Narrative: II. a. 2. A.

Partnership

Through a statewide network of job centers and partner organizations, Missouri Division of Workforce Development coordinates and aligns their partnership with the Department of Employment Security, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind and the Department of Social Services Family Support Division. Together the partners provide a robust menu of vital reemployment and support services, including access to skill-building training, National Certification and Career Connections for jobs seekers, targeted programs for veterans, youth and the unemployed, and cost-saving human resource assistance and financial incentives for businesses. The partners braid workforce, education, and training activities with support services to meet the needs of our job seekers and employers. With 32 full-service centers as well as numerous satellite and affiliate locations statewide, Missouri Job Centers are the central point for WIOA core and one-stop partner services.

Employment Services

In 2010, the Missouri Workforce Development System implemented the NGCC integrated skills-based service delivery model. This is a streamlined eligibility determination where each customer is enrolled in every program for which they were eligible (Wagner Peyser, Adult, Dislocated Worker, or Youth). Customers that register or are registered for Jobs.mo.gov have immediate access to WIOA-funded services.

Missouri Job Centers offer an array of employment services to adults, dislocated workers, in-school youth, out-of-school youth and UI claimants alike. Missouri provides co-enrollment services to leverage resources and provides comprehensive service delivery to customers with barriers to employment. Once the customers have been through core services, they will have access to information and have the opportunity to obtain a National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC) using the ACT skills certification system. The NCRC is used for screening, hiring, and promotion, as well as for fulfilling training needs for existing employers. The initial screening and NCRC testing is generally provided by Missouri Career Centers free of charge. If Missouri Job Center customers who are first provided career services through Wagner-Peyser are ready for employment, staff members are available to assist them with job search and placement. If these customers are determined to need individualized career or training services, they are referred to core partners to meet their identified needs.

Unemployment claims can be made via Division of Employment Security's (DES) electronic unemployment compensation claim filing website, UInteract at uinteract@labor.mo.gov, or through a dedicated line to the UI claims center. Self serve job search on jobs.mo.gov, or any of the other job search engines, are available in our computer labs. Registered customers can speak to staff who will complete an initial assessment to determine the level of services the customer needs. Referrals can be made for any partner staff, whether they be TANF, SNAP, Veteran services, Job Corps, Trade Adjustment Assistance, Career and Technical Education or one of many workshops offered at the Job Center including, resume preparation, interviewing skills, networking, and occupational exploration.

The Veteran services are of utmost importance. Missouri Job Centers have priority services for veterans, which will be served before all other customers. A veteran can request to see the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) staff or Local Veteran Employment Representative (LVER) at any time in the process to receive specialized services.

Once customers are served through Wagner-Peyser, a determination is made whether these customers are ready for job search and placement activities, or if they meet the needs of career or training services. At this time they are referred to other partners to meet their needs.

Employers may utilize staff-assisted services that include job order writing, recruitment, pre-screening and referrals of qualified applicants. Workforce Coordinators are located around the state to assist employers at no cost and connect with regional and statewide resources to meet employers’ workforce needs. They are also encouraged to use the online system for labor exchange activities. Business Services teams offer a multitude of opportunities including: personalized recruitment assistance; partnership with community colleges; Work Opportunity Tax Credit; On-the-Job Training (OJT); and WorkReady Missouri.

Adult Education and Literacy

Missouri Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) activities are available at the local level utilizing strategic partnerships. Working with WIOA partners on case management, the Missouri partners align services and provide basic skill development, academic education, secondary skills toward high school equivalency, post-secondary remediation, and English language acquisition for those eligible. To further support the acquisition of employability skills, Missouri works with community colleges in a variety of capacities to provide career readiness preparation tools and to provide workforce training for specific occupations.

