Narrative: II. a. 2. B.

• Adult Program (Title I of WIOA),

• Dislocated Worker Program (Title I),

• Youth Program (Title I),

• Adult Education and Literacy Program (Title II),

• Wagner-Peyser Act Program (Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended by title III), and

• Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by Title IV).

Strengths

• Partnership and Referral - The strengths of Missouri’s workforce development activities are based on our collaboration, cooperation and coordination of the workforce system partners. Partners have developed effective methods for appropriate referral. Each partner offers unique strengths and when in collaboration can further enrich service delivery. The partnerships being created through WIOA will engage the core agencies and programs in a manner never before attempted and serve to strengthen these workforce oriented services with better educational integration.

• Employer Services - Missouri provides great opportunities for local job centers to serve employers. Missouri’s workforce system uses an integrated partner approach to engaging employers and providing resources for them to list jobs, reach qualified candidates and to assist in increasing skills of the workforce.

• WIOA Implementation - Missouri has worked with combined partners from the beginning to launch an effective and efficient process in implementing WIOA. The process began with training and an MOU among combined partners. It has evolved into shared committees, planning and actions through the job centers. While the implementation is still in its infant stages, we are looking to the horizon for ways to meet future requirements that keep partners, jobseekers, employers and stakeholders engaged.

Weaknesses

• CTE Connections - The weaknesses within the current system are not that different from others across the nation in that better connections among the workforce system with Career and Technical Education, secondary and higher education are needed. Such enhancements are being embraced and significant role definition among the partners is being discussed and incorporated into the core focuses of sector strategy and career pathways integration to make systemic improvements.

• Incomplete Sector Strategies Facilitation - Specific to implementation strategies, weaknesses include moving forward with an incomplete Sector Strategies facilitation and the need for more fully developed Career Pathways environment. These efforts are also weakened because like every other State, legislators will continue to expect dramatic success in implementation, continuing to do more with less as the likelihood of general revenue funding for these things is very low.

• Data System Integration Challenges (Need for more time) - It is also true that while it may seem an advantage to have two highly credible data systems from Aware in the Vocational Rehabilitation System and Toolbox replacement in the workforce partners, this is a disadvantage to rapidly integrating the two. These systems will have to be amortized over some time in the future pushing out a time horizon that could be used to integrate them.

Employment Services – Combined Partners

CSBG

Strengths

• Community Action agencies are in continual contact with their communities and are regularly ‘brought to the table’ when issues regarding employment, disasters, and community planning arise. Their input is highly regarded, and some, such as Employment Security Corporation of Joplin, have become known nation-wide for their areas of expertise.

• Community Action Agencies (CAAs) do a Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment at least every three years, gathering both quantitative and qualitative data. They, in conjunction with Missouri Community Action Network, have developed a tool that has been held up as a model for collecting and mapping data elements to determine demographics related to needs and other issues.

• CAAs share their information with WIOA partners and other community partners to maximize resources available to assist in the mission of WIOA.

Weaknesses

• CAAs funding is limited and is utilized for services other than WIOA-based activities.

• Some CAAs catchment areas are very rural and have limited access for employment-support related services (such as transportation and childcare assistance) as well as employers that provide steady and/or wage/benefit structures that meet the needs of a family.

SkillUP

Strengths

• By offering services through the Job Centers, there has been increased access.

• There is additional funding available for other organizations.

Weaknesses

• There is a limited amount of 100% funding which decreased the amount of volunteers that could be served through the Job Centers; however, under the new initiative and by utilizing leverage funds there will be additional opportunities. There will be pilots in Kansas City and Springfield, with plans on expansion to St. Louis and ultimately the remainder of the state.

• This expansion project is new to Missouri.

MWA

Strengths

• Many of the regions staff are knowledgeable of local resources and use those resources to assist in removing barriers.

• Many of the communities are engaged in education about the TA/MWA program and services. The program provides the opportunity for the participant to gain soft skill and attend job readiness classes. • The programs ability to provide subsidized employment, use innovative methods of outreach to engage the participant, assist the participant in obtaining child care assistance.

Weaknesses

• Child care availability in rural areas.

• Transportation challenges in rural and metropolitan areas, lack of refugee opportunities.

• Current marketing of the program which makes it seem punitive instead of an opportunity; however, Missouri is working to rebrand and show all of the program benefits.

• Federal regulations which place emphasis on meeting an hourly requirement and not employment outcomes; however, as there will be a minimal work participation requirement in Missouri due to the caseload reduction credit, Missouri will place emphasis on employment outcomes.

• A TANF grant of $227 which many people chose not to participate and drop off the roles after Senate Bill 24.