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—
- 6. Program Data
- A. Data Alignment and IntegrationDescribe the plans of the lead State agencies with responsibility for the administration of the core programs, along with the State Board, to align and integrate available workforce and education data systems for the core programs, unemployment insurance programs, and education through postsecondary education, and to the extent possible, the Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan. The description of the State’s plan for integrating data systems should include the State’s goals for achieving integration and any progress to date.
- A. Data Alignment and Integration
- 6. Program Data
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 6. A. i. Describe the State’s Plans to Make the Management Information Systems for the Core Programs Interoperable to Maximize the Efficient Exchange of Common Data Elements to Support Assessment and Evaluation.
Current Narrative:
Colorado recognizes the opportunities that exist to streamline and enhance services and reporting procedures through data sharing. Activities are taking place at multiple points along the spectrum that runs from complete isolation in data systems to full integration across partners. To support these efforts, all partners are supportive of education and training on specific systems and are willing to advocate for policy changes as needed to establish data sharing agreements.
A project has begun to share data between the Connecting Colorado system and the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) used to track the Colorado Works and SNAP programs. This will allow workforce center staff to track services given to work ready participants in these programs in Connecting Colorado. Those services will then automatically move to the Human Services systems for Federal reporting. This prevents any need for double data entry between these systems. Data sharing capabilities will continue to be expanded over the four-year life of this combined plan.
The Eligible Training Provider list has been moved to the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and Colorado Unemployment Insurance Wage data is being shared with this Department. This will allow CDHE to calculate the performance metrics directly for schools using data they currently report regularly to CDHE. In addition, this will allow CDHE to assist the Adult Education and Family Literacy program with WIOA-required reporting. This will also solve the issue of confidentiality under FERPA rules because CDHE will receive the student data from all the training providers and run the wage data matches on their system.
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation moved from CDHS to CDLE on July 1st, 2016. This will facilitate linkages between their reporting systems and Connecting Colorado both for better service to customers and to more easily meet WIOA reporting requirements. Data sharing initiatives will begin after this move.