Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- a. State Strategy Implementation
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include–
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
- a. State Strategy Implementation
III. a. 2. C. Coordination, Alignment and Provision of Services to Individuals
Describe how the entities carrying out the respective core programs, Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan, and required and optional one-stop partner programs will coordinate activities and resources to provide comprehensive, high-quality, customer-centered services, including supportive services (e.g. transportation), to individuals, including those populations identified in section II(a)(1)(B), and individuals in remote areas. The activities described shall conform to the statutory requirements of each program.
Current Narrative:
For the final two years of the PY 2020 - PY 2023 State Workforce Plan, ARIZONA@WORK partners will engage in cross-functional projects, using shared expertise to help Arizona’s workforce obtain needed assistance.
For example, one new initiative is a partnership between Titles I, II, and III to help UI claimants who do not currently hold secondary diplomas utilize the testing pathway to the High School Equivalency (HSE) (administered by GED® Testing Services), obtaining funding through a voucher system that will cover the cost of GED® practice tests and GED® exam. Currently, there are approximately 235,000 individuals collecting unemployment insurance benefits that may not have a secondary diploma. In order for these claimants to have an equal opportunity to return to work in positions that will allow them to become self-sufficient, the team has created the Back to Work HSE Program.
System-wide resources will be used, such as the Arizona Career Readiness Program (ACRP), to promote a customer-centric model for identifying skills and assisting in job placement. Specific strategy implementation and alignment activities designed to coordinate the provision of services to individuals include:
Strategy 6 Implementation: Creating a framework to support statewide models for identified career pathways, will help all program participants see a path based on their intended career. The ARIZONA@WORK system started this project by utilizing a common terminology for In-Demand Industries and Occupations (NAICS codes and SOC codes) in the state and local plans. Now ARIZONA@WORK partners can collaborate, using the common terminology to support the development and implementation of career pathways. For example, students enrolled in adult literacy classes or individuals who are justice-involved and re-entering the workforce, will be able to identify where they are on a pathway of interest, what additional skills, training, and/or postsecondary credentials (including registered apprenticeships) are needed, and engage with the ARIZONA@WORK system to identify support and resources (e.g., transportation, training) to meet their goals. Specific next steps for this project include the development of career pathway tools for the top state In-Demand Occupations. In addition, local partners will continue to work with individuals to help them develop custom career pathways based on the needs of the individual and the available services for them.
Strategy 7 Implementation: To streamline services to individuals, especially those with barriers to employment who may qualify for more than one program, the Office of Economic Opportunity, using a ‘Workforce Innovation Network’ (WIN) grant from the National Governors Association (NGA), contracted with MSSTBA to conduct research on the needs of Arizona’s workforce system, including opportunities for improvement in how referrals are conducted. This research will be reviewed and used to better support referrals, which will improve the quality of services by program participants. The team will also capitalize on current successes within Arizona, including the effort to increase co-enrollment between TAA and Title I-B. Co-enrollment between the TAA Program and Title I-B Dislocated Worker Program continues to be a focus and strategy to offer seamless reemployment benefits and services to trade affected workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Through the co-enrollment efforts implemented, the statewide average rate is consistently above 80 percent.
Strategy 8 Implementation: To ensure individuals who use the ARIZONA@WORK system can access the support and services needed, Arizona has several programmatic activities and initiatives that support the accessibility of the workforce services for all individuals. Examples of activities include Title II’s universal learning implementation through Center for Applied Special Technology [CAST], Title IV Job Center Assistive Technology needs assessment, Arizona’s Veterans’ Programs, and Arizona’s Second Chance Centers supporting previously incarcerated individuals. Current cross-partner initiatives include the Job Readiness Training (JRT) Partnership between Vocational Rehabilitation and the Employer Engagement Administration and the Maryvale Initiative to support individuals in this historically high-need area.