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Plan: Massachusetts PYs 2016-2017
Combined Plan C

Section: WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Narrative: III. b. 6. A. i.

Published
Located in:
  • III. Operational Planning Elements
    The 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—
    • 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—
      • 6. Program Data
        • A. Data Alignment and Integration
          Describe the plans of the lead State agencies with responsibility for the administration of the core programs, along with the State Board, to align and integrate available workforce and education data systems for the core programs, unemployment insurance programs, and education through postsecondary education, and to the extent possible, the Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan. The description of the State’s plan for integrating data systems should include the State’s goals for achieving integration and any progress to date.

III. b. 6. A. i. Describe the State’s Plans to Make the Management Information Systems for the Core Programs Interoperable to Maximize the Efficient Exchange of Common Data Elements to Support Assessment and Evaluation.

Current Narrative:

The Commonwealth’s workforce system will be expanded and strengthened by aligning programs, services, and activities across core partners identified within WIOA. It is the goal of the state to create an integrated, technology–based intake and case management information system built around a main entry portal into the expanded Massachusetts Workforce Development System to be used by all staff and common customers (both job seekers and employers). This will entail designing and implementing the technological infrastructure to execute a common intake/registration application with real–time triage processes that features: strong skills and transferability assessments, job matching and job referral, common case management across all partners. This common intake and case management system is imperative to our ability to strengthen the consistency and quality of services provided by the system to job seekers and businesses.

Massachusetts is investigating creating a new online, “front end” interface built around a web–based platform such as JobQuest. JobQuest, currently in use by the One–Stop Career Centers, is the online application that connects to the MOSES database and is the front–facing web application used by members of the public (job seekers and businesses) to access programs and services such as job search and application, training programs research and, for employers, to locate job candidates. JobQuest can serve as a portal to register individuals working with WIOA Program partners who will be co–enrolled in the OSCC system for career development, job search, educational and occupational assessments, occupational training and job placement. The registration will include all data points required by each partner program. In this yet–to–be developed application, registration would trigger the process to establish eligibility across partner programs, allow customer access to all programs, services and activities offered through the partner agencies, and provide access to assessment and labor market information, as well as profiling tools. Access will be granted using a single user ID and password. The information captured at registration would be shared with partner agencies through file exchanges to populate appropriate fields within their respective data systems. The new IT system functionality will allow all program partners to easily register individuals at One–Stop Career Centers, track referrals and track the service results for those “shared” customers. Currently, no cross–program, cross–agency tracking process exists.

This new functionality will also serve to support the design of the new customer flows for shared customers described elsewhere in this plan and in the state MOU. Data interfaces with core agency partners will allow these agencies to integrate data within their own reporting databases.