Narrative: II. a. 2.

Partner Services

Through a statewide network of job centers and partner organizations, Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development’s (DHEWD) Office of Workforce Development (OWD) coordinates and aligns their partnership with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (DOLIR) Division of Employment Security (DES); Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) and Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation (MVR); Department of Social Services (DSS), including Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB), and the Department of Social Services programs including the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG), SkillUP, and MWA. 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 jobseekers, 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 jobseekers and employers including individuals with barriers to employment and the underemployed. 

Missouri has 19 partners that collaborate to deliver programs based on the needs of customers and employers. Referrals are made between partners as needs are identified. Missouri’s employment services include, but are not limited to, short-term training, apprenticeships, employability skills, on-the-job training (OJT), job placement, resume preparation, interviewing skills, networking, occupational exploration, and retention services. 

Missouri’s employer services include, but are not limited to, specialized recruitment and customized job fairs, posting open positions, Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), incumbent worker training, qualified applicant referral, customized employment, apprenticeships, and access to pre-released justice involved individuals and other customers with barriers. Core, combined, and required partners’ education and training activities include access and funding for short-term training, high school equivalency, postsecondary education, life skills training, workplace readiness training, and skill based training. 

In addition to the above employment, educational and training services, Missouri offers customers an avenue to obtain credentials through testing provided at Missouri Job Centers (MJC). Customers can 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. MJCs also play a pivotal role in providing veteran services, one of Missouri’s top priorities. MJCs have priority services for veterans. They are served before all other customers.  Veterans and other eligible persons will be first assessed by staff at the job center to determine if they are eligible for JVSG services, and then screened to determine if they have a substantial barrier to employment. 

As stated above, services to veterans are a top priority. As advocates for veterans, Missouri continuously pursues avenues to improve their employment outcomes. The State of Missouri engaged in the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP). Missouri has been successful in increasing interagency collaboration, extensive statewide training in best practices for an array of partners, and improvement in employment outcomes for people with disabilities. A goal of this initiative was to expand Employment First activities to include creating pathways for veterans with disabilities to find employment in state government thus making Missouri a model employer for hiring veterans with disabilities.  

Employment Services 

MJCs offer an array of employment services to adults, dislocated workers, in-school youth, out-of-school youth, and unemployment insurance (UI) claimants. Missouri provides co-enrollment services to leverage resources and provides comprehensive service delivery to customers with barriers to employment. If MJC 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 partners to meet their identified needs.

Unemployment claims are made via Division of Employment Security's (DES) electronic unemployment compensation claim filing website, UInteract at uinteract.labor.mo.gov, or by phone to the UI claims center. All individuals who file for unemployment insurance services are automatically registered and receive information on available jobs that meet their skill set. Self-serve job search on jobs.mo.gov, or any of the other job search engines, is available in the computer labs. Registered customers can speak to staff who will complete an initial assessment to determine the level of services the customer needs. 

Adult Education and Literacy 

Missouri citizens access Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) activities at local class sites and digitally from anywhere. For eligible individuals, AEL services develop basic skills and academic proficiencies, provide secondary education leading to high school equivalency, offer postsecondary remediation, and deliver English language acquisition in conjunction with civics lessons. Missouri AEL programs incorporate employability skills and workforce preparation into their instruction. Further, using sector strategies identified for each region, specific career pathways and occupational skills are integrated with basic and secondary education. Local AEL program staff focus on leading students to unsubsidized employment with in-demand industries and occupations that lead to economic self-sufficiency.

Missouri’s adult education program for institutionalized individuals has operated successfully for over 20 years.  AEL correctional services include adult education and literacy activities; secondary school credit; career pathways; co-enrollment; and transition to re-entry initiatives and other post-release services to reduce recidivism. DESE AEL funded correctional education programs prioritize services for individuals who may potentially be leaving the correctional institution within five years of program participation. Incarcerated AEL students consistently show a lower recidivism rate than other justice involved individuals.

Missouri partners with employers on the state and local level to address their workforce needs. In addition to the development of workplace literacy programs based on current labor market information, local DESE AEL programs must foster employer partnerships for their Integrated Education and Training programs. In some cases, employers utilize DESE AEL instructors to provide adult education and English language acquisition to their current employees on-site. This allows employers to promote current employees once they have obtained new skills through AEL programming, which is mutually beneficial for the participant and the employer.

Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation 

Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation’s (MVR) workforce development activities assist individuals with disabilities prepare for, enter into, engage in, advance in or retain competitive integrated employment. These activities include assessments, vocational guidance and counseling, and job preparation activities, such as disability awareness, resume writing and 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 (VR) services to eligible individuals with disabilities. MVR has appointed a state liaison to collaborate with OWD, and MVR staff serves as active members on all 14 local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs). The MVR liaison 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 individuals with disabilities in the local community. 

Through the MOUs with job centers, MVR is the primary referral source from job center partners for individuals with disabilities. MVR counselors visit various MJCs, both full service sites and affiliates, frequently to provide services to consumers in a timely fashion. MVR is available for technical assistance to job center staff regarding rehabilitation technology and accommodations in the workplace.

MVR has offices in each of the 14 workforce regions. Both MVR and OWD are using Missouri Connections as a vocational guidance tool for their clients. Individuals can log into Missouri Connections when working with both MVR and OWD. This eliminates the duplication of clients’ records and allows for more efficient and effective services for mutual clients. 

Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind  

Missouri is one of 22 states with separate agencies that support blind and general vocational rehabilitation programs. Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) specializes in meeting vocational needs specifically for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. RSB believes that collaboration with stakeholders is essential to maximizing resources and delivering optimum services that forge career pathways through work development activities. RSB works closely with MVR, employers and community partners to coordinate and strengthen its network of services. RSB offers a multitude of services to eligible youth and adults ranging from disability/blind awareness and interpersonal social skills training to career planning and job readiness training. 

RSB and MVR 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. RSB and MVR staff participated in joint training to discuss the cooperative agreement and best case practices developed to outline coordination of services. 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 RSB and MVR 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 vocational rehabilitation (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 (WDB).

The Job Development Program has been upgraded to four Job Developers that serve the entire state. The Job Developers work with the local WDBs throughout the state to provide information and resources to the boards and local employers. The Job Development Specialists receive and distribute job postings to VR staff and assist 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 by 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 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 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 NET in partnership with disABLED person, Inc., and TAP is supported by the NET, which includes VR business consultants in every state, the territories, and the District of Columbia who can partner and can provide support services to businesses at the national, state, and local level. 

TAP services to businesses include posting jobs that will reach all 80 agencies in 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia; voluntary self-disclosure of candidates; resume 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 application programming interface.

Every RSB counselor and district supervisor have 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 Office 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 Pre-Employment Transition Services provide high school age youth with a foundation for the school-to-work transition through employment readiness skills instruction, including workplace readiness training, job exploration counseling, and self-advocacy training. The program is designed to enable consumers to gain the skills necessary to achieve their personal independence and vocational goals by focusing on problem solving and critical thinking, teamwork, communication, professionalism, and networking. In addition to employment readiness instruction, the consumer experiences work-based learning for a period of up to 16 weeks and 120 hours total. During this time, the consumers receive on-the-job training (OJT) and 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. 

Department of Social Services (DSS) Work and Community Programs  

The DSS Work and Community programs offers employment and training services through SkillUP, Missouri Work Assistance (MWA), Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), Excel Centers (Adult High Schools), Healthcare Industry Training and Education (HITE), Jobs League, and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). SkillUP and MWA offer a variety of employment and training activities including short-term training, OJT, job search assistance, resume preparation, direct linkages to employers, work experience, and employability skills. Both SkillUP and MWA require performance outcomes, which include employment. These programs blend resources with other agencies and local non-profits.

