Narrative: b. 1. C.

Introduction

One requirement of the CSNA is an assessment of the rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities served through other components of the statewide workforce development system. In West Virginia, this system is overseen at the state level by the State Workforce Development Board (WDB) and the Interagency Collaborative Team (ICT) and locally by seven Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) that preside over localized workforce development system activities. The State and Local WDBs are comprised of representatives from business, labor, and public agencies.

As part of the FY 2024 Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment, the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS) emailed a survey to all members of the ICT in June of 2023. In addition to the seven regional Workforce Development Board (WDB) directors, ICT membership includes the following WV state agencies:

• Bureau of Senior Services
  • State Unit on Aging
• Council for Community and Technical College
• Department of Education
  • Office of Adult Education and Workforce Development
  • Office of Diversion and Transition Programs
• Department of Commerce
  • WVDRS
  • WorkForce WV
    • WV Employment Service
  • Development Office
    • Community Development Division
    • Business Industry Development Representatives
• Department of Veterans Assistance
• Department of Health and Human Resources
  • Bureau of Children and Families
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
  • Food Stamp Employment and Training

Workforce Development Board Regions

American Job Centers are physical locations where consumers, including those with disabilities, can utilize services provided by partner agencies operating under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. WorkForce WV is the agency, within the WV Department of Commerce, that operates American Job Centers across the seven workforce development regions across the state. WVDRS’ involvement in the State WDB, ICT, and LWDBs in addition to its presence at American Job Centers ensures that people with disabilities are considered for employment training needs and services are identified.

Please note that there are seven workforce development regions in West Virginia, whereas WVDRS has six regions. The following provides the breakdown of American Job Centers by type and workforce development region:

• Region One consists of two comprehensive centers and four affiliate centers. The Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) oversees service delivery in 11 counties of southeastern WV: Fayette, Greenbrier, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, Webster, and Wyoming. The region is mountainous and rural in nature. The coal industry continues to fluctuate throughout the region with extensive layoffs and hiring taking place on a frequent basis. The dynamics of the workforce have drastically changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers are now hiring, but job seekers are not applying for jobs and re-entering the workforce as rapidly as employers need. Virtual job fairs, promotion of positions available, and partner services are being offered to aid employers with hiring needs. On a positive note, program participation increased during the pandemic. Career and employability services are offered to assist job seekers who seek aid with resumes, job search, and other employment activities. Industry expected growth in the area includes but is not limited to: Ambulatory Health Care Services, Social Assistance, Waste Management and Remediation Service, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, and Construction of Buildings.
• Region Two consists of one comprehensive center, two satellite sites, and six affiliate sites-including four Community and Technical College (CTC) sites throughout the counties of Boone, Cabell, Logan, Mingo, Putnam, and Wayne. The affiliate sites provide Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) services in all locations. Medical-related occupations make up 16 of the top 25 occupations in the region. Non-Medical occupations are led by: Market Research Analysts, Photographers, Personal Financial Advisors, Nonfarm Animal Caretakers, Hair Stylists, Plumbers, CDL Truck Drivers, and Computer and Information.
• Region Three consists of Kanawha County with a population of approximately 180,745 people, making it West Virginia’s most populous county. Its county seat is Charleston, the state capital. Kanawha County is part of the Charleston, West Virginia, Metropolitan Statistical Area, the state's business, financial, medical, and governmental center. Kanawha County encompasses 902 square miles. Within Kanawha County there are eight cities, eight towns and 12 unincorporated communities. 75% of the county is urban; 25% is rural. Kanawha County serves as the central employment location for a nine-county area. More than 11,000 people commute from neighboring Putnam County, while more than 2,000 people commute from Boone and Lincoln counties combined. Adjustments were made to how Region III provides services to employers and participants during the Covid-19 pandemic, including the use of a virtual platform that allowed staff to provide services, connect participants with our partner agencies, and host job fairs.
• Region Four consists of nine counties that comprises a region of rural and urban populations. It is served by one comprehensive center and six affiliate centers. Those counties are Calhoun, Clay, Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt, and Wood. The population of the combined nine counties is just under 200,000 individuals.
• Region Five has two comprehensive AJCs in the cities of Weirton and Wheeling and one satellite AJC in the city of New Martinsville. The LWDB’s region of services includes Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, and Tyler Counties. WIOA, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and National Health Emergency Grant (NHEG) funds are used to assist eligible individuals and area employers with their training, support, and hiring needs. Long-term occupations by industry in the region include Health Care & Social Assistance, Ambulatory Health Care Services, Nursing and Residential Care Facilities, Construction, Hospitals, and Educational Services. High-demand occupations for a ten-year period in the region include Registered Nurses, Home Health Aides, Nursing Assistants, Clergy, Construction Laborers, Light Truck and Tractor Trailer Operators, and Secondary School teachers.
• Region Six consists of one comprehensive center and three affiliate centers that serve the following 13 counties in North Central West Virginia: Barbour, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Upshur. The public sector is still the main feature of North Central WV’s economic development with the presence of many higher education institutions, correctional facilities, and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Harrison County. Healthcare services represent another cornerstone to the North Central Region 6 economy with the presence of several hospitals and various other healthcare facilities, most namely WVU Medicine which is supposed to increase its footprint in the area with the forthcoming opening of WVU Children’s Hospital in Monongalia County. Region 6 will share the spotlight, along with Region 7, with the $500 million development project centered around the construction of the Virgin Hyperloop located on an 800-acre tract that encompasses both Grant and Tucker counties. The construction of the high-speed pod-and-tub transportation loop is projected to bring thousands of construction jobs and millions of dollars in economic impact to the State.
• Region Seven consists of two comprehensive centers. Eight counties are served by the LWDB including Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, and Pendleton. The region offers a contrast of the rural in western counties and fast-paced suburban sprawl of the eastern counties, part of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region expects the population in the easternmost counties to continue to show rapid growth. The western counties are also anticipated to show growth, albeit at a slower pace. Healthcare, Transportation, Agriculture, Cyber Security, Computer Science, Warehousing, Advanced Manufacturing, Professional Services, as well as Leisure and Hospitality are all primary contributors to the expanding regional economy.

