Narrative: a. 2. B.

20 CFR 682.220 requires that States must use funds reserved by the Governor for statewide activities to conduct evaluations of activities under WIOA Title I core programs in order to promote continuous improvement, research and test innovation services and strategies, and achieve high levels of performance and outcomes. 

The State will conduct evaluations using the Governor's set aside funding through the use of locally determined survey questions and methodologies. This evaluation process will work in conjunction with all 15 Local Workforce Development Boards statewide. A report of all findings will be provided to the Workforce Investment Council and made available to the public. Additionally, the information will be included in the WIOA Annual Report going forward. 

In an effort to standardize findings across the regions, the evaluation will be used to build upon regional coordination and alignment. This will ensure that there is progress in achieving the objectives of the State Plan. 

The State plans on using the set aside funding for ongoing activities such as Coursera,  LWC Statewide Expungement Initiative, and Drive Your Future. A brief overview of all three of the initiatives and the data is listed below. 

Louisiana Workforce Commission procured the Coursera platform to maximize the number of individuals served and provide access to excellent training and certifications that are relevant to both the local and global economy. To meet the ever-changing demands of the workforce, the RESEA Program integrated Coursera into the service delivery to prepare its participants to enhance their skillset for prospective employers.

RESEA participants are introduced to Coursera at the first service point of the reemployment service delivery. RESEA staff provides information in the form of a pamphlet or link to the Coursera site. Coursera online platform can assist with interview preparation, resume development, diversity, equity and inclusion, and other classes that will improve their soft skills.

Coursera offers over five thousand courses to aid in developing new skills and increase career readiness.  With leading industries such as healthcare, data science, management, Artificial Intelligence, personal development, etc., these courses assist in expanding knowledge and skillset to find adequate employment.

Certifications can be earned in as little as three to six months and without prior work experience or a college degree.  The courses are designed to be flexible, affordable, and fast-tracked to allow the consumer to seamlessly transition into well-paying employment.  Aside from the free courses offered through LWC, one can obtain an online degree through various colleges and universities which include a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, and Postgraduate programs. The Coursera for Business Course Builder will allow an opportunity to customize courses using AI-assisted authority tool that empowers us to develop business-specific, custom courses using content from experts.

Since launching Coursera in 2022 and holding 5,000 licenses:

• 11,512 Learners invited
• 4,900 Learners joined
• 4,199 Learners enrolled
• 4,405 Learners making progress

Data shows that learners are enrolling and completing multiple courses:

• 182,479 Learners have watched videos
• 110,499 Learners have read the material
• 73,475 Learners have taken assessments

*Coursera in collaboration with LWC has an 80% Progress completion rate for weekly enrollments over the last 365 days.

Louisiana Workforce Commission Statewide Expungement Initiative has been very successful. Approximately 600,000 Louisiana citizens have criminal records that are eligible for expungement.  Louisiana has the 3rd highest incarceration rate and the highest expungement filing fee in the nation at $550 per record (with most people having more than one record. Misdemeanors, child support arrears and traffic matters lead to suspension of driver’s licenses, which is a major barrier to employment.

LWC recognized the barriers criminal records and the lack of identification documents place on obtaining employment, not to mention the economic and social impact on families and communities. Being champions of equity and equal opportunity, we made an intentional decision to address the need for expungements, cleared driving records and fair chance hiring for low-income citizens. Utilizing Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds, LWC initiated partnerships with the Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana and Southern University Law Center to assist citizens with removing obstacles related to criminal history, reinstating suspended drivers’ licenses, and offering Fair Chance Hiring workshops at no-cost to income eligible recipients.

Providing these services increased employment, education, housing and volunteer opportunities for marginalized individuals, significantly contributing toward the achievement of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, while improving lives and strengthening communities.

Louisiana Workforce Commission plays a critical role in connecting job seekers with employment opportunities and ensuring that all qualified individuals have access to fair and equitable employment practices. Embracing principles of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination is essential for LWC to effectively fulfill its mission, resulting in a multitude of benefits for individuals, the workforce, employers and the broader economy.