JAG is offered at 65 school districts and 97 programs to students with at least three barriers, such as poverty, challenging family situations, and a history of personal trauma. JAG offers project based learning, trauma informed care and employer engagement. JAG students are 230% more likely to find full-time employment. For over 40 years, JAG has been able to double the rate of disadvantaged youth securing jobs; nearly double the rate of higher education enrollment and completion; and triple the rate of securing full-time jobs. In Missouri, JAG achieves over a 97% graduation rate. For FY2020, after graduation, 76% of students were engaged in some combination of work, higher education and/or military for 35-40 hours per week. 

HITE provided healthcare training, engagement, and wrap-around services leading to employment. HITE case managers, employers, and schools coordinated services to ensure clients were trained in fields they could obtain employment through a participant based service delivery model. HITE and training providers developed curriculums based on employer needs allowing employers to fill critical positions.  HITE addressed the issue noted in the Missouri Workforce 2020 Survey of the largest barrier to expanding employment continuing to be a shortage of workers with knowledge and skills in the area of Patient Care.

HITE required participants to obtain an average wage of $12 an hour. HITE measured participants’ wages to determine compliance with the grant as well as participants’ earnings that led to family supporting employment and reduced the need for government assistance.

The Department of Social Services provides funds to the Workforce Development Boards to administer the Jobs League Program. Previously this program was known as Summer Jobs; however, it now operates year round. This program helps low-income youth, ages 14 through 24 who qualify under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), by providing opportunities to gain real-world skills through paid work experience.

Jobs League works with participants to identify interests, build a career plan, write a resume and find a job.  Jobs League participants can utilize this program for a maximum of 320 hours earning $10.30 an hour.  Participants will be matched with employers that offer a range of positions like retail, child care, food service, cashiers and nursing assistants.   

Jobs League measures the number of youth who retain employment with their employer after the program ends and in SFY20 5% of Jobs League participants retained employment.

The Excel Center is an accredited tuition-free high school that provides adults the opportunity to earn a high school diploma while earning college credits and industry-recognized certifications. The Excel Center provides effective ways to provide adult high school students accelerated learning, opportunities for post-secondary education and career planning. Many students enrolled in this program continue to work full-time as the Excel Center offers a range of participation opportunities through day classes, evening classes, and on-line instruction.  The Excel Centers address the child care barrier by providing free on-site day care while students are receiving instruction.

Several Community Action Agencies (CAAs) have employment and training units within their organizational structure, including, Missouri Job Centers (MJC) (hosted by the CAA or co-located with the CAA), Workforce Innovation Act (WIA) Youth Employment programs, Adult/Dislocated Worker Services, career preparation, internships, OJT, mentoring, HiSET, and other supportive services. CAAs administer employment and training programs, share referrals with workforce partners, and coordinate services at the local level.

(B)

Employment Services - Core Partners

• 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 

Governor’s Initiatives

Governor Parson is Missouri’s 57^th governor. His top two priorities are workforce and infrastructure, which support the goals of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). He is committed to developing a skilled workforce for high-demand, high wage jobs and offering educational opportunities through more certificates, apprenticeships and alternative credentialing programs. To accomplish Missouri’s goals, he has tasked all agencies to work as a team to align the focus of businesses, the education system, and government. The State Fiscal Year 2020 budget included funding to support this effort and continues to support this WIOA planning period.

Nearly $50 million was invested in education through Missouri Fast Track, Missouri One Start, and Missouri Excels. Fast Track is a new scholarship program, which allows Missourians to receive training in high-demand areas largely taught at community colleges, technical schools, colleges, and universities. In addition, Missouri One Start increases and consolidates the Missouri Works program, aimed at assisting new and existing businesses with upgrading their workers’ skills to build out their workforce needs. Further, the Missouri Excels program through Missouri higher education Institutions develops and expands employer-driven education, training programs, and initiatives to increase career readiness.

The budget provided $8.7 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to provide employment and training services to thousands of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (Food Stamp) recipients through SkillUP. In addition, the budget included $4.9 million in TANF funds and $2.1 million in General Revenue to continue and expand funding to Excel Centers, which assist adults over the age of 21 in earning high school degrees and, in some cases, certifications for a number of fields of work. These Excel Centers allow adults to finish their diplomas as well as provide them with job training after graduation. Of the 1,534 unique Excel students in the 2020-2021 academic year, 806 were SNAP participants.  . Excel Centers also receive match funding through the Food and Nutrition Service based on their eligible tuition costs for SNAP clients.

JAG is an intensive youth program that serves students who have academic potential, but who face significant barriers like poverty, challenging family situations, and a history of personal trauma. This program helps students graduate from high school and transition into college, military service, or careers. JAG is funded through TANF.

In August 2021 Governor Mike Parson announced plans to deploy more than $400 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to increase broadband internet access, adoption, and assistance statewide. 

This investment in broadband infrastructure will play a critical role in unlocking Missouri’s full economic potential and will serve Missourians for generations to come. This investment will increase broadband internet connectivity and access in every corner of the state. Quality internet supports learning, health care, business, and agriculture in today’s economy.

The plan was developed through a multi-agency effort designed to address a diverse range of broadband connectivity challenges and is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of Missouri families. The plan will be presented to the Missouri General Assembly in January for appropriation.

Governor Parson also transitioned the Division of Workforce Development from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Higher Education to ensure additional opportunities for jobseekers and a more skilled workforce. In addition, with the support of the governor, the Department of Corrections (DOC) is designing and streamlining processes and programs that will provide justice involved individuals’ rapid attachment to work. There are approximately 18,000-20,000 justice involved individuals released each year. DOC has been the lead agency in overall program design, assessment of current operations, and programs currently offered and engaged a multitude of agencies, non-profits, for profits, and employers. The overall process is being designed to include referrals to SkillUP employment and training providers for SNAP recipients who can also provide a variety of supports. This partnership is a benefit to these individuals and their families, taxpayers, and communities and is intended to reduce long-term dependency on government benefits, reduce the overall cost to taxpayers for benefit programs and incarceration, reduce the need for additional correctional facilities, assist with family reunification, reduce intergenerational poverty, and provide safer communities.

Missouri demographics show that while a higher than average percentage of residents are white compared to national numbers, there is a need to focus on serving other populations, including black, Hispanic, people with disabilities, veterans, people below poverty level, and those with less than a high school diploma.

To address these needs, Governor Parson established diversity and equity practices throughout the state. This not only includes practices with outreach, hiring and onboarding of state staff, but also in education of current staff. In 2019, Governor Parson signed an Executive Order, which focuses on Missouri as a Model Employer for hiring persons with disabilities. 

The Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development holds a yearly diversity and equity summit, which focuses primarily on increasing postsecondary opportunities for underserved groups. The Missouri Office of Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning has incorporated diversity and equity practices into the recruitment of underserved populations into their programming. 

The Department of Social Services has established a Workforce Initiatives Team and Community Initiatives Unit, which has aided in addressing those living in poverty. This team, which also reaches out to businesses and other local organizations, leverages their collaboration with the WIOA core partners and other community resources to ensure their customers are receiving needed employment, training, and supportive services that support the entire family. These services help prepare customers to prepare themselves and others in their support system to become self-sustaining with employment that removes or limits assistance.

Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program 

Governor Parson is supportive of fully integrating individuals with disabilities into the workforce. He signed Executive Order 19-16 to launch the Model Employer initiative for individuals with disabilities. Missouri was selected to participate in a mentorship program through the U.S. Department of Labor. The program was designed to assist the state in reaching its goal of hiring more individuals with disabilities making Missouri a model employer for businesses and non-profit organizations.

Missouri was one of 11 states selected to participate in the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP). Through this program, the state received support with the development and implementation of Missouri as a Model Employer. Missouri worked with other states and national experts to create the capacity necessary to improve employment opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities. EFSLMP participants represented the Governor’s Office; Paraquad, a community rehabilitation services provider; Missouri’s Office of Administration; Department of Mental Health – Divisions of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; Department of Social Services; Department of Elementary and Secondary Education – Vocational Rehabilitation; Department Higher Education and Workforce Development – Office of Workforce Development; Governor’s Council on Disability; Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council; and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.

Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development - Office of Workforce Development-Professional Development

Missouri Office of Workforce Development (OWD) continues to improve training for all levels of staff, local workforce development boards, and partner agencies. In 2018 Governor Parson began the Missouri Way program, which focused on developing leadership skills for all staff. Staff also have access to LinkedIn Learning. Within the first three months after hire date, OWD staff complete new staff courses and new partner agency staff are welcome to attend. Staff also learn to utilize Missouri's labor exchange and case management system, MoJobs. It is essential for staff to learn about the organizational purpose, legislative guidelines, products and services, how to access staff and customer information and resources, and how to complete daily employment services tasks.

Partnership and Referral  

The strengths of Missouri’s workforce development activities are based on the collaboration, cooperation and coordination of the workforce system partners. Partners have developed methods for appropriate referrals by engaging in state and local discussions and utilizing an online directory of resources. Each partner offers unique strengths and the collaboration leads to increased client services through braiding of funding. This braiding allows clients to receive additional wraparound services that may not be available through another partner and affords the client more opportunities in achieving family supporting employment.

The WIOA Steering Committee continues to engage core and combined state plan partners, required partners and stakeholders in conversations and planning regarding service delivery. These discussions continue to lead to further client-focused conversations. For example, many agencies are engaging with DOC to design services for justice involved individuals. In addition, partners are engaging in conversations regarding shared contractors to determine efficiencies that can be gained for shared clients, which better supports these jobseekers. 

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated that partners collaborate at new levels of engagement to ensure citizens received the support they needed. In March 2020, the Office of Workforce Development (OWD) partnered with Missouri Employment Security to establish a call center, which served as overflow for the massive amount of unemployment insurance (UI) claimant issues. This call center is now a fixture at OWD and continues to assist claimants as well as other citizens with assistance with UI and other public workforce system questions.

Early in the pandemic, OWD expanded their “unlikely to return” to employment definition. This allowed for easier determination of eligibility and expanded services for workforce development customers as well as customers referred by partners.

Additionally, during the pandemic all WIOA core and combined state plan partners held weekly virtual calls to provide status updates on the availability of services to citizens and share initiatives and services to better serve workforce customers.

Finally, OWD joined other partners, such as Vocational Rehabilitation, in providing local workforce board regions the opportunity to purchase computers and other technology that would allow customers to access training and employment services from their homes.

Employer Services

Missouri provides great opportunities for local job centers to serve employers. Missouri’s workforce system uses an integrated partner approach to engage employers and provide resources for them to list jobs, reach qualified candidates and to assist in increasing the skills of the workforce. MJC staff create specialized recruitment fairs for employers and handle all marketing and logistics offering the employer an opportunity to connect with a pool of talented and trained individuals.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) Business Engagement Team in the Community Initiatives Unit meets with employers from around the state listening to opportunities and challenges. Depending on the needs of the business, recommendations are made to state and partner employment and training programs. These types of recommendations include recruiting from pools of talent that may have been overlooked in the past such as clients who are justice involved or clients who have completed SkillUP trainings.  Programs like JAG and registered apprenticeships that can help to grow their workforce pipeline are explained and encouraged.

Meetings with employers include sharing resources available to their current workforce facing unforeseen barriers with the goal of keeping them employed.  Qualified SkillUP participants may receive services to remove barriers such as clothing allowance, transportation, and child-care assistance along with job coaching or mentoring.

Missouri employers can advertise their positions at no cost through the DSS GovDelivery subscription list serve that reaches 147,000 jobseekers.  In August 2020, this initiative was launched with the first e-mail reaching 1,206 jobseekers.  The program has been well-received and appreciated by employers who have reported seeing an increase in applications after information about their open positions and hiring events has been included in the outreach.  In September of 2021 thirteen e-mail blasts were sent to the list serve with an average open rate of 15% and an average of 706 unique clicks onto employers hiring sites.

Determining what programs an employer may be eligible to participate in is part of the services offered by WIOA partners.  The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) can reduce the cost of doing business for employers while helping job seekers find and retain family sustaining employment. WOTC is a federal tax credit available to employer for hiring individuals from specific target groups who face barriers to employment.  Employers can hire eligible employees for the following target groups for WOTC participation: individuals who are a member of a family receiving TANF assistance, qualified veterans, justice involved individuals with felony convictions, designated community residents of an Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community/Renewal Community, Vocational Rehabilitation clients, summer youth employees, SNAP recipients, SII recipients, long term family assistance recipient, qualified long term unemployment recipients. Businesses can earn up to $9,600 in business tax credits per eligible worker and there is no limit to the number of qualifying new hires or total amount of credits distributed per year.

The Missouri Federal Bonding Program is a no-cost, no-deductible insurance coverage beginning the day the bonded employee starts work and ends 6-months later for employers hiring “at-risk” individuals. Qualified “at-risk” employees are defined as individuals who have declared bankruptcy, have a bad credit history, have little/no work history, receive public assistance or are ex-offenders.  This program offers employers peace of mind when considering bringing these individuals into their workforce.

Low Unemployment Rates  

The historically low unemployment rates continue to lead to additional opportunities for low income individuals with barriers. This provides opportunities for clients otherwise not considered for positions in the past. Some of these populations include justice involved individuals, persons with disabilities, and clients receiving government benefits. The Department of Social Services (DSS) contracted with Mississippi County Caring Communities who subsequently contracted with the Missouri National Guard Foundation to conduct research to determine the reason clients are not engaging in family supporting employment in various cities in Missouri. The results continue to lead agencies in the discussion of strategies to help with transportation, childcare, and extreme poverty.Missouri’s low unemployment rate experienced a temporary disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic that is proving to be transitory and is returning to historical norms.  

WIOA Implementation

Missouri has worked with core and combined state plan partners from the beginning of WIOA to launch an effective and efficient process in implementing the new law. The process began with training and an MOU among core and combined state plan partners, which has evolved into shared committees, planning, and job center actions. All parties employ a continuous improvement mindset to meet future requirements that keep partners, jobseekers, employers, and stakeholders engaged.

Division of Employment Security

The Missouri Division of Employment Security (DES) administers the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, which pays unemployment benefits to eligible recipients who have lost their jobs due to no fault of their own. The nature of the program, provision of services, and potential benefit payment places the division at the forefront in identifying workers who have recently become unemployed. Regardless of benefit eligibility, through the existing partnership with OWD, all claimants are auto-registered and referred to jobs.mo.gov for job availability and reemployment services through an automated interface. During the unemployment insurance claims process, job history, job skills, and geographical preference information is collected from each claimant allowing DES to provide a list of available jobs from jobs.mo.gov that meet the criteria they have specified in real time. Additionally, claimants are asked if they are a veteran of the armed services. If yes, they are referred to OWD for priority reemployment services. Furthermore, select claimants that continue to claim unemployment benefits for a set length of time are referred by DES for enhanced reemployment services as part of the Reemployment Services & Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program. As part of this program, MJC staff provide tailored enhanced reemployment services to aid each individual in their timely return to work. The RESEA program first targets services to former military and then prioritizes selection of recipients both randomly and those with the greatest barriers to reemployment.