Missouri is partnering through sector strategy teams at the regional level to address adult education programs including providing English language acquisition activities. Career pathways and employment strategies are used for the sectors identified. Adult English language learners have opportunities to be placed in unsubsidized employment with in-demand industries and occupations that lead to economic self-sufficiency. Adult Education will partner with Title I, and other sector stakeholders, to design opportunities for the English language learner.

Missouri also has an established correctional education program for institutionalized individuals, which has been operating successfully for over 15 years. Allowable correctional activities are: adult education and literacy activities; special education, as determined by the eligible agency; secondary school credit Integrated education and training; career pathways; concurrent enrollment; peer tutoring; and transition to re-entry initiatives and other post-release services with the goal of reducing recidivism.

Funded correctional educations programs are required to give priority to serving individuals who are likely to leave the correctional institution within five years of participation in the program.

Vocational Rehabilitation

MVR’s workforce development activities are designed to assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining, maintaining, or advancing in competitive integrated employment. These activities include assessments, vocational guidance and counseling, job preparation activities, which can include disability awareness, resume writing, interviewing skills. Additionally, MVR provides eligible individuals with training (OJT, apprenticeships, customized employment, funding for community colleges and universities).

MVR is a key partner and works closely with the job centers to provide vocational rehabilitation services to eligible persons with disabilities. MVR has appointed a state liaison to collaborate with DWD, and MVR staff serves as active members on all 14 local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs). MVR district supervisors participated in the development of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with all 14 WDBs. These MOUs direct and explain how partners work together to deliver services to persons with disabilities in the local community.

Through the MOUs with job centers, MVR is the primary referral source from job center partners for people with disabilities. MVR counselors visit various Missouri Job Centers (both full service sites and satellites) frequently to provide services to consumers in a timely fashion. MVR also provides ongoing cross-training and technical assistance to job center staff regarding rehabilitation technology and accommodations in the workplace. An MVR director works with partner agencies to facilitate collaboration with workforce development agencies and ensure that all federal regulations pertaining to Title IV of WIOA are followed.

MVR has access to DWD’s statewide case management system. Many MVR counselors and business outreach specialists have been given access to this system known as Toolbox. This arrangement helps strengthen MVR’s and DWD’s partnership and improves the sharing of resources for individuals with disabilities. Both MVR and DWD are using Missouri Connections as a vocational guidance tool for their clients. DWD and MVR have collaborated by integrating MVR offices into each of the 14 workforce regions and creating mutual login passwords to access Missouri Connections. This eliminates the duplication of clients’ records and allows for more efficient and effective services for mutual clients.

Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind

MVR and Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) have a cooperative agreement for serving individuals who are Deaf-blind. Individuals who meet the Helen Keller definition of Deaf-blind may receive services from both agencies. MVR and RSB staff participated in joint training to discuss the cooperative agreement and best case practices developed to outline coordination of services from both agencies. The cooperative agreement provides an opportunity for each agency to serve individuals with multiple disabilities by taking advantage of the skills and expertise within each agency, while at the same time, utilizing the resources of MVR and RSB to the best advantage.

RSB works with employers through a variety of activities at the local level to identify competitive integrated employment and career exploration opportunities to facilitate the provision of VR services and transition services, including transition services for youth and pre-employment transition services. District offices engage in outreach activities meeting directly with employers to identify employment needs and educate employers about the services RSB can offer for existing and new employees. Each district office and the Prevention of Blindness program have a tonometer to screen for the early signs of glaucoma as a service to employers and to promote VR services. Outreach activities are extended to employer health fairs, job fairs, chamber of commerce events, and participating in local Workforce Development Boards. RSB has developed relationships with several employers across the state communicating directly with HR staff on employment needs, identifying customized employment opportunities, and providing disability/blindness awareness and sensitivity training. Outreach activities have resulted in competitive integrated employment outcomes and work experience opportunities, both paid and unpaid, for youth and students with disabilities and adult clients.