Survey

The survey consisted of eight questions to collect information about the respondent, the agency they represent, and their perception of the rehabilitation service needs and gaps of the individuals with significant disabilities that they serve, as well as employers. The questions were as follows:

1. Name
2. Title
3. Agency
4. Approximately how many consumers with significant disabilities are served by your agency per year?
5. Please identify up to five vocational rehabilitation and support services most needed by consumers with significant disabilities served by your agency (e.g., transportation, career exploration, education/training, soft skills training, assessment for accommodations, financial assistance, job search/placement, etc.).
6. Please identify up to five vocational rehabilitation and support services gaps - those that are needed but not available in sufficient quantities for consumers with significant disabilities served by your agency.
7. Please identify up to five disability-related services employers need (e.g., workplace accommodations, assistive technology, staffing assistance, tax credit information, disability etiquette training, etc.).
8. How can WVDRS assist your agency to better serve your customers with significant disabilities?  Please add any additional comments here.

Results

A total of nine surveys were completed online. Respondents represented Workforce WV, WV Adult Education, WV Office of Economic Development, Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) Office of Family Assistance, WV Department of Veterans Assistance and WDB Regions 2 and 6.

Number of Individuals with Disabilities Served

The approximate number of consumers with disabilities served by each agency varied from 0 to 3000. Four respondents were unable to provide a response for this question.

Services Most Often Needed

All respondents replied to this prompt, although one of them indicated that the question could not be answered due to a lack of clients.  The most reported service needs were education assistance, job search/placement, transportation, financial assistance, and soft skills/employability skills training.

Service Gaps

Six respondents provided service gap information.  The responses included assessments, transportation, financial assistance, assistive technology, education/training, mental health practitioners, childcare, and case management.

Services to Employers

All five respondents provided services to employer information. The most reported service needs were disability etiquette training, information regarding accommodations, staffing assistance, and equipment/assistive technology.

WVDRS Assistance and Additional Comments

Six respondents provided comments in response to this prompt. Respondents encouraged a continuation of the services and partnership that WVDRS provides, suggestions for better communication to streamline services and referrals, recommendations for improved database interface between involved agencies, and a more active role in marketing services to veterans.

Discussion

The West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services takes the input of its partners seriously and plans to use the information provided to make well-informed decisions regarding policy and service provision moving forward. As WVDRS continues to provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with the most significant disabilities, the agency will continue to collaborate, as needed, with its core WIOA partners of WorkForce WV and WV Adult Education, as well as with fellow ICT members. This collaboration will ensure that individuals with the most significant disabilities receive maximized service provision in their mission to obtain competitive, integrated employment.