Statewide Convenings

Partners meet to collaborate on regional needs, common interests, and building relationships. DSS Work and Community Programs hosted several state DSS Work and Community Programs will continue to host convenings to bring state agency, community partners, contractors, and other stakeholders together to focus on aligning workforce programs to serve all individuals. As DSS Work and Community Programs focus on local partnerships, additional meetings will occur with regional staff to learn about community needs, removing barriers, and discussing partnerships. DSS Work and Community Programs staff within the region can identify and collaborate on job fairs, employer services and disability education by sharing information with other agencies and partners.

Rehabilitation Services for the Blind

Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind’s (RSB) Central Office and six district offices. RSB is currently budgeted for 95 full-time equivalent staff comprised of rehabilitation counselors, teachers, mobility specialists, children’s specialists, and support and administrative staff delivering services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. RSB takes a team approach based on the unique barriers and needs of the individual. Concentration in the area of serving blind and visually impaired individuals affords RSB the capacity to provide tailored trainings and resources to its statewide customer base.  

RSB continually evolves with the growth and changing needs of customers and employers. RSB is engaged in pilot projects with MVR, Department of Mental Health (DMH), and community rehabilitation programs (CRP) to expand customized employment opportunities for Missourians with disabilities. The pilot program expanded from the central and southwestern regions to the western part of the state to continue this cross agency approach.  It includes training on and employing a new service delivery model designed to create high quality sustainable customized employment services. Engaging these pilot communities creates opportunities for feedback and adjustments made prior to approaching a statewide effort.  

RSB is committed to the expansion of pre-employment transition services that provide students the supports necessary to be successful in their independence, postsecondary education, and employment. RSB advocates for early awareness of vocational rehabilitation to minimize gaps and delays from school to post-school activities. RSB counselors and children’s specialists leverage their connections with local schools districts and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to facilitate the referral process. Counselors work with school districts to identify overlap in educational goals and services and negotiate any necessary cost sharing arrangements. RSB also utilizes community resources, such as local job fairs to disseminate vocational rehabilitation program information including providing technical assistance. Through these collaborations and braiding of services, RSB increases outreach to students and improves student transition into employment.

Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation

The strengths of Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation’s (MVR) workforce development activities revolve around its desire and ability to effectively partner. MVR works with a largely unserved or underserved population of individuals with disabilities. As a partner in Missouri’s workforce system, MVR can open the door to an array of services for its clients. In turn, MVR brings diversity and inclusivity to the workforce system.

MVR collaborates with core and combined state plan partners, required partners, and other agencies or organizations on the state and local level. The program looks for innovative ways to expand services, which typically involves partnering, as demonstrated by the numerous projects it undertakes. For instance, MVR is participating in new pilots for customized employment, apprenticeships, and justice and foster care involved youth. Through these pilots, MVR is working with numerous partners such as OWD, RSB, DMH, public universities, employers, and many more.

Prior to WIOA, MVR had a business liaison dedicated to working with employers and partnering with local workforce boards. With the passage of WIOA, this one position has grown to six business specialists who comprise the MVR Business Team. This team collaborates with all WIOA partners statewide. Specialists participate in NEXUS groups with the goal of connecting all jobseekers with barriers to job or training opportunities. Several workforce regions hold reverse job fairs where employers come to potential employees. The business team plays a key role in these events inviting business partners and jobseekers. The business team has relationships with some employers, which include Nestlé Purina, Cerner Corporation, Olive Garden, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

The Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) Divisions of Behavioral Health (DBH) and Developmental Disabilities (DD) have been longstanding partners with MVR in assisting eligible individuals seeking vocational rehabilitation services to gain employment. MVR has appointed a DMH liaison, and DMH has representation on WIOA teams consisting of combined partner programs and other partner agencies. In partnership with DBH, Individual Placement and Support (IPS), an evidence-based supported employment service for adults with serious mental illness, has been a focus. IPS requires close program and clinical relationships between local mental health and vocational rehabilitation staff to ensure success.

MVR has a long-standing partnership with community rehabilitation programs (CRPs) in Missouri. These nonprofit CARF (Commission on Accreditation Facilities) accredited programs provide an array of employment services on a fee-for-service basis to assist individuals with obtaining and maintaining competitive integrated employment. The services offered include supported employment, employment skills training, employment services, and Employment Services Plus, which provides specialized services for deaf and hard of hearing, autism spectrum disorder, and brain injury. These services also include job development, placement, on-the-job supports, and retention services to assist individuals with obtaining and maintaining employment. This partnership has grown to 123 service locations in Missouri bringing both statewideness and choice of provider. This MVR and CRP collaboration has been very successful in helping individuals with disabilities achieve their employment outcomes.

MVR has a robust offering of pre-employment transition services for students and youth with disabilities. The Groundhog Job Shadow Month occurs during February and is a collaboration between MVR business specialists, transition specialist from the University of Missouri College of Education, local education agencies and businesses to provide job shadowing opportunities to students with disabilities.

MVR offers a paid six-week summer work experience program for students with disabilities in coordination with CRPs, local school districts, and employers. This has been a successful program growing annually. MVR coordinates summer work experience programs with the Centers for Independent Living (CILs). The CIL Summer Pre-Employment Transition Services programs provide potentially VR-eligible students with disabilities access to job exploration activities, workplace readiness training, and social support and self-advocacy, including peer mentoring.

MVR sponsors students with disabilities to participate in the Governor’s Council on Disability Missouri Youth Leadership Forum that focuses on leadership, citizenship, social, and career development skills. MVR is also working with Wonderland Camp, a summer camp for youth with disabilities, on an internship program.

MVR staff, along with employers, local workforce boards, other partner agencies, and CRPs, plan and hold accessibility events. These popular events occur statewide and are well attended by local HR managers, clients, service providers, potential employees, and employers of individuals with disabilities. These events bring stakeholders together for education on employing individuals with disabilities and offer the opportunity to network. 

MVR co-plans and presents at the Missouri Rehabilitation Association’s (MRA) annual training conference. This event is an example of collaboration activities MVR supports. Session content involves education and training on employment and highlight the extensive collaboration of statewide partnerships, which can help individuals with disabilities connect to employment. Featured speakers are partners from OWD, DSS Work and Community Programs, DMH, universities, service providers, and industries such as healthcare. MVR also supports partner collaboration through its attendance and presentations at the Missouri Association of Workforce Development annual conferences.

Adult Education and Literacy

Missouri AEL is consistently a national leader in achieving measurable skill gains (MSG) for the approximately 15,000 students served annually. Local AEL programs reach a considerable volume of Missouri citizens, all with barriers to employment and many through co-enrollment with WIOA partners. Prior to the addition of workplace measurable skills gain to the AEL performance measures in 2021, the percentage of AEL students in Missouri achieving MSG exceeded 64% and did not drop below 60% from 2015-2019. Now that AEL programs can report gains earned through integrated education and training, Missouri AEL forecasts an even higher percentage of MSG attainment with the ability to report gains already being earned through AEL services.

