Narrative: II. a. 2. C.

Arkansas is well-poised to provide workforce and talent development activities given the strong

knowledge base of its practitioners. Due to nationally-recognized system components, such as a career pathway system with many bridges and stackable credentials; a robust Registered Apprenticeship program; and training programs that meet industry demands, our pursuit becomes one of continuous improvement. Arkansas has implemented a workforce system designed to increase capacity to serve more customers. Led by the strategic vision set by Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Workforce Development Board, the functional design of the Arkansas workforce system starts with coordination at the highest level through the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, which provides a common direction at the state agency level for driving workforce development. This partnership at the highest level will increase capacity and extend the alignment of the system to a broader and more diverse population of jobseekers across the state.

The agencies represented in this plan, some who are new to being co-located in a workforce center, will develop a streamlined customer experience through referrals from and to core, non-core, and program partners to coordinate workforce activities and increase the capacity of each partner by allowing specialized services to function optimally and assist in the elimination of the duplication of services. Furthermore, through direction by the Arkansas Workforce Development Board and one of the objectives of this plan, the State will explore ways to increase capacity, especially in rural areas across the state beyond bricks-and-mortar, through virtual services.

Concern continues for many of the programs of this plan, including the WIOA Title I programs, Wagner-Peyser, TANF, and Adult Education that have experienced stagnant or declining funding over the last several years. The lack of new funding in many programs means the State must continue to find more efficient ways to provide services to Arkansans.

In WIOA Title I programs, several local boards have made changes in their program administration and service delivery, such as entering into consortia with other partners to operate the workforce centers request waivers to provide core and intensive services, rather than hire private providers with cost margins. This has resulted in savings at the local board level, which enables more funding to be directed to services and training.

Although funding has been stagnant over the past 20 years in Adult Education, providers still serve all 75 counties in Arkansas. Adult education currently receives $19 million in state funding and $5.2 million in federal funding to serve approximately 28,000 clients. The funding continues to be used for Adult Education and Family Literacy activities, such as adult basic education, literacy, workplace education, family literacy activities, English language acquisition activities, integrated English literacy and civics education, workforce preparation, correctional education, and integrated education and training. The Adult Education Division has a strong working collaborative relationship with other state agencies and organizations to help provide education, literacy, and workforce services to clients that helps reduce duplication of services and provide braided funding opportunities of approved activities. Some of the current collaborations include:

• The Arkansas Literacy Council to increase the number of literacy councils throughout the state
• The Department of Workforce Services and the Department of Human Services to provide educational support and training to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) clients
• The Arkansas Rehabilitation Services to provide assistance for adult education students with a documented disability(ies)
• Local courts and community corrections programs to provide academic instruction to first time offenders and reentry individuals
• Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC) to provide career pathways that lead to a sustainable income to students without a high school diploma
• The Arkansas Department of Corrections to continue to provide federal funding to incarcerated adults without a high school diploma

In addition, besides the traditional classroom, one of the ways adult education is providing services is through distance education. Currently, 64 percent of adult education and literacy providers offer distance learning. The state office has restructured the distance learning program to provide professional development training and certified curricula that can assist with student learning. For students who are unable to attend an adult education or literacy council program or desire to work independently, distance learning has been a great alternative for education access.

The capacity of the state to provide workforce development for persons with disabilities is difficult to predict. The existing infrastructure for service provision is inadequate because of the added responsibilities related to transition services for students with disabilities. It will take creative partnerships with stakeholders in secondary education to be successful. It is critical for local resources to include provisions to assist people with disabilities to develop the skills needed for competitive integrated employment. The current staff members have designated duties above and beyond cross-training other agencies. Direct client services are positively impacted by these activities, so they are a priority; however, increased workloads and performance goals put a strain on vocational rehabilitation staff.

The State has a strong partnership between the workforce development system and Registered Apprenticeship. This partnership has been strengthened through the Arkansas Apprenticeship Pathway Initiative grant that will create and expand registered apprenticeships in targeted growth industries, strengthen employer and service provider partnerships, as well as provide an opportunity for participants to learn occupational specific skills as well as good wages while gaining college credit. Through a partnership with the Arkansas Apprenticeship Steering Committee and the Arkansas Apprenticeship Coalition, the State is working to develop a referral process at the local workforce development board level, which increase the number of individuals served through the WIOA Title I programs and enrolled in Registered Apprenticeship training programs. Furthermore, all Registered Apprenticeship programs that desire so have been added to the list of approved eligible training providers.