughout the state; remaining counties are served by national sponsors.
• High–Wage, High Demand Nontraditional Jobs Grant Program – This program seeks to increase the number of women in high–wage, high–demand, nontraditional occupations including those in the skilled trades, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations. Grant funds serve women, especially low–income women and women over 50 years of age. This is a state–funded grant program, which began in December 2014 and will conclude June 30, 2016.
• Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers – This program provides Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers with a full range of employment services and referrals to other community services. Migrant and other seasonal employees engaged in farm work that are legally eligible to work in the United States and of legal age to perform services for wages are eligible for services. The full range of services provided to Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers includes: job search assistance and placement, job counseling, training opportunities, and referrals to supportive services. The program is administered by labor representatives who are proficient in both English and Spanish, to better serve the predominantly Spanish speaking clientele. Services include quality employment services and referrals and are administered at four main Local Workforce Development Areas.
• Services for Incarcerated Adults – DEED has designed, implemented and managed successful ex–offender employment and training programs in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Corrections. DEED employs four dedicated Offender Specialists whose sole job is to provide employment services to ex–offenders both prior to and after release. These staff conduct pre–release workshops at all 11 state correctional facilities and provide one–on–one assistance to ex–offenders after release.
• Services for Ex–Offenders – DEED designed and offers a series of "New Leaf" workshops in 20 WorkForce Centers across the state’s Local Workforce Development Areas. This workshop is designed specifically for job seekers who are having a difficult time obtaining employment due to their barriers and/or records. This workshop combines DEED’s Creative Job Search course with special strategies for overcoming barriers to employment, including how, when and why to disclose your record; addressing concerns from employers; answering tough interview questions; and provides state resources on the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Federal Bonding and "Ban the Box" requirements. In addition, DEED’s Veteran employment program has one DVOP working on a special project for Minnesota veterans that have been incarcerated
• Services for Homeless Minnesotans – Approximately 750 participants served in SFY 2015 identified as homeless on program enrollment, representing about 3 percent of total participants served in state– and federally–funded eligibility–based workforce programs administered by DEED. In March 2016, Performance Management (PM) staff assessed these eligibility–based programs to determine which programs do and do not track whether a participant was homeless at the time of program enrollment. Currently, only one program does not track housing insecurity and two programs were found to not make mandatory a question assessing the participant’s housing status. PM staff are also piloting the disaggregation of employment and wage outcome data for homeless participants to include in a future version of the Uniform Outcome Report Card. Staff will be meeting with agency program directors later this month with several recommendations addressing data collection changes and outcome reporting related to homeless participants.

Youth Development Programs

• WIOA Youth Program – Minnesota’s WIOA Youth Program provides comprehensive employment and training services to opportunity youth, including work–based learning, an introduction to career pathways, attainment of recognized credentials and wrap–around support services. Participants are at–risk youth ages 16–24 who are not attending any school, and in–school youth ages 14–21 who are low–income and at–risk. Minnesota encourages co–enrollment of WIOA youth participants in other State and federally funded youth programs to increase the quality of services to in–school and out–of–school youth.
• Minnesota Youth Program (MYP) – This program provides comprehensive services to prepare at–risk youth, ages 14 to 24, for the world of work, including: career exploration and planning, labor market information on in–demand occupations, work readiness skills, financial literacy training and quality work experience opportunities. MYP is available in all 87 counties; strong local partnerships are in place with oversight from local Workforce Development Boards/Youth Committees. The Outreach to Schools/Career Advisor component of MYP provides cost–effective strategies for delivering career and labor market information to in–school youth. MYP is a state–funded program.
• Youthbuild Program – This program offers a construction career pathway for at–risk youth and young adults who have dropped out of school or experienced repeated failure in school. It provides industry–recognized credentials and pre–apprenticeship training in residential housing construction; contextual basic skills and work readiness soft skills; career exploration and counseling; mentoring and leadership development; and support services. Ten organizations provide services across Minnesota. Youthbuild is a state–funded program.
• Youth at Work Competitive Grant Program – The program provides workforce development and training opportunities to economically disadvantaged or at–risk youth with special consideration to youth from communities of color and youth with disabilities. Experiential learning opportunities for economically disadvantaged or at–risk youth, ages 14 through 24; promotes mastery of work readiness competencies and 21st Century skills; promotes skill acquisition (academic and work readiness) through project–based instruction; increases exposure to in–demand jobs important to regional economies; and provides high–quality worksites and overall participant and employer satisfaction. Ten organizations provided summer employment opportunities and another six provided services year–round. The Youth at Work Competitive Grant is state funded.