Missouri’s local AEL programs have over 150 physical class sites and employ approximately 500 teachers across the state. Many local programs provide synchronous virtual classrooms and asynchronous distance education for students who are not able to attend a class site or would prefer to learning at their own pace. Additionally, DESE AEL sponsors MOLearns, an innovative model that delivers online services to adult students. All of this allows DESE AEL to provide services free of charge to thousands of Missouri citizens for less than $800 per student.

Service Design and Delivery Committee

The Service Design and Delivery Committee, comprised of all WIOA partners and other state agency partners, is tasked with ensuring seamless service delivery throughout the workforce system. The first step in accomplishing this goal was addressing referrals through the creation of an online service directory, Services Navigator. This tool assists partner staff in providing guidance and resources to customers. Launched in July of 2018, the system had over 5,600 users. This project was funded by the Department of Social Services through TANF funds. From July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, the Services Navigator had 42,000 users and 2,800 services throughout the state of Missouri.

Business Engagement

Partners listen to jobseekers and employers. Each have techniques for gathering feedback from their customers by asking open ended questions and listening, without an agenda, to the needs, obstacles, and opportunities of each. The feedback received in the Missouri Workforce 2020 Survey guides this process and allows partners to target specific skill sets with the needed training. Information on effective methods to engage customers, needed services, and quality of services are necessary for the development and implementation of employment programs. These are unique to different parts of the state. Agencies divide the state into regions where assigned personnel focus on the specific needs of the area and collaborate among other partners to provide employers and jobseekers the best opportunities to meet their needs. Meeting with counterparts from other agencies strengthens partnerships and provides the best possible customer service to job seekers and employers. WIOA partners’ business engagement teams include personnel from OWD, DOC, DSS Work and Community Programs, MVR, and DED working together to assist employers in all regions of Missouri. Partners collaborate to obtain feedback such as OWD’s assistance with MVR on business engagement surveys. Combined partners work with other state agencies on collecting feedback to improve services and processes. 

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)

Strengths

Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are in continual contact with their communities and are regularly engaged when employment, disasters, and community planning arise. CAAs’ input is highly regarded. Employment Security Corporation of Joplin, Central Missouri Community Action of Columbia, and Community Action Agency of St. Louis County are known for their areas of expertise nationwide. 

CAAs complete a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment every three years by gathering both quantitative and qualitative data. The CAAs, in conjunction with the Missouri Community Action Network, have developed a model tool 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. 

CAAs are now an employment and training provider for SNAP clients through the SkillUP program, which allows them to offer these services when serving clients that may need energy assistance or other programs they offer. 

Weaknesses

CSBG funding is limited and needed for services other than employment and training activities.  With the many worthy needs identified and eligible for CSBG funding it can be a challenge to secure the levels of financial support needed to create these robust and braided employment and training programs. 

Some CAAs catchment areas are very rural and have limited access for employment support services, such as transportation and childcare assistance. In addition, these areas lack employers that provide steady positions with wage and benefit structures, creating a barrier to family sustaining employment.

SkillUP  

Strengths

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding allowed the SkillUP program to expand from 40 provider locations to 246 statewide. SNAP recipients can be served with these funds. These funds also allow for short-term payment of services to ensure the participant’s success such as childcare copayment, housing assistance, and utilities.

The FSD received a waiver from Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) to allow Missouri to accept applications made by incarcerated individuals prior to release from a correctional facility with the date of release considered the date of application. This will allow justice-involved individuals to have food security as well as allowing immediate engagement with a SkillUP provider to enroll in training or find employment, thus decreasing the likelihood of recidivism. 

SkillUP and Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) are working towards programs that follow the same basic guidelines and principles while adhering to their respective federal rules. Providers hold monthly conference calls to share information, report on success and concerns, and allow other agencies and partners to provide information on their agency/program.

The DSS Workforce Engagement Specialists reach out to clients to determine if needs are being met on their road to self-sufficiency.  The Family Support Division (FSD) Information Centers (Call Centers) and Resource Centers are discussing employment and training programs when clients are completing outbound and inbound interviews.  These interviews allow a customized approach matching the participant with the training programs that will best match their interests and passions.  Whether the client is in the beginning stages of their job search and needing help with building their resume or have just completed a specialized training earning certifications, the Engagement Specialists are able to steer the course for their clients providing contact information and resources for the next step to family sustaining employment.  In an effort to meet people where they are the Engagement Specialists attend hiring events, training events, and community resource fairs introducing themselves to clients and putting a face with the name and strengthening the relationship.  The DSS Work and Community Programs participate in the Whole Family Engagement Committee which focuses on action items to serve participants using the whole-family approach.

SkillUP outcomes are focused on employment. Since October 1, 2020, measurements of outcomes have included credential attainment, training, enrollments, and employment.  In FY2020, 13,485 SkillUP participants were registered for an educational, training, work experience, or on-the-job training component.  Of those registered individuals, 11,353 completed the training with an 84.2% training completion rate.

Weaknesses

SkillUP is underfunded by the FNS; therefore, the program is funded with TANF. Utilizing TANF funds for this population results in other projects not being funded. In addition, the total amount of need greatly exceeds the funds available. These different funding streams require an intensive amount of state and local staff time as they pay for different low-income clients and allow for different services. 

The transition into Office of Workforce Development’s (OWD) case management system was initially a challenge as not all features in the original business requirements were put in place prior to release. To address this, in July of 2021, OWD issued a Statewide Case Note Policy applicable across all workforce programs for entities in OWD’s electronic case-management system. Detailed in this policy are directives that require real-time data entry to be created on the date of consultation or service; directs the creation of a Mandatory Initial Case Note for any participant moved to full participation status at the time of enrollment; emphasizes brevity without omitting sufficient details for clarity, accuracy, and appropriateness of the service rendered; and gives guidance on appropriate notations. The DSS Work and Community Programs and OWD continue to collaborate on ensuring the requirements are in place to meet employee and employer needs.

Missouri’s rural areas have limited access for employment support services, such as transportation and childcare assistance. In addition, these areas lack employers that provide steady positions with wage and benefit structures, creating a barrier to family sustaining employment.

Currently MWA and SkillUP are in different case management systems requiring provider staff to be knowledgeable of both systems. In addition, the federal performance requirements are not consistent across programs. 

Missouri Work Assistance  

Strengths

SkillUP and MWA are working towards programs that follow the same basic guidelines and principles while adhering to their respective federal rules. The SNAP and TANF programs, both served by MWA contractors, are steadily moving toward alignment of their employment and training programs.  The state agency oversees monthly conference calls with providers to share information, report on success and concerns, and allow other agencies and partners to provide information on their agency/program.

 The DSS Work Engagement Specialists communicate frequently with participants to encourage engagement in the program. The engagement specialists have consistent contact with MWA case managers and coaches to discuss a participant’s case, address concerns, and share regional information to encourage and ensure successful case management and coaching.

MWA contractors are required to be physically located at a minimum of one Missouri Job Center in each MWA region. Contractors must have a minimum of one physical location in each region and a presence in every county. The DSS staff and MWA contractors are knowledgeable of local resources to assist in removal of barriers.

MWA outcomes are focused on education or credentials leading to employment, unsubsidized employment, and career pathways.

The DSS Work and Community Programs staff are continually enhancing community partnerships and sharing information about work programs. DSS staff attend outreach events to promote employment and training programs at schools, with employers, and at community and hiring events. GovDelivery communications sent through email and text messaging to job seekers advertise these outreach, training, and hiring events.

