Narrative: III. a. 2. B.

Activities identified in Section A are aligned with WIOA combined programs and activities provided by required one-stop partners to avoid duplication. These activities are described below.

Enhancing Partner Collaboration
From the onset of WIOA through last year’s submission under WIOA, a unified plan approach was selected for the plans and two-year modifications. Florida has built on the collaboration of the WIOA Core Leader Team and smaller workgroups by involving other programs organizations and stakeholders as needed. The 2024 – 2028 Combined Plan enhances partner collaboration to include WIOA core partners CareerSource Florida; FloridaCommerce; FDOE VR, DBS and DCAE; and combined partners including the FCS, DCF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and TAA programs; Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) Program; Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program; Florida Department of Elder Affairs (FDOEA), Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP); Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program and the state Housing and Urban Development Program.

Improved communication, regular workforce system updates, and identifying increased opportunities for partnerships has helped align WIOA core and required partners around the concept of a flexible and streamlined state and local-driven system of workforce development services and programs that enhance service delivery, leverage available resources to help job seekers overcome barriers, and achieve economic self-sufficiency and mobility. Enhanced partner collaboration has laid the foundation for combined or closer planning with all partners.

Partnership Between State Apprenticeship Agency and CareerSource Florida The State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) and CareerSource Florida (CSF) meet regularly to plan collaborative efforts to expand Registered Apprenticeships across the state, which include active engagement between the SAA Apprenticeship Training Representatives and CSF Apprenticeship Navigators, as well as planning outreach and communication efforts, Apprenticeship Accelerator events and group training sessions. It is common for team members from both offices to co-present at meetings, trainings and industry conferences. Apprenticeship Training Representatives (ATRs) from the SAA are responsible for the development, registration, monitoring and servicing of registered apprenticeship programs. CSF Apprenticeship Navigators are responsible for promoting apprenticeships to employers and job seekers, educating employers about the benefits of apprenticeships, assisting with the recruitment of apprentices and supporting apprentices by using WIOA funding to support the apprentice's related instruction, on the job training and supportive services. CareerSource Florida and the SAA support collaborative interagency working relationships between Apprenticeship Navigators and ATRs and have excelled in this area so much that our Apprenticeship Navigators and ATR’s have served as national experts by presenting to audiences across the country about how they successfully work together to support the expansion of Registered Apprenticeships.  

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and TANF
FloridaCommerce has a longstanding relationship with DCF in the administration of the SNAP employment and training (E&T) and TANF/WT programs. DCF refers SNAP and TANF recipients to FloridaCommerce to comply with work activity requirements and to receive services provided by the workforce system. Services include access to job preparation, training, and other support services designed to assist customers with obtaining employment. Employment and training services, including WIOA and other core partner services, are available to TANF and SNAP recipients in local career centers.

DCF and FloridaCommerce collaborate on the development of the SNAP E&T state plan and the TANF state plan to ensure the appropriate inclusion in, and coordination with, the state’s workforce development system regarding service provision to SNAP and TANF recipients. 

CLIFF Dashboard
CareerSource Florida partnered with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta to develop a Florida-specific CLIFF Dashboard that helps users understand their potential earnings from paid employment while also mapping the timing and size of reductions in public assistance needed as individuals progress along in-demand career pathways toward self-sufficiency.

Consistent with the objectives of WIOA and the State Workforce Development Plan, CareerSource Florida developed the CLIFF tool to allow one-stop center staff and partners to assist Floridians in visualizing how returning to work or upskilling to a higher-paying occupation could impact their future earnings and public benefits as their household progresses along the path to self-sufficiency. CareerSource Florida developed a strategic policy requiring LWDBs to develop strategies and policies that provide simplified and expanded access to employment, education and training services. Usage of the CLIFF Tool Suite shall be written into each local board’s four-year plan and reflected in each board’s operating policies. Successful implementation is monitored by FloridaCommerce.

CareerSource Florida partners with its WIOA combined planning partner, DCF, to engage DCF staff in the use of the CLIFF Dashboard.

Trade Adjustment Assistance Program
The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (TAA) is currently being sunset and existing participants will continue to be served. TAA services are currently delivered within the American Job Center and participants have access to all partner programs.

Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program
The Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program (JVSG) and WIOA are two federally funded programs that support veterans and individuals seeking employment, respectively. By combining planning and collaboration efforts between these two grants, several operations can be enhanced including:

• Targeted Outreach: By aligning efforts, JVSG and WIOA can conduct joint outreach campaigns to reach a broader audience of veterans and job seekers.  This can include coordinating marketing materials, utilizing shared databases, and leveraging each other’s networks to ensure maximum outreach and engagement.
• Comprehensive Assessment: Both grants involve assessing individuals’ skills, needs, and employment barriers. JVSG and WIOA can develop a unified assessment process that captures all relevant information, avoiding duplication and streamlining the overall assessment process. This can provide a more comprehensive understanding of veterans’ and job seekers’ needs and enable tailored services and support.
• Integrated Case Management: JVSG and WIOA can facilitate integrated case management services that involves sharing information and collaborating on individual employment plans, ensuring that veterans and job seekers receive seamless support across both programs. By avoiding duplication and enhancing communication, this approach can lead to more efficient and effective service delivery.
• Expanded Training Opportunities: JVSG and WIOA can collaborate to provide a wider range of training opportunities for veterans and job seekers.  By pooling resources and expertise, they can jointly develop training programs that address the specific needs of veterans while also meeting the broader workforce demands identified by WIOA. This can result in more targeted and relevant training options for individuals, increasing their chances of finding sustainable employment.
• Employer Engagement: Both grants aim to connect individuals with job opportunities.  By coordinating employer outreach strategies, JVSG and WIOA can leverage their respective networks and resources to establish stronger connections with employers. This collaboration can lead to increased job placement opportunities for veterans and job seekers as well as foster ongoing relationships with employers to ensure long-term success in the workforce.

Overall, combined planning between JVSG and WIOA will result in a more coordinated and efficient approach to supporting veterans and job seekers.  By leveraging strengths, sharing resources, and aligning their operations, these grant programs can enhance their impact and provide comprehensive tailored services to individuals seeking employment opportunities.

Unemployment Insurance

Bureau of Reemployment Assistance
The Bureau of RA is one of three bureaus within FloridaCommerce that support the Division of Workforce Services. The program, including the activities of the RA Appeals Commission, operates as a federal/state partnership. The administrative framework is established in federal law, and state law governs program operations. States are responsible for determining program eligibility and providing funds to cover RA benefit payments while the federal government is responsible for providing states with funds to administer the program.

The RA Claims and Benefits Information System (Reconnect) provides a one-stop shop for information regarding unemployment benefits. The system is designed for both claimants and employers to file a claim, whereby claimants use the system to receive information about their application and employers use the system to provide information about claimants. Recognizing Florida’s rich diversity, the system is available in multiple languages, including Spanish and Haitian-Creole, and provides options for the visually impaired.

RA units include:

• The Customer Support Unit is responsible for handling telephone calls from claimants and employers regarding the RA claim process, identity authentication, and the filing of an initial claim. Within the Customer Support Unit, the Operations Performance Unit tracks quality and performance to ensure world-class service for its customers.
• The Claims Processing Unit is responsible for processing claims filed for temporary wage replacement benefits. The Unit also authenticates claims to prevent and detect fraudulent activity, detect, and collect overpayments, and evaluate quality and performance to ensure a first-class customer experience.
• The Adjudication Unit reviews processed claims filed for temporary wage replacement benefits to issue a determination regarding benefit qualification or eligibility, as outlined in both State and Federal law. Through meticulous fact-finding and proactive outreach to claimants and employers, accurate and timely issue resolution and determinations are made.
• The Appeals Unit conducts fair and impartial hearings to resolve challenges with reemployment determinations regarding benefit qualification or eligibility. The unit assesses evidence presented, interprets the law, and makes decisions to affirm, reverse, or modify RA determinations. The Appeals unit also conducts hearings to address unresolved petitions filed by employers with the Department of Revenue involving protests of liability, assessments, reimbursements, and tax rates.
• The Quality Assurance Unit provides insight and monitors the quality of the RA program’s performance, reporting, workload volumes, and statistical data for each core process within the Bureau. The unit also continually develops the RA Claims and Benefits Information System (Reconnect), manages, and coordinates all federal and state audits and emergency management activities in the Bureau, including disaster unemployment assistance. 

Planning between the RA program and the WIOA core and other combined partners will result in a more coordinated and efficient approach to assisting RA claimants in returning to work sooner, reduction of RA benefit duration through improved employment outcomes, establishment of Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment as entry point to the workforce system and promotes alignment with the vision of WIOA.

SCSEP
SCSEP provides community service and job training to Florida’s older Americans. FDEA is responsible for state-level administration of SCSEP and contracts with local entities such as AARP Foundation. The National Caucus & Center on Black Aged and National Urban League receive direct funding from USDOL for the provision of employment and training services for older Americans. These entities partner with the LWDBs through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and IFAs to ensure SCSEP’s presence in the workforce system and at local career centers.

With the transition from unified to combined planning, representatives of SCSEP attend monthly WIOA Core Partner Leadership Meetings.

