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. A. Core Program Activities to Implement the State’s Strategy
Describe the activities the entities carrying out the respective core programs will fund to implement the State’s strategies. Also, describe how such activities will be aligned across the core programs and Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan and among the entities administering the programs, including using co-enrollment and other strategies, as appropriate.
Current Narrative:
There are six core WIOA programs contained within four titles of WIOA, and the core programs in Alabama, are administered by four state agencies. Commerce Workforce Development Division administers the Title I WIOA Programs (adult, youth, and dislocated worker), the Alabama Community College System administers WIOA Title II (adult education), the Alabama Department of Labor administers WIOA Title III (Wager-Peyser), and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services administers WIOA Title IV (vocational rehabilitation). These agencies have partnered with each other since 1992 in providing coordinated or co-located services in the Alabama Career Center System. These agencies have met on a regular basis to provide and improve services to job seekers and employers.
Alabama is rare, though not an anomaly, in that the state has two state workforce agencies managing the Title I WIOA program (Commerce) and Title III (ADOL). In Alabama, Commerce contracts with ADOL on behalf of the 6 local workforce boards to provide Title I front line staff who provide career and training services in Alabama’s one stop centers. The Employment Services Division of the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) serves as the gateway to the state’s labor and job markets by delivering basic and individualized training services to both jobseekers and employers through the Alabama Career Center System. Alabama is also a partner in the American Job Center Network, which is designed to unify and brand workforce services as part of a single national network. ADOL is also a partner in AlabamaWorks brand and system, which was designed to unify and brand workforce services under a single, statewide network. The Alabama Career Center System, with ADOL as the lead agency, provides job seekers and employers with a full range of employment and training services in 50 “One-Stop Career Centers” located throughout the state. The Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933 established a nationwide system of public employment offices, known as the Employment Service, which were the precursors to the “One-Stop” centers. The Wagner-Peyser Act was amended in 1998 to make the Employment Service part of the one-stop delivery system under the Workforce Investment Act. In 2014, the Wagner-Peyser Act was amended again to be included under Title III of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
The state is divided into 7 workforce regions. Six of the local workforce development areas operate with administrative support from the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Workforce Development Division. Policy support and the coordination of services will continue from the other core partners for the six local workforce development areas to ensure continuity of established policies such as priority of services to public assistance recipients.
SNAP E&T services will be expanded across Alabama. The focus of the Career Centers will be on job search activities for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDS). Referrals to the Career Center’s come to the Career Centers electronically and allow for any SNAP E&T ABAWD to have access to services immediately at any Career Center. The plan is to work with local DHR offices and Career Centers in each county to continue to establish policies, priorities, and outreach for this population. The TANF Program is a cash assistance and work program operated by the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR). Clients receiving TANF and participating in DHR’s work program called JOBS. For clients that access the Career Center office first but may be interested in services provided by TANF, there are information packets available at the Career Centers for any clients who inquire about the TANF program. Additionally, the long-term goal is to develop an online application process for TANF which will be easily accessible by the client from any computer.