Within DSS, the Community Initiatives Unit (CIU) and employment and training programs are a combined unit which allows increased efficiencies, strategies, and a streamlined organizational structure to serve employment seeking Missourians. Collaborations and events with DOC are common and strengthen relationships while informing individuals about benefits and employment opportunities prior to their return to their communities. CIU staff work with local employers in their regions to educate about training and employment opportunities happening throughout the state and how they can go about recruiting from this talented and trained pool of candidates. In collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), CIU staff work to identify the employers who could best utilize the skills of VR clients. CIU staff work to address the immediate needs of employers through advertising job openings, hiring events, and training opportunities, and provide information on how these employers can grow their employee pipeline through programs such as Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) and Missouri Apprenticeship Connect.

Weaknesses

Missouri’s rural areas have limited access for employment support services, such as transportation and childcare assistance. In addition, these areas lack employers that provide steady positions with wage and benefit structures, which meets families’ needs.

Currently, MWA and SkillUP are in different case management systems requiring provider staff to be knowledgeable of both systems. In addition, the federal performance requirements are not consistent across programs.

Weaknesses

Data Sharing and Integration

While Missouri has made progress in the sharing of data, true data integration is still a challenge.  Each partner operates independent systems that do not have the capability to communicate with each other. Governor Parson has encouraged all departments to explore options to share and integrate data through his workforce development initiatives. This has helped spur more discussion and pilot projects around these issues.

Through initiatives such as the Workforce Data Quality Initiative Grant (WDQI) and strong support from the governor’s office, there is movement forward in this area. Several core partners have completed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that now allows data sharing of employer information. Work continues on a data warehouse that will allow opportunities to safely share jobseeker information as well.

Missouri continues to develop its State Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) for exploring research opportunities. This SLDS was developed using a USDOL grant from the WDQI. The warehouse remains functional and updated with selected data sets and is governed by an established interagency SLDS data committee.
 

Workforce System Branding

Missouri is rich in numerous workforce partnerships and collaborations. Partners continue to be successful at braiding services to maximize resources. To capitalize on this success, a plan to market partner services as a combined workforce system would be beneficial to customers as well as partner staff. Public awareness is valuable to the partners’ efforts to expand WIOA initiatives. Jobseekers and employers can access the workforce system through any partner allowing for multiple entry points. As such, it would be advantageous to have a branded identity for partners who jointly operate within the workforce system and their available services.

The results of the Missouri National Guard Foundation report indicated clients lack awareness of employment programs such as the SkillUP program. The report cites that clients who are engaged in the program overwhelmingly find it beneficial. The Foundation recommended statewide branding of the workforce system. The WIOA Steering Committee has also been discussing branding. The committee will continue conversations on strategies to promote awareness of workforce services and further explore the benefits of branding. The complexity in branding is due to 68 programs within multiple agencies and programs which adhere to different federal requirements. Opportunities to address this challenge are a renewed focus for the upcoming year as a result of the Missouri National Guard Foundation report.

 (C)

Missouri possesses great capacity for collaboration among its partners to provide the activities previously identified in (A) above. The state has embraced the vision behind WIOA by including the Department of Social Services as a combined partner along with the integration driven by Office of Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance, Adult Education, Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.

The WIOA Steering Committee, comprised of core and combined state plan partners, has already made strides in implementation by assembling teams of appropriate subject matter experts, working through goals and objectives for strategies, and collaborating and accommodating the sector strategies planning.

The Steering Committee continues to develop the knowledge of the workforce system and program expertise of partner staff. This provides key capacity development in training on leadership, customer service, performance measures, sector strategies, career pathways, and service referral models. The Steering Committee intends to instill the learning and cultural implications of sector strategies and career pathways into each of the agencies as well as supporting each other in necessary changes to ensure implementation success.

The years of operating as a WIOA partnership have allowed Missouri to grow in experience and capacity. Many great opportunities, joint programs, and shared beliefs have resulted from the passage of WIOA. For example, partners have a common vision of employer engagement and family supported employment. Monthly Missouri Job Center Connect Statewide Partnership meetings afford local workforce board directors and partners the opportunity to share resources, network, and receive agency updates. WIOA partners attend these monthly meetings, demonstrating commitment to building a stronger workforce system. 

Adult Education and Literacy 

Based on U.S. Census data (2015-2019) there are over 615,000 Missouri adults (age 18+) who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent. Missouri’s AEL currently supports at least 13,000 students annually through 29 service providers. By capitalizing on enterprises with WIOA partners, employers and local agencies, DESE AEL continues to expand its program offerings in areas not previously served. Now featuring a plethora of virtual classroom options, the possibilities for DESE AEL to reach more Missourians is limitless with appropriate resource development.

The optimal prospect for AEL to provide additional services to customers is leveraging funding with other WIOA partners. Secondary funding available to Title I or IV participants can extend existing Title II funding. Individuals working with Missouri Job Centers (MJC) that do not have a high school diploma or equivalent are referred to the local Title II AEL service provider. All Title I classes offered to clients toward a high school equivalency credential must be managed through Title II, Missouri DESE AEL.

Office of Workforce Development

The Office of Workforce Development (OWD) provides a robust menu of vital re-employment services, including access to skill-building training, career connections for job seekers, and human resources assistance for businesses. These services are provided through a statewide network of MJCs and the jobs.mo.gov web portal. 

With the assistance of trained professional staff, MJCs streamline customer flow to provide an expanded product box of valuable career assistance services, including specialized workshops, skills assessments, resume writing assistance, and more. These services equip the state’s workforce with the training and skills needed by employers to compete in the 21st century economy. Job centers offer job seekers use of supportive equipment such as computers, telephones, fax machines, and copiers. Businesses may use job centers to seek or interview potential employees, test applicants’ occupational skills, or gain access to labor market information. 

OWD also provides several innovative, targeted skill-building programs, such as the Re-Employment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program for unemployment insurance claimants, specialized job search assistance for veterans, multiple Apprenticeship projects, a nationally recognized On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program, as well as ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate. 

Department of Social Services Community & Workforce Team

The Department of Social Services created the Workforce Development Unit (WDU) in March 2018 and changed their name to DSS Work and Community Programs in Spring 2021. While the DSS has administered employment and training programs for many years, this unit’s purpose is to laser focus on clients, programs, outcomes, cross-division/cross-department initiatives, and develop sustainable programs that address the needs of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, TANF recipients, and other low-income persons. As of September 2021, there are 332,700 SNAP households and 6,501TANF (cash benefit) households. There are individuals that may choose not to participate due to disability or other circumstances within both of these populations.

The DSS Work and Community Programs will remain client-focused and continue to develop programs that are or will become data driven to show long-term economic impact by providing exceptional services resulting in family sustainability and reduction of intergenerational poverty. The goal of the programs is rapid attachment to work so that families can achieve economic sustainability and reduce intergenerational poverty. The SkillUP and MWA programs offer transportation assistance by providing funds for minor car repairs, and work-related assistance for those that have employment secured but need assistance buying uniforms, work boots, tools, and books.

The DSS Work and Community Programs administers nearly $45 million in employment and training funds and continues to grow as new programs are legislated or developed based on client need. The programs currently include the Missouri Work Assistance program, SkillUP, Jobs for America’s Graduates, Excel Centers, Jobs League, and previously the Healthcare Industry Training and Education (HITE) Program. The DSS Work and Community Programs will also administer multiple new decision item programs. The capacity of the DSS Work and Community Programs administers is contingent upon the allocation of TANF and SNAP funding. The department continues to work towards identifying clients across programs for efficiencies to ensure the best programs for the individual are recommended and assistance is provided in enrolling in the recommended program.

