Narrative: III. a. 2. A.

2. IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE STRATEGY (A) CORE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES TO IMPLEMENT THE STATE’S STRATEGY 

Colorado has a long history of coordinated implementation as a result of the Governor’s 1997 Executive Order to integrate employment and training services in local One-Stop Delivery systems. All state policies that have followed have been designed to ensure that the local workforce areas and key partners are aligned with the strategic direction of USDOL, the Governor, and the Colorado Workforce Development Council. Colorado has excelled as one of three demonstration states for devolving Wagner-Peyser services to locally administered merit systems, fully embracing the key principles of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. This has allowed our statewide network of locally operated workforce centers to achieve total integration of Workforce Investment Act, Wagner-Peyser, veterans, and Trade Act employment and training programs, as well as launch state and local partnerships with TANF, SNAP, Adult Education and Family Literacy, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Community Services Block Grant, for the one-stop system. 

Colorado’s CSBG model of local control lends itself well to local level governmental and social service linkages. CSBG eligible entities are consistently increasing their partnership with intentional collaborative communities of practice and resource sharing groups, continuums of care, and coalitions. The increased need for and understanding of the importance of information-sharing, referrals, coalition-building, and collaboration is resulting in the exchange of ideas and information which results in more efficient and effective services and strategies for those experiencing low income and communities. This information sharing reduces duplication of services. DOLA will continue to support convening and information-sharing partner efforts, helping eligible entities and the community action network to move individuals, families, and communities toward economic security. Meetings that are intentional on the connection between CSBG and WIOA services will be focused on increasing the substantive exchange of information and collaboration between the programs. CSBG eligible entities undergoing employment services and strategies will be connected with and encouraged to participate in WIOA planning and activities. 

With the implementation of WIOA, specific strategies have been utilized to align the work of core and required partners at both the state and local level. Leadership from the one-stop partner programs comes together monthly as an Implementation Team to provide guidance on the work and make commitments to specific actions necessary for moving forward. MOUs between agencies will be implemented as needed to support the alignment of efforts and activities. 

Over the next four years, several tactics will be deployed to achieve the ambitious goals outlined in this plan. Businesses are engaged in the talent development system through sector partnerships and through our statewide business services team. To continue the excellent work that has been done over the past four years, one-stop partner programs will be included in the business services team and common procedure manuals will be developed to align the work of multiple agencies. The roles of partners and the resources they can provide are brought to the table to serve businesses through our overall sector strategy approach. 

By providing intensive technical assistance to focus the workforce areas on the key industries that drive their local and regional economies and provide the spark for increasing economic vitality, Colorado has taken the next step in implementing its long-term sector strategy approach to system transformation. The local boards will convene local decision makers and respond to the recruitment and retention issues of these industries. Successful sector partnerships are aligned with career pathways strategies and the Colorado Community College System, and designed to address the skill upgrade needs of low-skilled adults. Sector strategies serve as the driver for all discretionary initiatives funded by the Colorado Workforce Development Council, as well as those that will be funded with Dislocated Worker 25% dollars. 

Through this strategic planning process the clear need for staff development for all system partners has been made apparent. Therefore, Colorado will develop training toolkits and implement cross-agency training to ensure that all of the resources of the system can be funneled appropriately to customers. The expertise of specific partners will be utilized, such as having adult education and family literacy programs provide training on assessment delivery to workforce center staff and using DVR’s expertise to provide disability awareness and etiquette to core and combined partner staff. 

Additionally, a commitment to innovation exists throughout Colorado and a framework will be developed for pilot projects that will allow for adequate, reliable, and safe experimentation to take place. Partner programs are also committed to scaling successful innovations and the necessary structures, guides, and training will be deployed to ensure that it is feasible to broaden successful programs. 

While all of these initiatives will enhance the services that existing customers and those who are funneled to programs receive, the full vision of WIOA cannot be realized unless the system overall is understood as an asset and utilized as a resource by a much broader base of businesses and job seekers. All of the agencies responsible for programming under this combined plan are committed to the branding initiatives that will take place and will appoint the right staff with communications expertise to collaboratively achieve this goal. The Advocacy Committee of the Colorado Workforce Development Council will provide the vehicle to launch these efforts and will support the implementation of awareness strategies throughout the state.