Veterans

• Service in WorkForce Center System – The state’s WorkForce Center system provides the full array of labor and employment services to veterans around the state. Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialists (DVOPs) provide eligible veterans with employment services such as job matching and referral to posted job openings, vocational and career guidance, labor market information, plus workshops on resume preparation and conducting effective job searches. DVOPs also refer eligible and qualified veterans to appropriate WIOA–funded training programs and discretionary initiatives, as well as registered apprenticeship programs throughout the state. Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVER) specialize in promoting veterans to employers, educating one–stop partners on current law, changing regulations, and the value veterans bring to an employer.
• Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) – DVOP and LVER staff are funded through the JVSG and fulfill all responsibilities mandated by the grant programs. Services include the provision of intensive case management services to Chapter 31 Veterans, disabled veterans, homeless veterans, economically or educationally disadvantaged veterans, and veterans with "significant barriers to employment" as defined by the Department of Labor.
• Additional Veterans Outreach – JVSG grant staff also serves other populations of veterans in the State through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). Those populations include:
• National Guard and Reserve members returning from overseas deployment. In particular, Virtual Job Fair Technology and social media are being utilized to connect and assist this group with veterans’ resource sites, services accessed while they are still overseas, and actual virtual job fairs when they return to this country. Minnesota also stages an annual Veterans Career Fair each July, which is “Hire a Veteran” month as proclaimed by the Governor.
• Service–connected disabled veterans, who are identified through various Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) such as Disabled American Veterans and VFWs, as well as outreach activities at Veteran Centers, Veterans Administration Medical Centers, and Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
• Recently separated veterans, who are identified at various reintegration events, job fairs, and through partner referrals.
• Wounded and injured veterans, who are identified through the outreach activities of our DVOPS, local VSO’s, and partner staff in our local WorkForce Center system.
• Incarcerated veterans, who are identified and contacted through "in–reach" activities conducted within correctional facilities managed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, and community based "halfway houses" and similar facilities. Minnesota has dedicated DVOP staff that serve veterans being released from correctional facilities, and those with a criminal history via this special initiative.
• Homeless Veterans – DVOP Specialists work in partnership with the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program to provide one–on–one employment assistance and supportive services to homeless veterans. These services may include resume and interviewing preparation, employment workshops, job clubs, job search assistance and job referrals. Community based "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon" organizations – DVOP/LVER participation in "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon" committees covering 63 National Guard Armory communities. DEED Veterans Employment Representatives are required partners in these organizations comprised of public and private resources designed to support all veterans in the community.

Individuals with Disabilities

• Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services — This program assists Minnesotans with significant disabilities to secure and maintain employment. Customers are people whose disabilities cause serious functional limitations in life, specifically in achieving an employment goal. More than 300 VR counselors, placement counselors, and VR techs work within the Minnesota WorkForce Center System to deliver services that include: assessment, vocational evaluation, training, rehabilitation counseling, assistive technology, and job placement. Some customers may also receive post–employment assistance. Many of these services are delivered through collaborative partnerships between public and private providers. Coordination between programs will be supported by working and, as appropriate, formal partnership agreements with state community partners to create referral processes and jointly deliver services to customers, including customers from unserved and underserved populations. At the local level, VR will work with core and combined plan partners as well as other community resources, to reach out to unserved and underserved populations. Particularly, VR will focus efforts on underserved youth (youth from the foster care, juvenile justice, and mental health systems), homeless individuals, and individuals with limited education. The VR program receives both state and federal funding.
• Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) Career Pathways – Beginning in 2014, Minnesota’s DEI project supports job–driven approaches in career pathway systems and programs to equip youth and adults with disabilities (including individuals with significant disabilities) with the skills, competencies, and credentials necessary to help them obtain in–demand jobs, increase earnings, and advance their careers. Three Local Workforce Development Areas operate career pathways in manufacturing, health care, and information technology sectors. Disability Resources Coordinators work to strengthen partnerships with Vocational Rehabilitation, disability agencies, and employers and modify career pathway education and employment for individual success.

Adult Learners

• Customized Training Pilot Program – Minnesota provides a direct appropriation three MN State Colleges and University System (MNSCU) institutions. The goal of the program is develop and administer customized training programs in the skilled manufacturing industry that integrates academic instruction and job–related learning in the workplace.
• Apprenticeship Programs –The Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) is committed to supporting Minnesota’s economy by fostering and promoting work–based career development through registered apprenticeship programs that provide structured training, development and credentialing of highly skilled employees.
• Minnesota Apprenticeship Initiative – In 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded Minnesota a grant to expand registered apprenticeship into the industries of advanced manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, information technology and transportation. DEED is administering the grant and DLI is engaging industry, labor, and community–based organizations to develop programs, including the creation of apprenticeships in 29 new occupations.
• Private Investment, Public Education, Labor and Industry Experience (PIPELINE) Project –The PIPELINE Project was established by the Minnesota legislature in 2014 to expand dual–training and apprenticeship programs in Minnesota. DLI was appropriated one–time funds to convene industry experts, employers, higher–education institutions, and labor to develop competency standards acceptable to advanced manufacturing, health care services, information technology, and agriculture industries.
• Labor Education Advancement Program (LEAP) – LEAP was established by DLI for the purposes of facilitating the participation of minorities and women in apprenticeship–able trades and occupations. Grants appropriated by the legislature are distributed annually to community–based organizations serving the targeted population.
• Construct Tomorrow Program – Partners with the state construction trades and Apprenticeship Coordinators Association bring to high schools a hands–on experience which exposes young men and women to opportunities in the construction trades.
• Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) – As the entity responsible for management and oversight of Title II funds, MDE works collaboratively with partners within the Combined State Plan to ensure effective and efficient career pathways for Minnesotans, through 44 Adult Basic Education (ABE) consortia. ABE transition coordinators and Local Workforce Development Area directors will convene meetings, identify opportunities for collaboration and planning, and host discussions aimed at meeting regional needs. This work is funded, in part, by the WIA Incentive funding that Minnesota was the recipient of last year. The state is investing much of the earnings into WIOA implementation through better alignment and leveraging of resources and opportunities within the six regions in Minnesota.