Located in:
IV. Coordination with State Plan Programs
Describe the methods used for joint planning and coordination among the core programs, and with the required one-stop partner programs and other programs and activities included in the Unified or Combined State Plan.
Current Narrative:
Since implementing WIOA, the core workforce partners have participated in the WIOA Partners Roundtable, which meets regularly and includes representatives from TAA, UI, SNAP E&T, registered apprenticeship, higher education, secondary education, two- and four-year educational institutions, Carl D. Perkins secondary and post-secondary programs, career and technical education, human services, and elected officials to engage in discussions about integration of services provided by a multitude of service providers. The WIOA Partners Roundtable has individual committees to focus on critical areas in WIOA implementation, including finance, IT system integration, policy development, core performance measures, sector strategies, and the state workforce development plan.
The WIOA Partners Roundtable also develops strategies to align programs, prevent duplication, and increase access to services for job seekers and employers.
Each year, the WIOA Partners Roundtable hosts a statewide conference for workforce system partners. Approximately 300 individuals typically attend these conferences, including representatives of state and local workforce boards and board members, core and optional workforce partner programs, secondary and higher education, state and regional economic development associations, community-based organizations, employers, and elected officials.
The Title II Adult Education director serves on the Arkansas Workforce Development Board. In addition, the Title II Adult Education Director is the co-chair of the WIOA Executive Committee, which oversees the implementation of WIOA and comprises partners in the Combined State Plan.
The WIOA Executive Committee is also responsible for updating and submitting the Combined State Plan, reviewing the local workforce development boards’ plans, overseeing the WIOA subcommittees, and planning the annual WIOA Partners' Conference.
Subcommittees of the WIOA Executive Committee include Strategic Alignment, Business Engagement, Performance Measures, Out-of-School Youth/Transition, Information Technology, and Communications and Logistics. These subcommittees carry forth the goals and activities of the State Plan. For example, the Business Engagement Subcommittee facilitates the understanding and alignment of partner employer services and coordinates training opportunities for business services representatives and staff. WIOA partners may also share opportunities to collaborate with an employer. For example, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services led a partnership with Amazon in which they hosted a job fair on their behalf and included the other partners who sent client referrals to the event.
The WIOA Executive Committee meets every other month. During these meetings, topics include collaboration opportunities, updates, and subcommittee report-outs. More recently, the WIOA Executive Committee discussed further collaboration efforts such as expanding pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships across the state and increasing and tracking referrals as a priority. One point of discussion was to refer those collecting unemployment insurance without a high school diploma to Adult Education. Adult Education helps individuals upgrade their academic skills, prepares them for the workforce, and connects them to job training opportunities. Local Adult Education directors are appointed to the local workforce development boards and attend regional meetings. During each WIOA Partners' Conference, at least two local workforce areas are on the agenda, giving them the opportunity to discuss regional partnerships, share best practices, and model the way for other areas.
Like the Adult Education director, the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) commissioner an Arkansas Workforce Development Board member, is on the Division of Workforce Services senior leadership team, and serves on the WIOA Executive Committee. ARS regional managers also serve on the local workforce development boards. ARS has co-located nine of its 19 regional offices within the Arkansas Workforce Centers and has plans for additional co-locations in the coming years. Co-locations allow for more opportunities to partner when servicing individuals and employers. An effort is underway to implement a common intake form scheduled to go live in 2024. ARS leadership participates in the planning and coordination of twice-yearly meetings with core partners, one-stop partners, and other involved programs. ARS participates in the annual WIOA Partners' Conference and assists in drafting and implementing the WIOA State Plan.
Like the Adult Education director and the ARS commissioner, the Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) director is a Division of Workforce Services senior leadership team member, Arkansas Workforce Development Board member, andserves on the WIOA Executive Committee. DSB also has staff serving on all ten local workforce development boards. DSB has 14 regional offices co-located with either ARS or the Arkansas Workforce Centers. DSB participates in the annual WIOA Partners' Conference and assists in drafting and implementing the WIOA State Plan.