Narrative: III. a. 2. G.

Indiana is leveraging investments (in addition to WIOA funding) to enhance access to workforce development programs through various initiatives. Some examples are below:

WorkINdiana

WorkINdiana is a state–funded, short–term occupational training program for Adult Education (WIOA Title II) students that results in industry–recognized certifications. This program enables Adult Education students working toward their high school equivalency or improving their basic skills through federal WIOA funding to simultaneously earn an industry–recognized occupational certification. Students may select certification training from a list of state–approved and industry recognized certifications. To ensure success, WorkINdiana requires regional partnerships between One–stop centers and adult education centers, career and technical education centers, community colleges, and local economic development representatives. Together these partners determine which careers from the certification framework are most relevant to their regions and then implement the requisite training programs. Students must be co–enrolled in WIOA programs to ensure a full range of supports and financial services are made available. Since WorkINdiana’s inception in August 2011, over 3000 students have enrolled in certification training, with 87% completing and 75% achieving a certification. There are more than 400 approved career certification programs located at 84 sites across the state with additional programs being added throughout the year.

In 2014, Indiana received Workforce Investment Act (WIA) incentive funding for their statewide performance in Program Year 2012. Indiana chose to grant this funding to ten of the twelve Workforce Investment Boards (WIB) for expansion of the WorkINdiana training program and inclusion of work experiences for participants in this training “bridge” program. The ten WIBs chose specific career clusters with demonstrated need in their economic growth region. These industries include, but are not limited to: Welding (ASW), Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Production Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Certified Billing and Coding, among others. Regional areas began implementation of the work experience component of the WIA Incentive Grant in January 2015. As of September 30, 2015, 21 participants have completed WorkINdiana training and been placed in short–term, industry related work experience. Work experience employers include large and small employers such as Walgreen’s, Greene County Hospital, Stone City Iron Works, Boyd Welding & Machine, Inc., Landmark Family Dental, Indiana Periodontics and others. Several of the participants have been permanently hired by the work experience employer. Under the incentive grant, work experience wages are expected to align with entry level industry wages. Current wages for the participants who received a permanent placement range from $11.00–$19.00 per hour.

Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG)

JAG is a statewide drop–out prevention program that targets at–risk high school juniors and seniors as well as out of school youth who have already dropped out of high school. The program’s goals are to provide skills assessment and remediation to ensure students receive a high school diploma or its equivalent; assist in the attainment of employability skills to pursue employment or post–secondary education; and to help ensure graduates remain employed after graduation or transition to post–secondary education or training. Indiana’s JAG model provides tutoring assistance and adult mentoring. Participants receive individualized attention and identification of specific barriers to success, which may include academic problems, life skills, personal skills, and social or economic barriers. Students receive one year of follow–up service after graduation. Each senior completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), applies to two colleges and has the opportunity to take the American College Testing (ACT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or some pre–postsecondary enrollment examination.

Last year 44% of the students in follow–up were enrolled in post– secondary education. The current 2014 graduates earned $10M in outside scholarships. JAG Indiana was recognized by the national organization for having the highest amount of earned scholarships by its students. The State Career Development Conference was held March 14, 2014 at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis. The event provided students the opportunity to visit the campus and compete in employability skills events. Twelve regional conferences were held prior to the statewide conference. Ninety–two schools participated in the regional conferences with the top 125 students attending the State conference. The State Career Development Conference featured competitive events designed to demonstrate employability skills learned through program competencies, employer and community connections. Thirty–six students received awards ranging from $250 to $3,000. During the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly, state funds were allocated for the first time for JAG. This enabled the program to essentially double in size. DWD is currently partnering with the Family and Social Services Administration to leverage TANF funding for JAG programs. Since its inception in 2006, JAG has served more than 13,000 Hoosier students. Over 5,200 students participated in JAG at 118 programs throughout the State during the 2014–15 school year.