RSB has one Job Development Specialist that works directly with employers to develop relationships and identify clients from various offices to meet employer needs. This position serves on several committees including the St. Louis Deafblind Taskforce, St. Louis County Disability Resource Committee, Employment Liaison Committee, Employment Working Group for Immigrants and refugees, St. Louis Transition Council, St. Louis Special School District Agency Collaborative, and the Urban League. This position receives and distributes job postings to VR staff and assists clients in the development of business plans required for self -employment vocational goals.

RSB participates in the National Employment Team (NET), a one-company approach to serving a variety of businesses through the national network of VR programs. The NET’s vision is to create a coordinated approach to serving business customers through a national VR team that specializes in employer development, business consulting and corporate relations. The NET supports a dual customer base, meeting the employment needs of qualified applicants and support services provided by the VR program. This offers VR agencies a national system for sharing employment resources, best practices, and provides business connections. The point of contact from each VR agency is invited to participate in phone conferences to learn more about a specific company’s business, their hiring needs and trends, discuss accessibility and accommodations, and their success with VR services in other states. The result is that businesses have a direct access to a pool of qualified applicants and the support services offered by RSB, and RSB clients have access to national and local employment opportunities and career development resources.

The Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP) was built for VR and businesses to work together for the success of hiring individuals with disabilities. TAP is an online system, which includes both a national talent pool of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) candidates looking for employment and a job posting system for businesses looking to hire individuals with disabilities. TAP is led by the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation and the National Employment Team (NET) in partnership with disABLEDperson, Inc., and TAP is supported by the NET, which includes VR Business Consultants in every state, the territories and D.C. who can partner and can provide support services to businesses at the national, state and local level.

TAP services to businesses include: post jobs that will reach all 80 Agencies in 50 states, territories, and DC; voluntary self-disclosure of candidates; résumé searching and geographic availability of candidates; job reporting metrics; compliance reports; preliminary interview capability; online job fairs; printable transcripts; partnership opportunities through the NET; and manual or automated job postings through their API.

Every RSB counselor and district supervisor has access to TAP and can invite VR clients to enter their information into the system. Counselors can help their client enter information, edit résumés, and send job leads to clients.

RSB’s clients are able to access jobs.mo.gov, which is a web-based employment resource for clients and employers maintained by the Division of Workforce Development. This site offers clients career planning and job exploration, self-assessment, and wage data to analyze careers, trends and growing occupations in Missouri. Clients are able to search for job orders and referral information from employers for job openings that meet their qualifications. Clients can access other job portals through this system, expanding the search outside of Missouri. Employers can also perform a job search for available applicants that match the skills for their specific employment needs and can access information on incentives, business resources, and recruitment.

RSB has formal contract agreements with community rehabilitation providers to work with employers and assist clients with job search, job placement and customized employment opportunities. Other services include work-based learning experiences, task analysis, and job coaching when needed. RSB contracts with Alphapointe Association for the Blind for an eight-week Summer Transition Employment Program (STEP) providing competitive work experience to high school age youth. The goal is to provide each consumer with a foundation for the school-to-work transition, to enable each to practice personal independence through work and goal-setting experiences, and to afford an opportunity for community involvement. This program includes vocational exploration; identifying preferences, interests, and abilities with regard to work; and learning about work related behaviors and self-advocacy. Consumers participate in general orientation during the first week of the program. The remaining seven weeks they spend on the job. Short-term job coaching may be provided to assist in orienting the consumers to the particular job site. Consumers receive an hourly wage during their placement at a job site. Involvement in this program is intended to increase a consumer’s career awareness, build marketable vocational skills, and support a healthy self-image.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

The Temporary Assistance cash program requires an applicant for or recipient of cash assistance to participate in work activities as defined in an individual employment plan. MWA contractors use multiple education and training activities available to assist participants to earn a certificate, license or a degree. Trainings include on the job training, job skills training, alternative work experience program (AWEP), community work experience program (CWEP), community service and vocational training. The Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) is a 5-year, 15 million dollar grant which will provide training opportunities to low-income individuals under 200% federal poverty level and serve a minimum of 15% of TANF recipients. The training must be in the high demand healthcare industry fields.

