Support of training and awareness

Alaska uses several strategies to ensure that core program, WIOA, and UI staff are trained to recognize and respond to UI eligibility issues. All ES and WIOA staff have a working knowledge and awareness of the UI requirement that claimants must register for work in ALEXsys, maintain an online resume, and conduct weekly work searches. UI Technical Unit staff routinely provide UI eligibility issue training to ensure ES staff are able to recognize barriers and forward potential issues to UI staff to investigate through a dedicated email address. UI policy, procedure, and instructional manuals are also available to all ES staff. Only UI staff are authorized to make the eligibility determination regarding resolution of potential UI issues. ES/WIOA staff located in the Alaska Job Centers (AJCs) can guide claimants toward understanding and satisfying the UI requirements listed above and assist them to contact the UI Claim Center for in–depth answers regarding UI eligibility.

Cross–training of staff occurs regularly, allowing employer services staff to easily assist in the ES resource rooms to help job seekers. In addition to field staff training by UI and ES Technical Unit staff, for continuity and clarity, AJC managers also receive training and are responsible for ensuring that their staff members are aware of and adhere to new procedures, regulations, and service delivery models. Having all ES, UI, and Career Support and Training Services (CSTS) staff in one division greatly increases the atmosphere of sharing a common goal for common customers.

Alaska’s RR team is one of the best examples of an integrated workforce system. This team is comprised of staff from different units that work toward a common goal. The RR team is led by the ES Technical Unit and comprised of UI, ES resource room, Career Support and Training Services (CSTS), Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), and Employer Services staff. The team is trained collectively so that each person learns and understands the roles of the other team members and how the services offered by each unit to the employers and workers complement and build off each other.

Another example of different units working together is the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) team led by a combination of UI and ES Technical Unit staff. These staff work together to develop strategies that ensure UI claimants, particularly veterans and those deemed most likely to exhaust UI benefits, receive a combination of meaningful financial and job–search support while they are in transition. Development of these strategies necessitates a sound level of understanding of both programs. If the claimant appears to need training, ES staff will contact WIOA staff for an eligibility and suitability assessment. If the claimant is also a veteran, veteran specialist staff are also contacted to offer tailored assistance in terms familiar to their fellow veterans. They also work with ES staff to match the veteran with jobs and take advantage of state and federal hire incentives offered to employers who hire veterans.