The DSS Work and Community Programs continues to pursue data sharing with partners and engage multiple stakeholders and build long-lasting relationships. The DSS Work and Community Programs educates FSD resource centers on employment and training programs, works with the Income Maintenance Call Center to discuss employment with clients, and create partner referrals. The unit engages with the Department of Corrections (DOC) on various projects to ensure shared and low-income clients receive the support needed to ensure success. The unit works with DOC on initiatives including accepting Food Stamp applications pre-release, identifying employers who would employ justice-involved individuals, and a multitude of other projects.

In October 2018, the DSS Work and Community Programs hosted the Focus Federal Funds workgroup, which fostered relationships and encouraged ongoing discussions with multiple state agencies. The DSS Work and Community Programs and employment and training providers began massive outreach to clients. Through Mississippi Caring Communities, the Missouri National Guard Foundation was commissioned to conduct research and worked with other state agencies to share program information with staff to blend funding.  Many positive outcomes resulted from the workgroup including funding for Truck Readiness Education & Driving (TREAD), which provided funding for non-driver’s licenses and birth certificates, working more closely with Vocational Rehabilitation partners. 

The Missouri National Guard Foundation completed a qualitative and quantitative report, carried out between August 2018 and June 2019, to determine why clients in certain parts of the state aren’t employed. The intention of this report is to identify barriers and develop strategies to assist clients in overcoming barriers and ultimately to increase the number of clients employed. This report was shared with the Focus Federal Funds group, department directors and will be shared with other stakeholders including Local Workforce Development Board Directors. The surveys were conducted in Kansas City, Poplar Bluff and Springfield. Many respondents indicated they were not aware of the SkillUP program, but those in the program had a positive experience. Educating the public about these programs is an ongoing goal of the department. Community resource fairs, hiring events, meetings with local governments, and public special events have and will continue to provide opportunities to share information about the program, building knowledge and understanding.

The key barriers outlined in the report by city include:

Kansas City – Motivated to find work, but they lack transportation. While there is transportation, it is not accessible throughout the city.

Poplar Bluff – Out of all cities, most likely to say they lost a primary income and have taken on a great deal of debt. Are struggling to meet basic needs.

Springfield – Out of all cities, most likely to be tech-savvy young moms in a dual-income household. Need access to affordable childcare.

Potential recommendations by city:

Kansas City – Assist respondents in the logistics of employment including finding jobs near bus routes, budgeting for transportation or navigating bus routes.

Popular Bluff – Provide emotional support groups and debt management classes.

Springfield – Offer childcare at Springfield employee assistance programs.

There are over 70 workforce programs housed in many agencies, so the DSS Work and Community Programs offer interested agencies the opportunity to engage in statewide program branding. Clients can then understand the benefits of the workforce development system as a whole and better understand the offerings and assistance available to them.

DOC is leading the reentry effort and part of this effort includes coordination with OWD, the DSS Work and Community Programs and nonprofits to review, design and streamline processes and programs that will provide individuals, who are justice involved, rapid attachment to work. DOC has been the lead agency in overall program design, assessment of current operations and programs currently offered. The Workforce Development Boards have been providing training/support “behind the walls” in some locations. The DSS Work and Community Programs became engaged in this process regarding the supports that can be provided through TANF funds such as work-related supplies (i.e., work boots, clothing, hygiene, etc.), transportation assistance, and payment to obtain documentation required for employment (i.e., non-driver’s license). Since it is likely these individuals will be released without the supports necessary to become self-sufficient, the DSS Work and Community Programs is working toward providing benefits faster upon release (i.e., Food Stamps, cash assistance) to ensure clients can “get on benefits sooner” to “get off benefits sooner.” The overall process will be designed to include referrals to SkillUP employment and training providers for SNAP recipients. These providers can provide a variety of supports. This partnership is a benefit to these individuals and their families, taxpayers and communities and is intended to reduce the long-term dependency on government benefits, reduce the overall cost to taxpayers for benefit programs and incarceration, reduce the need for additional correctional facilities, assist with family reunification, reduce intergenerational poverty, and provide safer communities.

The DSS Work and Community Programs and OWD educate employers about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program (WOTC) and the Missouri Federal Bonding Program. The WOTC Program provides federal income tax credits to businesses who hire employees from specific groups with barriers to employment, including justice-involved individuals. The Missouri Federal Bonding Program is a no-cost job incentive program intended to increase hiring of job seekers and promotion of employees considered “at risk.”  “At risk” job seekers and employees include justice-involved individuals but also covers those who have declared bankruptcy, have bad credit, have little or no work history, or receive public assistance. This no-cost, no-deductible insurance coverage begins the day the bonded person starts work and ends six months later. This insurance can overcome the fear some employers have with hiring justice-involved individuals.

The DSS Work and Community Programs technical assistance from the Administration for Children and Families through the Integrating, Innovative, Employment, and Economic Stability Strategies (IIEESS) group has ended, but DSS Work and Community Programs still encourages the coaching practices learned during the project. FY 2018’s projects focused on understanding coaching models and making changes to space where clients are served to increase their engagement and success. The City of Springfield put this into action using some of the ideas in creating an open space so that clients and the job coaches sit side-by-side to discuss their goals. Appropriate modifications were made in response to the pandemic. FY 2019 focused on program branding, client outreach, and establishing a coaching framework.  While the technical assistance has ended, it remains valuable in directing and shaping these coaching models.

The DSS Work and Community Programs will continue to implement programs and projects based on clients’ needs, including but not limited to utilizing TANF funding to assist justice-involved individuals, employer engagement, use of the Truck Simulator purchased through Three Rivers Community College, data sharing with DOC to provide aggregate data on the long-term benefit usage of shared clients, analyze the reasons clients are not engaging in employment, focus on initiatives, internal and external stakeholder partnerships, and creation of strategic future plans.

SkillUP 

SkillUP has rapidly grown since July 2018 with an infusion of TANF funding. SkillUP increased from 40 to 246 provider locations with the addition of the Missouri Community College Association, Community Partnerships, and Missouri Community Action Agency Network, all of which oversee the operations through multiple entities within their respective network. From October 1, 2019 – July 11, 2020, 13,485 Food Stamp (SNAP) recipients have received employment and training services, an increase of 9,147 since July 5, 2020, through the SkillUP program compared to 8,124 clients who received services from October 1, 2018 – September 30, 2019.

Missouri Work Assistance

Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) provides training, education, and employment preparation for TANF recipients. In addition, MWA provides services to SNAP participants through the SkillUP Program. MWA contractors have the capacity to provide effective coaching and case management services at 96 physical locations, during home visits, or other locations convenient for the participant. The MWA program assists participants in completing an Individual Employment Plan (IEP). Once the IEP is completed the MWA program offers assistance in overcoming many common barriers to family sustaining employment with assistance ranging from assisting with childcare fees to providing funds for tools or uniforms. There are 142 case managers, in addition to auxiliary staff, that provide focused coaching. MWA providers are co-located with at least one Missouri Job Center (MJC) within each region. 

Healthcare Industry Training and Education  

The DSS Work and Community Programs received the Health Professions Opportunity Grant, which began the Healthcare Industry Training and Education Program beginning in September 2015.  Funding for this program ended in September 2021. Three Local Workforce Development Boards, St. Louis Area on Training and Education, Central Region Workforce Development Board and the Full Employment Council, who operated the program have placed over 1,700 low-income individuals in high-demand healthcare trainings. To date, almost 1,088 participants have completed this training, and nearly 800 have obtained employment with an average wage of $15 an hour. 