Basic Assistance-same as Temporary Assistance.

Child Care: Temporary Assistance households are automatically eligible for child care. For households who show a need for child care will include a statement to show how Child Care Assistance supports the family’s employability plan. If participants are in educational components, they must be attending at least half time as defined by the facility.

Summer Food Service Program: Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) helps assure that eligible populations have access to nutritious meals during the summer months. When school is not in session, SFSP provides reimbursement to community agencies offering the required continuum of meals

Food Bank(s): The Food Banks provide food to emergency food programs, which include local food pantries, soup kitchens, and short-term emergency shelters.

Domestic Violence Crisis Services: Services include both shelter and non-residential domestic violence services: meeting the needs of families in a crisis by providing housing, counseling, health supplies, clothing, and related crisis services. All services are less than 120 days in duration.

Homeless Shelters: Services include shelter services for less than 120 days, serving families facing an immediate homelessness crisis.

After-School Programs; The general purpose of the Boys & Girls Club is to promote the health, social educational, vocational, and character development of youth. It provides constructive leisure time activities and guidance under trained leadership.

Caring Communities-Out of School Support: The Local Investment Commission (LINC) is a neighborhood-based community governance body that seeks to provide opportunity and services to low-income families. One of the services LINC provides is support for school and neighborhood services in multiple school districts. LINC operates out-of-school programs in area districts and charter schools, implementing federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grants.

Caring Communities-Community Support: The Local Investment Commission (LINC) is a neighborhood-based community governance body that seeks to provide opportunity and services to low-income families. Services include emergency assistance, parental engagement activities, utility assistance, and food assistance.

Community Partnerships-Community Initiatives: Capable Kids and Families (CKF) programs promote early intervention for families who have a child with a developmental delay or disability. Services provided connect families to community resources and focus on children’s potential for development.

Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG): JAG is a 35-year-old non-profit and employment program dedicated to helping at-risk young people to graduate from high school and make successful transitions to postsecondary education and meaningful employment. JAG is a voluntary in-school program that counts as a high school elective.

Alternatives to Abortion: The goals of the Alternative to Abortion (A2A) program include: improving pregnancy outcomes by helping women practice sound health-related behaviors; improving child health and development by helping parents provide more responsible and competent care for their children so that children may be cared for in their own homes; and improving families’ economic self-sufficiency by helping parents continue their education and find employment which will end their dependence on government benefits.

Adult High School Program: The Adult High School program provides funding for a Missouri nonprofit organization to operate four adult high schools, licensed and contracted by DESE, to offer individuals, age 21 and over, industry certification programs, provide diplomas, and on-site child care. The program allows an adult student to complete required coursework at his/her own pace and as available through the adult high school. Preference will be given to a student who receives any local, state, or federal assistance in which a person or family is required not to exceed a certain income level in order to qualify for the assistance.

Program Administration: Program administration costs are used to support the basic assistance program, which is the same as Temporary Assistance.

Missouri Work Assistance (MWA): The MWA program provides services to families receiving Temporary Assistance (TA) to assist them in engaging in job preparation and work activities. The goal is for families to become independent of the need for cash assistance. Services include training, education, employment preparation that will lead to employment within the shortest period of time. An assessment is completed to identify strengths and weaknesses, identify and remove barriers, prepare and assist in gaining employment, determining career pathways, and employment retainment

Utilicare Program: The program provides utility assistance to needy families.

Data Processing: Data processing costs include the costs that are used to support basic assistance program, which is the same as Temporary Assistance.

Character Education: This program provides professional development for teachers, school personnel, and parents to enable them to meet Show-Me Standards for schools.

Parents as Teachers: It provides activities they can do with their child, and provides resources to the parent not otherwise available. By participating in this program, parents are able to provide a safe, secure, structured home environment that promotes the family and responsible parenting.

