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—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements. This includes—
- 6. Program Data
- A. Data Alignment and Integration
Describe the plans of the lead State agencies with responsibility for the administration of the core programs, along with the State Board, to align and integrate available workforce and education data systems for the core programs, unemployment insurance programs, and education through postsecondary education, and to the extent possible, the Combined State Plan partner programs included in this plan. The description of the State’s plan for integrating data systems should include the State’s goals for achieving integration and any progress to date.
Describe data-collection and reporting processes used for all programs and activities, including the State’s process to collect and report data on co-enrollment, and for those present in the one-stop centers.
- A. Data Alignment and Integration
- 6. Program Data
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 6. A. i. Describe the State’s plans to make the management information systems for the core programs interoperable to maximize the efficient exchange of common data elements to support assessment and evaluation
Current Narrative:
Under the Governor’s LA First Initiative, the Louisiana Workforce Commission will coordinate and be responsible for the delivery of business workforce solutions to address the state of Louisiana's workforce and economic development needs through various workforce and educational agencies of the state. LA FIRST, using the data center services of the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center, will develop and annually publish reports including inventory of workforce programs in Louisiana and metrics on their performance. The state is currently evaluating and modifying data sharing agreements with core and other partner agencies to assess cross-sections of programs in an effort to minimize duplication of efforts.
The LA First Initiative will ensure that WIOA programs are strategically aligned to achieve the interrelated and often interdependent goals of the four core WIOA programs. Long-term, Louisiana has a vision of developing integrated data warehousing in which program performance data from all four WIOA titles is aggregated for reporting and analysis. Currently, the core program stakeholders communicate openly and transparently regarding abilities and opportunities to leverage program resources serving the people of Louisiana to accomplish the WIOA mission.
Currently, Louisiana’s Title I, Title III, and Unemployment Insurance Programs share an integrated management information system, HiRE (Helping Individuals Reach Employment). The system streamlines the processes of Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims filing, reemployment services, job seeking, employer job posting, applying for employment, and recording of delivery of training, counseling, and other employment services. The state is continuously exploring possibilities to further integrate its information management.
LWC’s HiRE system is a comprehensive system that fully integrated workforce development with unemployment insurance. The system is a common portal used by LWDAs for streamlined intake for programs, exchanging information for case management purposes and providing the necessary data for required federal and state reporting. Not only does this aid the job-seeker/claimant in managing their unemployment insurance benefits, job-search functions, and case management, it also enhances services provided to employers by allowing them to manage unemployment claims as well as utilize recruiting features within the system. Working from the WIOA statutes, the State has established needed data points in HiRE and continually work with our vendor, Geographic Solutions Inc. (GSI) to collect required data as the reporting requirements change.
The HiRE system incorporates dynamic modules including, but not limited to:
- Job Seeker and Employer Self Service
- Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, Trade, and Veteran Case Management Modules
- On-line Training Module
- UI Module
- Virtual Recruiter for Employers
- Labor Market Information by Parish, Region and Statistical Area
- Louisiana Training Providers with Demand Occupations
The system also provides workforce administrator and manager tools and virtual functionalities including:
- Accountability and Dashboard Modules for Management
- Fund Management Tracking and Reporting
- Managed Employment Services
- Statewide and Partner Case Management
- Follow-Up and Outcomes Tracking
- National Data Sharing Interfaces
- Trade-Affected Worker Module
- Rapid Response to Layoff Module
HiRE has improved user applied knowledge by making available online assessments and outcome tracking of Aptitude and Basic Skills tests, which are easily recorded for search and viewing by authorized staff and users. Through HiRE, LWC continues to move into “paperless” case management and source document management and data validation modules positioning staff with improved business efficiencies through managed upgrades and modifications to the system.
Louisiana currently produces reports as required by the WIOA by aggregating data through multiple sources. HiRE houses participant case management data. Unemployment Insurance wage data is housed in a state-managed mainframe system. Louisiana is a SWIS member and imports out-of-state wage data for its participants from other SWIS member states and territories.
Adult Education and TANF
The Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC), in partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), shares job seeker registration data to promote efficient use of public assistance resources. DCFS clients, who may benefit from WIOA staff services have access to WIOA job seeking resources are referred to AJC offices additional assistance.
LWC’s relationships with Adult Education promotes training opportunities for Title I WIOA participants. The integration of Title II Adult Education into the Workforce system promotes the flow of communication of labor market needs and education and training opportunities between Adult Education and Workforce Development. These stakeholders use WIOA program and internal data to maximize the efficiency of its shared programmatic efforts.
Assessment and Evaluation
LWC regularly analyzes its reemployment data, including: population, industry, and occupation metrics, to continuously maximize its ability to return people to work and reduce demand on its unemployment system. Data concerning the state labor force, as a whole, and the state unemployment claimants, including duration, wages, and probability of reemployment during eligibility of UI benefits, drive decision making that factor in steering the delivery of WIOA services offered.
State management, with support from local management, also provides fiscal and programmatic monitoring and serves as liaisons between Workforce Development and UI programs. UI staff provides technical support for job-seekers/claimants and internal staff. The UI technical support unit will upon request provide training to all WIOA and WP staff concerning federal and state UI regulations, eligibility reviews, adjudications services, appeal processes and all other related UI services for job-seekers/claimants.
Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) continues to use the AWARE system (Accessible Web-based Activity and Reporting Environment). Unemployment Insurance wage data is imported into the AWARE system to enable LRS to capture wage data necessary for reporting on performance measures. LWC and core partners continue to research innovative methods of capturing additional data for reporting purposes and for more efficiently servicing Vocational Rehabilitation consumers.