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2 Year Modification

Plan: Mississippi PYs 2018-2019
Combined Plan C

Section: Senior Community Service Employment Program

Narrative: b. 5.

Published
Located in:

b. 5. Describe the Long-term Strategy to Improve Scsep Services, Including Planned Long-term Changes to the Design of the Program Within the State, and Planned Changes in the Use of Scsep Grantees and Program Operators to Better Achieve the Goals of the Program. This May Include Recommendations to the Department as Appropriate. (20 Cfr 641.302(k))

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2016-2017

Current Narrative:

Since the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) was designated as the State Grantee as of July 1, 2012, coordination with other workforce programs in the state has greatly increased. The division of MDES that has direct oversight of the SCSEP also provides direct fiscal and programmatic support to the state’s four Local Workforce Development Areas.

Long-Term Strategy to Improve SCSEP Services

The State is implementing a WIOA Common Intake and Reporting System that will capture common participant information for the four core programs. The system will align resources and generate automatic referrals among the core programs and partner programs such as SCSEP.

Using a no wrong door policy, all participants will develop an individualized success plan that coordinates the optimum blend of services and funding to achieve their goals for success. This success plan also indicates which of the pathways in the Smart Start Pathways Model to which the participant will be assigned. A connection to a career pathway must be included as part of an older worker’s individual service strategy or MS Smart Start Success plan. This model is an integrated compilation of programs and services intended to develop basic, technical and employability skills; provide continuous education and training; and work supports that lead to high-demand jobs in targeted sectors.

Planned Changes in the Utilization of SCSEP Grantees and Program Operators

In PY2015, the State Grantee’s largest subgrantee, Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, moved its SCSEP staff from the Area Agency on Aging division to the Workforce division. This puts SCSEP in this district under the direction of the Twin Districts Workforce Development Area. SMPDD is the SCSEP subgrantee of both the State subgrant and Senior Service America, Inc., operating a total of 125 slots. SMPDD will use the Smart Start Pathways Model throughout its service area. SSAI intends for all of its subgrantees to follow the lead of SMPDD and use Smart Start as the service model.

To implement WIOA and the Smart Start Pathways Model, the agencies that oversee the four core programs will engage in intensive an ongoing training of staff to ensure a consistent workforce message and seamless operation of the programs. Staff of all the State’s SCSEP subgrantees will be included in this training, thereby ensuring that all SCSEP participants in the state grant will be connected with coordinated services of the partner programs under WIOA.

  • Increased Frequency of Formal Collaboration Activities Among SCSEP Grantees.

    The state grantee will conduct trainings multiple times a year, as previously discussed. The state is dedicated to increasing the number of collaborative activities and efforts in the state regarding the benefit of older workers.

  • Development of Criteria for Selection of Sub-Recipients.

    The state grantee, in collaboration with the USDOL, will develop more stringent criteria for the selection of sub-recipients. Subgrantees will be selected based on their ability to run SCSEP effectively, measured by performance measure results. The program is designed to develop economic self-sufficiency and promote useful opportunities in community service activities to increase the number of persons who may enjoy the benefits of unsubsidized employment in both the public and private sectors. A performance driven selection process for subgranting SCSEP will ensure the program meets its performance measures.

  • Opportunities to Share Best Practices Statewide.

    The state grantee will work with National Grantees to share best practices through regular contact including the annual Equitable Distribution Meeting. Working together statewide will ensure that SCSEP is serving the eligible and the target population effectively.

MDES will also coordinate with NCBA to assist and provide the following:

  • Continue to work together in collecting and sharing labor market information in any specific area to identify the skills that area businesses require so that we can develop targeted recruitment of both the participants and host agencies.

  • Remain in compliance with DOL equitable distributions in the state. NCBA will work closely with the state to ensure that the distribution remains equitable at all times.

  • As a national administrator of the SCSEP in Mississippi, NCBA has recognized and experienced the many challenges presented by the rural nature of the state. NCBA will continue to work with the state to develop and implement plans to meet these challenges and help the participants gain unsubsidized employment.