Hoosier Initiative for Re–Entry (HIRE)

The HIRE program is an initiative to help ex–offenders become gainfully reemployed and reenter society. In conjunction with the Department of Correction (DOC), DWD leads program participants through the process of becoming successful job candidates by working with employers to determine the knowledge, skills, abilities, and aptitude needed to be a successful employee within their organization.

Participants are often chosen based on two main requirements: they must have displayed a positive track record during incarceration and must be identified as low or medium risk to re–offend. The staff works with DOC to determine which applicants would best suit a specific employer. Once applicants are screened, DWD delivers a curriculum focused on soft skills, workplace aptitude, and motivation. Upon release, participants receive additional targeted job training if needed. After release and job placement, DWD staff meets regularly with participants and employers to identify work related issues or needs and to discuss any program changes.

It costs Indiana $20,000 per year to incarcerate one offender. Department figures show the state’s cash return to the economy during the past year is more than $8 million due to savings on incarceration costs and increases in state economic productivity. In addition to state funding for HIRE, DWD is currently partnering with the Family and Social Services Administration to leverage TANF funding for the HIRE program.

REA, WPRS and JFH

The Worker Profiling Reemployment Services (WPRS), Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment, and Jobs for Hoosiers (JFH) programs capture unemployed Hoosiers at the fourth week of their claim and include: UI eligibility review, claimant–centered labor market information, referral to a self–directed job search, and an orientation to the one–stop services. In addition, REA participants complete an Individual Reemployment Plan (IRP) and additional services such as job search workshops, job search assistance, employment counseling, and referrals to other employment services.

Adult Basic Education (ABE)

The Adult Basic Education program is charged with ensuring delivery of foundational skills development, academic and career counseling services, and career pathways to adults and out–of–school youth for the purpose of employment, reemployment, or enhanced employment. The ABE program consists of regional consortia throughout the state, constructed within the DWD economic growth regions. Each consortium is responsible for ensuring that all adult learners within its service area have access to both educational and career advising services. In Program Year 2015, $20 million in state funding will supplement the almost $10M in federal WIOA Title II funding to carry out these initiatives. In addition to these federal and state dollars, local and regional contributions will total over $5 million, much from the local school systems and education–based organizations. All of this funding together will focus on delivering services to support the adult learner.

Skill UP

The 2015 Indiana General Assembly dedicated $48 million for the biennium to DWD to expand and enhance Career and Technical Education programs that lead to jobs in Indiana’s priority sectors. The vast majority of these funds will be used to allow communities to implement employer–led evidence–based strategies that align education and training programs; creating collaboration between employers, educational entities, community based organizations, workforce, and economic partners within the region. These “Skill UP” grants intend to catalyze pathway system development, each of which insists upon the inclusion of work and learn opportunities.

Indiana INTERNnet

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education received a $500,000 allocation over the most recent biennium to provide additional support to Indiana INTERNnet, (a web–based tool matching employers to college interns) , and they are looking at ways to determine barriers to offering work–and–learn experiences as well as strategies to expand work–and–learn opportunities across the State of Indiana.

https://indianaintern.net/

Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational Rehabilitation is an engaged partner to increase educational access to job–seekers that may need VR services and supports to be successful in other state and federal programs. VR is able to provide services to assist with barriers stemming from an individual’s disability that assists in access to existing programs or aids in successfully completing a program. VR is working with State programs, like JAG and local educational agencies, to identify ways to collaborate to serve student and youth populations through pre–employment transition services. Project SEARCH is a VR program that is a worksite–based school–to–work program that provides employment and education opportunities for students with disabilities transitioning from high school. The program benefits employers by increasing workforce diversity and reducing recruitment and training costs. Many employers experience improved job retention, enhanced community image and increased customer satisfaction. Additionally, the Randolph–Sheppard Business Enterprise Programprovides entrepreneurial opportunities for legally blind clients of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS). These blind entrepreneurs manage a wide variety of food–service operations, including cafeterias, coffee shops, vending locations, and highway area vending sites. Through this program, blind individuals receive training and opportunities to become productive, tax–paying citizens and independent business owners.