Missouri Pre-School Program: This program provides funding for high quality early childcare programs to prepare children to enter school. Having quality early childhood education improves brain development and cognitive capacity in children, as well as improving language skills.

Missouri Customer Service Partnership: The Departments of Social Services and Economic Development provide career coaching to young people who are aging out of foster care and transitioning into independence in select customer service occupations. The selected occupations are growing and include employers committed to continuous employee learning and development that ensures they are on a career track.

State Park Youth Corps (SPYC): Missouri’s Workforce Development Boards, in partnership with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks, and the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Development administered the program that gave Missouri youth the opportunity to work outdoors improving Missouri’s state parks and historic sites from May 1 through Dec. 31. SPYC employed eligible Missourians at state parks, historic sites and natural areas across Missouri. The SPYC program was discontinued effective the summer of 2017.

Summer Jobs for Youth: The youth participating are between the ages of 16 - 24, or are parents of young children themselves. Missouri’s Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Development in partnership with local businesses and community groups provides jobs for low income youth during summer months. Participation in the program provides work and supportive services so that children can be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives.

Access Missouri Scholarship Program: The students are between the ages of 17 - 24, or are parents of any age with children less than 18 years of age. Missouri’s Department of Higher Education, Coordinating Board for Higher Education administers this need-based financial assistance award program for low income undergraduate students.

Activities Promoting Healthy Marriage: The activities funded may include: public awareness campaigns on the value of healthy marriages; programs that enhance relationship and parenting skills; marriage preparation programs and counseling, financial planning classes, divorce reduction and conflict resolution programs, and providing job training to improve economic stability.

Activities Promoting Responsible Fatherhood: The activities funded may include: involving fathers in the lives of their children; improving fathers’ economic stability through subsidized employment; financial counseling and planning; reconnecting with their children when returning home from incarceration; and skill-based parenting education.

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)

Missouri’s 19 Community Action Agencies (CAA’s) provide assistance to individuals, families, and communities to reduce or eradicate poverty. CAA’s act as a catalyst for community coordination to bring about changes in their communities and to better the lives of the families they serve on a daily basis. CAA’s address the ‘whole family’ through a strengths based, family development approach to supporting individuals and families attain self-sufficiency which includes: intake, assessment and referral - individuals are guided through a process to identify their strengths and needs; Family support and case management services - an intensive one-on-one relationship to empower individuals and families set goals toward achieving self-sufficiency; life skills classes to assist individuals in learning better ways to handle basic living skills, such as budgeting, employment readiness, etc. ; coordination and referral for services to address barriers to achieving self-sufficiency, including education, transportation, housing, child care and other issues.

Several CAA’s also have employment and training units within their organizational structure, including Missouri Works Assistance (MWA) programs, Missouri Job Centers (hosted by the CAA, or co-located with the CAA), WIA Youth Employment programs, Adult/Dislocated Worker Services, career preparation, internships, on-the-job training, mentoring, HiSET, and other supportive services. CAAs administer employment and training programs, sharing referrals with workforce partners, and coordinating services at the local level.

Missouri’s State CSBG office works collaboratively with other state agency partners and with Community Action Agencies to nurture and extend the existing collaborative partnerships and develop new partnerships to enhance the effectiveness of the workforce system throughout the state.

SkillUP - Missouri’s Employment and Training Program (METP) - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Missouri’s Employment and Training Program is referred to as SkillUP.

Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents are referred to the Division of Workforce Development (DWD) to receive services through 32 Job Centers. DWD also provides some volunteers.

In addition, Missouri was chosen as one of the ten SNAP to Skills States. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) contracted with the Seattle Jobs Initiative to provide technical assistance to Missouri and nine other states to expand and implement increased service capacity. The benefits of SkillUP include:

Provides participants opportunities to increase education and skill levels to more likely be employed at a sustainable wage which will pass on to future generations.

