Narrative: II. b. 2.

The partners recognize that the growth of Missouri’s economy relies on a well-educated and skilled workforce that meets the needs of job seekers, workers and businesses. While responding to industry and occupational demands, Missouri will focus on its emerging industries as well. It will work with both education and industry partners to develop and utilize career pathways to assist in preparing an educated and skilled workforce, which includes youth, individuals with barriers to employment and other populations. Missouri will align partners to ensure a seamless delivery of services to improve efficiency and access for all workforce system stakeholders.

The partners developed the following five goals to achieve Missouri’s vision of an integrated demand-driven workforce system that leads to self-sufficiency:

1. Overcome employment barriers.

The partners realize that not all job seekers have the same opportunity to achieve competitive integrated employment. Many individuals face employment barriers, which limit access to education, rehabilitation, employment, transportation and independent living. It is Missouri’s intent to develop workforce system policies that will aid in overcoming employment barriers and will lead to the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency.

Missouri partners are committed to developing new career pathways for youth and adults with barriers to employment including individuals with disabilities. Missouri’s core partner program leaders regularly meet to collaborate on braiding services for work-based learning and education funding. Through sector strategy regional business meetings and partner engagement, Missouri will work with employers to identify opportunities and services available to assist in eliminating employment barriers.

2. Maximize efficiency and access to services.

Missouri is committed to building an integrated demand-driven workforce system and will engage multiple agencies beyond the core partner programs within its WIOA teams and subcommittees. Missouri is using teams comprised of partner representatives to maximize efficiency and access to services. Partner representatives at the state and local levels allow Missouri to align program initiatives and processes.

The Service Design and Delivery Team is responsible for reviewing partners’ services and delivery methods to avoid duplication of efforts. The team also looks at strategies to develop unified processes such as a participatory referral process. Partners will create methods of referral that will develop improved service access. Each partner can refer where appropriate, but while each partner develops knowledge of all available services, the job center will provide the conduit to the required partners. In addition, each partner has an information collection process which is used to serve clients. Appropriate data will be shared between each partner to maximize efficiency.

Local level partners are conducting asset mapping, cross training and job shadowing to better understand each other’s services. These activities have led to collaborative practices such as co-enrollment and braiding of service funding.

3. Develop career pathways.

Missouri’s career pathway model focuses on clients and employers. The sector strategies developed in Missouri will satisfy employers by providing qualified candidates for available positions. Clients looking for employment will use the information provided by sector strategies to know which career cluster will have the best opportunities for finding self-sufficient employment. Education and training are clear paths to better careers. Ideally, it is optimal to first obtain all the needed education and skills and then find a career. Missouri realizes that there are also clients who need to have concurrent and in some cases consecutive sessions of education and skill attainment with employment. Missouri intends to offer multiple entry and exit points for clients who need additional skills and employment until they reach a self-sufficient career.

Missouri is using Maher and Maher Consultants to develop sectors and sector strategies for Missouri’s Workforce Development Boards. Each board will develop their own plan for career pathways based on local employment opportunities, educational choices, and client demographics. The local boards, with representatives of secondary and postsecondary education programs, will respond to industry demand in their local area to develop and implement career pathways by aligning the employment, training, education, and supportive services that are needed by adults and youth, particularly individuals with barriers to employment. As a result of sector strategy work and increased local partnering activities, it is expected that local boards will experience new outcomes.

4. Place a strong emphasis on employment retention.

Missouri recognizes the need for continuing support once initial employment is obtained. Missouri will leverage all the required partners’ services to focus on helping clients maintain success in employment. Research indicates that employees who receive on-going education are more likely to retain employment. In addition, up-skilling while employed can improve employment retention and career advancement. Missouri will utilize sector strategies, which can help provide career development paths for workers in their current positions encouraging them to remain and have the opportunity to advance with employers.

Initial career assessment and utilizing economic data to identify in-demand industries will help clients achieve long-lasting employment that is consistent with their skills, interests and capabilities. Missouri will use sector strategies and labor market information to help job centers determine employment that will be available for years into the future rather than short-term employment opportunities.

People who achieve successful long-term employment have gained more than the minimum level of skills. Missouri is committed to providing education, training, and skills above the minimum level. Missouri workers will have opportunities to gain stackable credentials and skills that will retain employment.

5. Engage employers to meet their needs.

To engage employers, Missouri partners will coordinate, collaborate and cooperate in business service programs. Emphasis will be on meeting current employment needs and forecasting employment opportunities and career advancement. The WIOA partners have representatives on business services teams that connect directly to employers. A single point of contact system with employers will be utilized. The website jobs.mo.gov, a common employment support system, can be accessed by both WIOA partner agencies and employers. This system provides a common employment resource. WIOA partners are also working on a statewide Sector Strategies Initiative, which involves collaboration between core programs to leverage resources to serve businesses.