Located in:
c. 3. Describe current slot imbalances and proposed steps to correct inequities to achieve equitable distribution.
Current Narrative:
Equitable distribution imbalance is caused by many factors, as shown below, that cause a variance in the slots in the Statewide SCSEP Network. The main variance factor in West Virginia is minimum wage. Due to the rising minimum wage and funding, the number of participants who can be assisted are impacted by this factor, and slots must be adjusted to meet the minimum wage fluctuations. In order to achieve the Modified Positions goal with the factors at hand, the SCSEP Network would have to minimize participant hours to accommodate more participants.
Another cause for imbalance/variance is the State’s layout. Majority of our counties are categorized as rural counties and because of this, there are many barriers such as:
- • Transportation
- • Limited training site opportunities
- • Limited hiring entities
- • Over income seniors
- • Small applicant pool
- • Unaware of program (potential enrollee and potential training)
As a State, we want to ensure that we are fully enrolled and want to minimize any variance in SCSEP’s equitable distribution enrollee count. How we will attain this goal is by continuing partnership with local WorkForce offices, continue and increase outreach in areas that are under enrolled while curtailing areas that are over enrolled and begin the discussion of interchanging information among National and State Grantees to fulfill the equitable distribution of all urban and rural counties that are under enrolled. We will also continue to secure partnerships with local AAA’s as well as trying to partner with local universities and HBCUs.