CSBG
CSBG is administratively housed in FloridaCommerce. CSBG operates under a consolidated plan pursuant to federal requirements. This consolidated plan provides the framework for a planning process to identify housing, homeless, community and economic development needs, and resources for meeting those needs. The plan process provides an opportunity for citizens, nonprofit organizations, or other interested parties to help define priorities for addressing local and statewide community needs and to tailor a strategic plan for meeting identified needs. The Consolidated Plan describes needs, goals, and objectives of the agencies responsible for the administration of certain federally funded programs administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The consolidated plan process allows core partners and stakeholders to exchange information on goals and objectives relating to housing, community development and social services and facilities a consolidated approach to meeting those needs. Each affected agency and other interested parties gain insight into the structure and activities of several federally funded programs that have a direct benefit on local communities and the state.

CSBG provides federal funds to designated local governments and non-profit agencies called Community Action Agencies (CAA) to assist eligible low-income households in attaining the skills, knowledge, and motivation necessary to achieve self-sufficiency. Local CAAs partner with LWDBs for the provision of services. These partnerships and alignment of resources are addressed via MOUs and IFAs locally. The agencies may provide a variety of self-sufficiency services such as emergency health, food, housing, day care, transportation assistance; housing counseling; financial management assistance; nutrition programs including federal surplus food distribution, community gardening projects, food banks, job counseling, placement and training services, and homeless prevention programs.

The goals of the CSBG Program align with WIOA goals to:

• Increase access to education, training, and employment—particularly for customers with barriers to employment.
• Create a comprehensive, high-quality workforce by aligning workforce investment, education, and economic development.
• Improve the quality and labor market relevance of workforce investment, education, and economic development efforts.
• Promote improvements in the structure and delivery of services.
• Increase the prosperity of workers and employers.
• Reduce welfare dependency, increase economic self-sufficiency, meet employer needs, and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the state.

Representatives of the CSBG Program are invited to WIOA Core Partner Leadership Meetings.

Partnering with State Colleges
The FCS supports, strengthens and expands efforts by its post-secondary institutions to deepen the region’s talent pool in targeted sectors.  

The FCS consists of 28 state colleges focused on serving residents in all counties in Florida. Through the dedication of credentialed faculty and college personnel and partnerships with a variety of businesses and industries, the FCS provides all Floridians with open access to an affordable, high-quality education and opportunity for the career they are seeking. It is also an expectation established by the Florida Legislature that each college provide outreach to underserved populations, a key component of access. FCS is committed to employing strategies that ensure students are prepared for college, leading to a four-year degree or employment whether still in high school, first-time enrolled, returning adult, military, non-credit or transfer student.

Dual enrollment, distance learning courses, degrees and a variety of short-term, high demand credential programs offer students flexible access to higher education, providing students with multiple options to achieve their career goals and for employers to have access to the talent they need to succeed. Additionally, FCS is the primary point of access to higher education for Floridians who seek to upskill within their trade or profession through certified training programs and apprenticeships. Such commitment to open access continues to be an important reason that Florida’s students choose FCS institutions to pursue academics and training for successful careers.

The mission of the Office of Articulation is to facilitate the effective and efficient progression and transfer of students through Florida’s K – 20 education system. Through the work of the Articulation Coordinating Committee, a K – 20 advisory body appointed by the Commissioner of Education, the office coordinates ways to help students move easily from institution to institution and from one level of education to the next.

FDBS continues to seek opportunities to broaden collaboration and resource alignment through its partnerships with state colleges. FDBS contracts with the Florida State College at Jacksonville to provide Pre-ETS, Transition, and Vocational Rehabilitation Services. FDBS works closely with Daytona State College for training of Business Enterprise Program trainees and for the COMPTIA certification program for the blind. Florida State University (FSU) students visit during the fall and spring semesters to learn about the programs and services offered by the Division. Future efforts will focus on expanding outreach to other state colleges for a more robust partnership with the FCS, including opportunities for expanding apprenticeship participation for blind and visually impaired consumers.

Partnering with Florida Universities
Florida’s SUS and Board of Governors partners with CareerSource Florida through representation on the Credentials Review Committee. The SUS consults with FloridaCommerce and CareerSource Florida and other partners on the development of their Programs of Strategic Emphasis. These programs are identified by their connection to key economic indicators in the state and address critical talent needs for the state.

VR supports participants attending Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) for individuals disabilities. VR has dedicated IPSE Liaisons located throughout the state to participate in IPSE student selection committees and program development.

FDBS is reviewing opportunities to develop or revive credential programs. One program under review seeks to reinstate a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Certification and master’s program. If funds are available, FDBS plans to coordinate with the SUS member and partially fund the program by supporting the salary for the instructor and partial tuition for ten students each year in hopes of creating opportunities for internships with FDBS, local education agencies (LEAs), and service providers.

The Florida State University’s (FSU) Visual Disabilities Program began offering coursework designed to prepare general and special educators who are, or would like to be, working with students in Florida who have visual impairments. FSU offers this certificate program in two segments through online content delivery and field experiences that will include hands-on practice working with students who have visual impairments. FDBS presents programs & current projects to FSU students - creating collaboration and an opportunity for internships with FDBS, LEAs, and our service providers.