Helps prepare Missouri for the future economy which predicts that by 2020, two-thirds of all U.S. job openings will require education or training past high school.

Provides employers a skilled workforce which is key to state prosperity.

Helps fill the middle-class workforce gap.

Allows community colleges, non-governmental agencies, colleges and other community-based organizations to increase resources for Food Stamp recipients by leveraging non-federal resources for allowable activities to receive a 50% federal reimbursement.

Example: ABC non-profit provided a HiSet class to a Food Stamp recipient that cost $100. ABC non-profit would invoice FSD to receive a $50 reimbursement. This reimbursement is considered revenue and does not have to be specifically used for Food Stamp recipients. However, it’s the goal of SkillUP that this revenue be utilized to expand access to services for this population.

SkillUP participants are offered the following program components:

Staff Assisted Job Search: The DWD staff assists the participant in job search. This job search may be routinely offered based on need. This component should be appropriately paired with other components based on the participant’s need. However, it is understood that in certain instances this may be the right path for the participant as a stand-alone component.

Non-Staff Assisted Job Search: This requires participants to make a pre-determined number of inquiries to prospective employers over a specified period of time based on employer availability and individual need. The search may be designed so that the participant conducts his/her job search independently or within a group setting. This component should be appropriately paired with other components based on the participant’s need. However, it is understood that in certain instances this may be the right path for the participant as a stand-alone component. Job search not completed in jobs.mo.gov can only be used for half of the required hours.

Job Search Training: This component strives to enhance the job readiness of participants by providing instruction in job seeking techniques and increasing motivation and self- confidence. This may consist of job skills assessments, job finding clubs, job placement services, or other direct training or support activities. The job search training component may combine job search activities with other training and support activities.

Work-Based Learning: This component is a work experience component designed to improve the employability of participants through actual work experience and/or training and to enable them to move into regular employment. Work experience assignments may not replace the employment of a regularly employed individual. Participants in on-the-job training or individuals employed in programs and activities under this title shall be provided benefits and working conditions at the same level and to the same extent as other trainees or employees working a similar length of time and doing the same type of work. It is permissible to place METP participants in work experience positions with public and private sector entities. This may include, on-the-job training paid through Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) or non-FNS funds.

Vocational Training: This component improves the employability of participants by providing training in a skill or trade allowing the participant to move directly into employment. Participants in this training, short-term training where the participant can receive a credential, certificate, or otherwise can be followed by additional trainings as needed. Note: After a Food Stamp recipient is no longer receiving benefits, the FSD cannot fund the DWD for this component as the FNS funding is no longer available; however, all training costs already paid to the training provider remain.

Education: This component is an educational program or activity which improves basic skills and increases employability. These programs include Adult Basic Education (ABE), basic literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL), high school equivalency, and post-secondary education. The purpose of post-secondary education is academic and the curriculum is designed primarily for students who are beyond the compulsory age for high school. Only educational components that establish a direct link to job-readiness can be approved. Federal employment and training funds cannot take the place of nonfederal (i.e., state, local) funds for existing educational services. Federal financial participation for operating education components may be authorized only for costs that exceed the normal cost of services provided to persons not participating in METP.

Unsubsidized Employment: This component is work with earnings provided by an employer who does not receive a subsidy for the creation and maintenance of the employment position. Self-employment activities include individuals who have earned income.

In Kind Work: This component is receiving goods or services instead of money. This is not an allowable component for volunteers; however, this does count for the ABAWD’s work/training requirement for the hours they are in this activity. ABAWD’s who are engaging in this activity should be encouraged to participate in other components that will lead to long-term self-sufficiency.

Entrepreneurial Training: This component improves the employability of participants by providing training in setting up and operating a small business or other self-employment venture.

Assignment into components does not follow a prescribed sequence. Components are sequenced in such a way that they build upon one another in preparing the participant for new or enhanced employment.