Community Services Block Grant 

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is administered through 19 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) across the state of Missouri to address poverty, its causes, and its effect on the local community. Each CAA determines programming based on an approved community needs assessment, which focuses on providing for specific needs and identifying barriers and/or gaps for supportive services. A minimum of  90% of the funds are distributed directly to the CAAs, with the remaining 10% going towards administrative costs, training, and special anti-poverty programs around the state. CAAs have approximately 3,000 total staff across all programs including CSBG, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Low-Income Home Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), Head Start, Weatherization, and more. Through CSBG funding, eligible participants have to be at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level and participate in various types of programs to improve employment, living conditions, and nutrition. CAAs have developed significant networks and partnerships within their regions that allow for maximizing capacity to assist people. CSBG funding helps to build and engage community resources designed to support families in need.   

Excel Centers (Adult High Schools) 

Excel Centers opened in Springfield, Poplar Bluff, and St. Louis in October 2018 and in Columbia the following year. These centers assist adults over the age of 21 to earn high school degrees and, in some cases, certifications for a number of fields of work. These Excel Centers allow adults to earn their high school diploma in an accredited tuition-free high school. While earning their diploma, students can earn college credits and a variety of industry-recognized certifications in order to increase their earning potential. All four Missouri Excel Centers offer free drop-in childcare centers, transportation assistance, flexible class schedules, extended hours, and year-round operation to support students as they work toward the goal of earning an actual diploma. While adults are participating in the program, they benefit from supportive relationships with staff and a life coach who works with students to find solutions for life’s challenges that could hinder progress. During the 2020-2021 academic year 1,534 unique students participated in the Excel Centers programs and a total of 9,123 classes were taken. During this time 57 TANF clients, 806 SNAP clients, and 355 clients of both programs were served.

Jobs for America’s Graduates 

Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is dedicated to helping students who experience significant barriers in their lives to graduate from high school and make positive transitions to postsecondary education and/or a meaningful career. JAG focuses on a set of core competencies that prepare students to succeed in the workforce. JAG consistently achieves graduation rates over 90% for participating students. In 2018, JAG served more than 63,000 students in approximately 1,500 communities in 34 states. Since inception, over 1.3 million students have benefited from JAG. For FY2022, JAG-Missouri is offered at 65 school districts and 98 programs to students with at least three barriers, such as poverty, challenging family situations, and a history of personal trauma. JAG offers project based learning, trauma informed care, and employer engagement. JAG students are 230% more likely to find full-time employment. For over 40 years, JAG has been able to double the rate of disadvantaged youth securing jobs, nearly double the rate of higher education enrollment and completion, and triple the rate of securing full-time jobs. In Missouri, JAG achieves over a 97% graduation rate. For FY2020, after graduation, 76% of students were engaged in some combination of work, higher education, and/or military for 35-40 hours per week. 

Jobs League

Jobs League (formerly Summer Jobs League) offers low-income individuals, age 14-24 years old, the opportunity to gain work experience. During FY2020, there were 1,535 enrollments for work experience.

The Jobs League Program measures the other career center services utilized by participants in conjunction with Jobs League (workshops, trainings).  For FY2020, 389 participants utilized wrap around services in conjunction with Jobs League. The Jobs League Program also measures the percentage of participants receiving Temporary Assistance (TA), SNAP, or Medicaid while participating in this program.  For FY2020, 74% of participants received TA, SNAP, or Mo HealthNet while participating in Jobs League.

The Jobs League Program measures the percentage of participants returning to education, retaining or gaining employment, or combination. In FY2020, 63%of participants had a positive outcome either returning to education, retaining or gaining employment, or any combination.

Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation  

Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation’s (MVR) 25 offices provide services in all counties across the state to assist individuals with disabilities achieve successful employment outcomes. With close to 300 vocational rehabilitation counselors, support and administrative staff statewide, MVR maximizes coverage in metropolitan, urban and rural areas. MVR has the capacity to serve all types of disabilities including specialized populations such as deaf/hard of hearing, individuals with autism spectrum disorders and traumatic brain injuries. Annually, counselors work with more than 29,000 individuals with an average daily count greater than 15,000.MVR participates in 14 NEXUS groups across the state. NEXUS groups are a collaboration of WIOA partners with the goal of expanding employment opportunities for people with barriers to employment through the development of business partnerships. MVR expands its range of services through its work with Centers for Independent Living (CILs). MVR partners with 22 CILs located throughout Missouri sharing referrals and providing services to mutual clientele. 

MVR is contracting with the University of Missouri (MU), College of Education, to provide assistance with the provision of pre-employment transition services. There are 43 transition specialists located across the state, who collaborate with local education agencies and MVR to provide pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities who are potentially eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. With the MU specialists, MVR can reach students in all school districts. 

MVR offers a paid six-week summer work experience program for students with disabilities in coordination with community rehabilitation providers (CRPs), local school districts and employers. This has been a successful program growing annually. 

MVR is expanding its capacity through new pilots in several areas such as customized employment, apprenticeships, and peer mentoring for students with disabilities involved in the justice and foster care systems and homeless and housing insecure youth. Through these pilots, MVR is collaborating with numerous partners such as Department of Mental Health, Department of Social Services, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, CILs, rehabilitation service providers, MU, Missouri State University, OWD, and employers. Braiding services through these collaborations opens opportunities to reach more Missourians with disabilities desiring to work. 

MVR and Missouri Assistive Technology (MoAT) have collaborated to develop a cooperative agreement to ensure maximum statewide utilization of services. By establishing a cooperative relationship, MVR and MoAT can increase rehabilitation technology services utilization and understanding by taking advantage of the expertise and knowledge within each agency. The agreement provides a plan for the coordination of services; for using the resources of the cooperating agencies to the best advantage; to provide information sharing, technical support, and training; to facilitate the referral of potential eligible individuals between agencies; and to jointly serve eligible individuals in obtaining rehabilitation technology services. MVR has a director and an assistant director of assistive technology who are resources for staff and assist in evaluating assistive technology needs.

Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind

Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind’s (RSB) six district offices include a total of 94 staff comprised of rehabilitation counselors, teachers, mobility specialists, children’s specialists, and support and administrative staff delivering services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. RSB takes a team approach based on the unique barriers and needs of the individual. Concentration in the area of serving blind and visually impaired individuals affords RSB the capacity to provide tailored trainings and resources to its statewide customer base.  

RSB continually evolves with the growth and changing needs of customers and employers. RSB is engaged in pilot projects with MVR, Department of Mental Health (DMH), and Community Rehabilitation Programs CRPs to expand customized employment opportunities for Missourians with disabilities. Through the use of pilot communities in central and southwest Missouri, this cross-agency approach will include training on and employing a new service delivery model designed to create high quality sustainable customized employment services. Engaging these pilot communities will create opportunities for feedback and adjustments made prior to approaching a statewide effort.  

RSB is committed to the expansion of pre-employment transition services that provide students the supports necessary to be successful in their independence, postsecondary education, and employment. RSB advocates for early awareness of vocational rehabilitation to minimize gaps and delays from school to post-school activities. RSB counselors and children’s specialists leverage their connections with local schools districts and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to facilitate the referral process. Counselors work with school districts to identify overlap in educational goals and services and negotiate any necessary cost sharing arrangements. RSB also utilizes community resources, such as local job fairs, to disseminate vocational rehabilitation program information including technical assistance provision. Through these collaborations and braiding of services, RSB increases outreach to students and improves student transition into employment.