Located in:
- III. Operational Planning ElementsThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that support 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 ImplementationThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include—
- 2. Implementation of State StrategyDescribe 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. A. Core Program Activities to Implement the State’s Strategy
Current Narrative:
The ADWS will provide labor exchange services through funds provided under WIOA Title III including labor market information to the individuals seeking services. The information will include information on local, regional and national labor market areas such as:
- Job vacancies in labor market areas
- Information on job skills necessary to obtain the jobs
- Local, in–demand occupations and related earning potential
- Opportunities for advancement in those occupations
Additionally, One–Stops and partners must provide appropriate services for individuals to obtain or retain employment. These services include, but are not limited to:
- Individual Employment Plan (IEP)
- Career planning and counseling (no longer called case management)
- Comprehensive assessment
- Occupational skills assessment
- Short–term prevocational services
- Internship and work experience including transitional jobs and industry partnerships
- Workforce preparation
- Out–of–area job search
- English language acquisition
- Financial literacy
The Arkansas Department of Career Education, Adult Education Division (ADCE–AED) shall use funds made available under section 222(a)(2) for the following adult education and literacy activities (Section 203 of WIOA):
- Adult Education
- Literacy
- Workplace adult education and literacy activities
- Family literacy activities
- English language acquisition activities
- Integrated English literacy and civics education
- Workforce preparation activities; or
- Integrated education and training that:
o Provides adult education and literacy activities, concurrently and contextually with both, workforce preparation activities, and workforce training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster, and
o Is for the purpose of educational and career advancement.
Funds may not be used for the purpose of supporting or providing programs, services, or activities for individuals who are under the age of 16 and are enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under State law, except for such purpose if such programs, services, or activities are related to family literacy activities. In providing family literacy activities under this title, an eligible provider shall attempt to coordinate with programs and services that are not assisted under this title prior to using funds for adult education and literacy activities under this title for activities other than activities for eligible individuals.
Allowable activities, referred to as vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, are those activities necessary to assist individuals with disabilities to prepare for, secure, retain, or regain gainful employment. An individualized plan for employment (IPE) is the foundation for all activities funded by Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) for eligible individuals. Both the outcome goal and the services outlined on each individual’s IPE must be consistent with their respective strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, informed choice and economic self-sufficiency. VR services, as practicable, should likewise align with the resources of core partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that people with disabilities meet or exceed their IPE goals. In addition to VR counseling, IPE’s may include pre-employment transition and transition services, rehabilitation technology, training for careers that are in demand, post-secondary education, placement with employers, interpreters, accommodations needed for job placement or retaining employment, restorative medical services, positive behavior supports, internships, paid work experiences, and pre-apprenticeship training.
The Department of Human Services Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) engages in activities similar to its partner Arkansas Rehabilitation Services. One hundred percent of DSB–funded services are focused on the most significantly disabled, individuals who are blind or severely visually impaired. DSB provides this population with specialized vocational rehabilitation counseling services, which are designed to assist persons who are blind or have visual impairments to prepare for employment that is commensurate within their abilities, interests and informed choice, and is consistent with their strengths, resources, concerns and capabilities. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors in conjunction with their consumers develop employability plans, which outline the barriers, services, and steps to reach their employment goals. Referrals are made to partner programs to provide any additional services necessary to meet or exceed the employment goals in their plans. In addition to vocational counseling, DSB funds transition services; training for careers that are in demand; post–secondary education; placement with employers; accommodations needed for job placement or retaining employment; restorative medical services; internships; paid work experiences; pre–apprenticeship training; vending stand opportunities under the Randolph–Shepherd Act; and business ownership opportunities under the Small Business Program. In recent years, DSB has begun placing more emphasis on the employer as a customer.
Beginning in 2014, the core programs have worked diligently together to align services across core programs and other program partners and are including other non–core programs such as TANF, Trade Adjustment Assistance, Career and Technical Education, Carl D. Perkins secondary and post–secondary programs, Registered Apprenticeship and others. Staff from the core agencies is actively engaged in training opportunities that include all operational levels of the core partners and key stakeholders named in the combined plan. Arkansas has a good history of core programs alignment, but to better facilitate these activities, strategies including a common intake process, inter–agency data sharing, case management integration, and co–location of resources when possible, are being developed and implemented. This cross–agency team is currently in the process of developing a state policy regarding co–enrollment and developing common intake processes. This process will encompass all programs located in the Arkansas Workforce Centers and will not be limited to only core programs.