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Plan: Maine PYs 2016-2017
Unified Plan U

Section: WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Narrative: II. c. 2.

Published
Located in:
  • II. Strategic Elements

    The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a Strategic Planning Elements section that analyzes the State’s current economic environment and identifies the State’s overall vision for its workforce development system. The required elements in this section allow the State to develop data-driven goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce and to identify successful strategies for aligning workforce development programs. Unless otherwise noted, all Strategic Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs.

    • c. State Strategy

      The Unified or Combined State Plan must include the State's strategies to achieve its strategic vision and goals. These strategies must take into account the State’s economic, workforce, and workforce development, education and training activities and analysis provided in Section (a) above. Include discussion of specific strategies to address the needs of populations provided in Section (a).

II. c. 2. Describe the Strategies the State Will Use to Align the Core Programs, Any Combined State Plan Partner Programs Included in This Plan, Required and Optional One-stop Partner Programs, and Any Other Resources Available to the State to Achieve Fully Integrated Customer Services Consistent with the Strategic Vision and Goals Described Above. Also Describe Strategies to Strengthen Workforce Development Activities in Regard to Weaknesses Identified in Section Ii(a)(2).

Current Narrative:

STRATEGIES USED TO ALIGN THE CORE PROGRAMS AND STRENGTHEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES In December 2014, Maine’s core partners began meeting to discuss the alignment of programs under WIOA. At the outset, all partners were ‘at the table’ and committed to the process of rethinking how the delivery of WDS services could be improved through integration and realignment of resources. One year and countless meetings later, the commitment among Maine’s core partners to system improvement has remained steadfast. Underlying the strategies that Maine has and is utilizing to align programs and achieve integrated customer services is: • The recognition by core partners and system administrators that effective workforce development is critical to Maine’s economic vitality; • The recognition that for realignment to be effective, the process must be inclusive and result in greater coordination and alignment of workforce development, education and training activities. Accordingly, the State’s core programs adopted a three–fold strategy for aligning programs: Stage 1: Convene stakeholders and establish a vision, goals and strategies— During Spring 2015, the State Board convened a broad group of workforce stakeholders, including administrators of the core programs, workforce developers, educators, policy makers, and representatives from State Board committees and councils for three full days to discuss the workforce development system and to create a vision for a bright Maine future. Participants discussed the economic, demographic and system challenges that may impede system realignment as well as potential solutions. Stage 2: Hone the strategies and projects to support the vision and goals—Once the vision was established, the WIOA Steering Committee met regularly and often to hone strategies that would help Maine achieve its vision and goals. Stage 3: Operationalize the plan—Once the vision, goals, strategies and projects were finalized, the Steering Committee and core partners focused on how the strategic objectives could be operationalized in light of Maine’s unique needs and challenges and WIOA’s requirements. During these processes, the WIOA Steering Committee established guiding principles that served to inform the process of system realignment and integration. CORE PROGRAM AND STEERING COMMITTEE GUIDING PRINCIPLES • Create a customer centric approach (no wrong door) with universal access • Strive for continuous improvement • Utilize regular communication • Eliminate unnecessary duplication • Look for redundancies • Analyze the functions • Align staff resources • Cross train