This initiative illuminated the disadvantage and inequity that many individuals contend with daily as they search for livable wage employment. Of the approximately 13,000 formerly incarcerated people who are released from Louisiana prisons annually, nearly 29.6% will recidivate within a three-year period. Unfavorable background checks, a criminal history (even for non-violent offenders) and lack of identification documents make it harder to obtain or maintain stable employment. Often times, those that are fortuitous enough to find work are unable to be promoted to better paying positions, even after paying their debt to society.

The expungement, background checks and driver's license clinics fostered partnerships between community-based organizations, the justice system, local workforce boards, and LWC programs, including Business Services, Rapid Response, Apprenticeship, Veterans, Re-entry and CSBG. Pre-clinic trainings for staff included information on the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging.

Since the inception of this initiative, LWC has held 23 expungement clinics across the State and provided resources to develop an expungement app, increasing access to good paying jobs and equal opportunity. The impact is ongoing, but to date we are proud to report:

• 2,715 individuals served
• 356 expungements granted
• 31 warrants recalled
• 4 driver’s license clinics
• 88 driver’s licenses reinstatement support
• $56,361 in retracted fines and fees
• 882 registered app users

The initiative has proven to be a tremendous success. Clinics are held at American Job Centers and Community Action Agencies, strengthening required WIOA partnerships and establishing new ones with legal services providers, law schools, and other community based organizations. Testimonials of clients served included increased motivation and self-esteem, being able to re-enter the workforce, obtaining promotions on their current jobs, approval for housing in the location of their choosing, and being able to volunteer at their children’s schools, all without the fear of judgment or rejection. This advancement of equity and opportunity served as an exceptional contribution to the Louisiana Workforce Commission and its customers. As a result of this initiative, LWC was presented with NASWA’s 2024 William J. Harris Equal Opportunity award.

In furtherance of the work, LWC is partnering with the Justice and Accountability Center, Community Action Agencies and Local Workforce Development Areas to continue its highly successful expungement initiative. In addition to hosting 3 in-person clinics at American Job Centers in areas identified as high in need, we will:

• host 4 workshops on the Fair Hiring Act, explaining how to clear errors on background checks
• obtain legal representation for 10 formerly incarcerated workers whose child support obligations should have been suspended due to incarceration
• provide an additional 250 individuals with free access to the Expungement App, allowing them to check their status and apply on their own

Lastly, Drive Your Future was spurred by the truck driver shortage and the supply chain crisis the country was facing right now. The Drive Your Future “program paid for qualifying students across the state to attend certain accredited driving schools and earn their Commercial Driver’s License. Focusing on veterans and the underemployed the program’s goal was to get Louisianans on the road to a new career.

STATEWIDE

Coastal Driving School

• 6 Students from Saint Tammany Parish
• 2 Students from Franklin Parish
• 11 Students from Ouachita Parish
• Total: 19 Students

Diesel Driving Academy

• 10 Students from East Baton Rouge Parish:
• Total: 10 students

ACADIANA/SLCC
The project we did in Region 4 involved going to rural areas without CDL classes and to bring opportunities to underserved people in those areas

• Dislocated Workers and Youth

57

• Adults

21

• Total participants in Region 4 :78 students
   

APPRENTICESHIP
Our first 3 classes were held at the Diesel Driving Academy School. The plan was to invest in Louisianans that are interested in changing careers by covering the cost of the program and prevent any hurdles that could deter many from entering that profession.

  Diesel Driving Academy

• 6 Students on started 5/30/2022

• 2 Students started on 6/13/ 2022
• 2 Students started on 6/27/2022
• Total:  10 students

DRIVE YOUR FUTURE: FINAL NUMBERS

TOTALS:  Students 117 will receive their CDL

Drive Your Future 2.0

This initiative aimed to alleviate the truck driver shortage across the state by offering training grants to qualified applicants. These grants covered tuition for accredited truck driving schools, with a particular emphasis on enrolling veterans and underemployed individuals. Louisiana partnered with the Louisiana Technical Community College System, Diesel Driving Academy, and Coastal Truck Driving School to establish 100 training slots statewide.

As of October 27, 2023, 97 eligible participants have completed CDL training, and 53 of these graduates are currently employed in the transportation industry.