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—
- b. State Operating Systems and PoliciesThe 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—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 3. A. State Agency Organization
Current Narrative:
OET provides support and oversight to several activities and programs authorized under Section 112(b)(8)(A). Integrating components of the Trade Act program with the WIOA dislocated worker program further enhances operational collaboration of workforce investment activities. By housing education and other training initiatives, duplication of services is reduced. A focus on re–employment services is facilitated by unemployment insurance, Wagner–Peyser and WIOA services in OET.
Kentucky has identified four regions in the state consisting of central, east, south central and the west region. Kentucky has 10 Local Workforce Investment Areas governed by local workforce investment boards. The local boards, in collaboration with Wagner–Peyser funded staff and the governor’s Workforce Investment Board, administer the state’s public workforce system. Other vital partners are the community and technical colleges that provide career and technical education and adult education. Kentucky Adult Education programs have a presence in all 120 counties.
Kentucky has built a strong foundation of partnership and collaboration among core and combined programs, local workforce development boards and employers. The WorkSmart Kentucky Plan of the previous Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, and the newly developed Economic Competitiveness Agenda, together set a tone and a set of strategies that will enable the workforce development activities of Kentucky’s system to make progress and serve individuals and employers more effectively over the next four years.
The 11 certified full–service centers and three certified affiliate Kentucky Career Center (KCC) offices provide job seekers and employers access to services. The career center offices offer a full array of employment services to help adults and dislocated workers.
The local workforce areas (LWIA) are responsible for their respective areas and oversee the operations of those programs. Kentucky is committed to ensuring that LWIAs are responsible stewards of state and federal dollars. The area workforce plans describe how services are delivered on a local level. The 10 areas are: Bluegrass, South Central, Cumberlands, Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program Inc. (EKCEP), Green River, KentucianaWorks, Lincoln Trail, Northern Kentucky and TENCO.
Each of the 10 local areas has one certified comprehensive career center office that provides physical access to core services: WIOA Title I (adults, dislocated worker and youth formula programs), WIOA Title II – Adult Education (AEFLA program), WIOA Title III – Wagner–Peyser Act employment services and WIOA Title IV – Vocational Rehabilitation Program and other required partners.
Kentucky is early only four months into a new administration and the identification of workforce priorities and initiatives. At this time, the organizational structure is in process of review. The organizational chart can be found here: kwib.ky.gov/orgchart.pdf