Narrative: j. 1. D.

FISCAL YEAR 2018 COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF THE WEST VIRGINIA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

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. The ICT is comprised of eight state partner agencies that encompass the WV workforce development system. The purpose of the ICT is to foster cooperation and coordination of services among partner agencies.

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. DRS’ involvement in the State WDB, ICT, and LWDBs in addition to its presence at American Job Centers ensures that people with disabilities are considered as employment training needs and services are identified.

Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment

To assess the rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities in West Virginia, DRS utilizes a multifaceted, broad approach. This report only covers a single activity and targeted population within the overall comprehensive statewide needs assessment – the rehabilitation needs of individuals served through other components of the statewide workforce development system. This report provides a brief overview of service availability via physical American Job Center locations followed by the results of a survey provided to all members of the ICT, including the directors of all LWDBs.

American Job Center Types and Locations

As of October 2019, there are 35 American Job Center (AJC) locations including 13 comprehensive and 22 affiliate centers. Based on the federal regulations at 20 CFR §678.305 and §678.310, the two types of centers are defined based on the following criteria:

1. Comprehensive AJC – A comprehensive AJC is a physical location where job seeker and employer customers can access the programs, services, and activities of all required AJC partners. A comprehensive AJC must have at least one title I staff person physically present. The comprehensive AJC must provide career services, access to training services, access to employment and training activities carried out under sec. 134(d) of WIOA, access to programs and activities carried out by AJC partners listed in 678.400 through 678.410, including the Employment Service program authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act, and workforce and labor market information.
2. Affiliate Site – An affiliated site is a site that makes available to job seeker and employer customers one or more of the AJC partners’ programs, services, and activities. An affiliated site does not need to provide access to every required AJC partner program. The frequency of program staff’s physical presence in the affiliated site will be determined at the local level. Affiliated sites are access points in addition to the comprehensive one-stop center(s) in each local area. If used by local areas as a part of the service delivery strategy, affiliate sites must be implemented in a manner that supplements and enhances customer access to services.

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

• Region One consists of five comprehensive centers and four affiliate centers.  The 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 experience a large number of dislocations throughout the region as well as the closure of several chain retail stores.  Training services are being utilized to assist many citizens in the local areas to retrain in new career pathways.  Industry expected growth in the area includes, but is not limited, to: Administrative/Support Services, Construction, Health Care and Social Services, Wood Product Manufacturing, and Professional Services.
• Region Two consists of one comprehensive center located in Huntington and eight affiliate sites including four Community and Technical College (CTC) sites. The affiliate sites provide WIOA services and Temporary Assistance for Needy families (TANF) services in all locations. There are seven counties that make up the region: Putnam, Cabell, Mingo, Logan, Lincoln, Boone and Wayne.
• Region Three consists of one comprehensive center serving the citizens of Kanawha County including dislocated workers, adults, and youth.  Staff arrange to go to other locations to provide services based upon need. Kanawha County is mostly urban but has a significant outlying rural population.
• Region Four is served by one comprehensive center and six affiliate centers. It consists of nine counties that comprises a region of rural and urban populations: Calhoun, Clay, Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt, and Wood. The region is supported by a variety of industries including Health Care, Plastics/Polymers, Professional Services, Warehousing, Transportation, Oil and Gas, and Construction.  Government employment at the federal, state, and local levels also employ a considerable number of the region’s citizens
• Region Five consists of two comprehensive centers and one affiliate center. Six counties comprise the area overseen by the LWDB: Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler, and Wetzel. The region is bounded by the Ohio River on the north and west and the state of Pennsylvania on the east.
• Region Six consists of one comprehensive center and three affiliate centers that serve 13 counties in North Central WV: Barbour, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Upshur. The region’s location along the I-79 corridor is advantageous.
• Region Seven consists of two comprehensive centers. Eight counties are served by the LWDB: Morgan, Berkeley, Jefferson, Grant, Hardy, Hampshire, Mineral, 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.

SURVEY OF ICT MEMBERS

In June 2018, DRS emailed a survey to all members of the ICT. At the time of the survey, in addition to the seven regional WDB directors, ICT membership included the following WV state agencies:

• Bureau of Senior Services
•     State Unit on Aging
• Council for Community and Technical College
• Department of Education
•     Adult Education and Literacy Activities
•     Postsecondary Vocational Education
•     Office of Institutional Programs
• Department of Commerce
•     DRS
•     WorkForce WV
•        WV Employment Service
•     Development Office
•        Community Development Division
•        Business Industry Development
• Department of Health and Human Resources
•     Bureau of Children and Families
•     Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
•     Food Stamp Employment and Training
• Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety
•     Division of Corrections

Survey

The survey consisted of seven 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. The questions were as follows:

– Name

– Title

– Agency

– Approximately how many consumers with significant disabilities are served by your agency per year?

– Please identify the vocational rehabilitation services most often needed by consumers with significant disabilities served by your agency (up to five services).

– Please identify any vocational rehabilitation service gaps (i.e., services that are needed, but not available in sufficient quantities, if at all) for consumers with significant disabilities served by your agency (up to five services).

– How can DRS assist your agency to better serve your consumers with significant disabilities? Please add any additional comments you wish to provide.

Results

Six surveys were returned via email. Respondents represented WorkForce WV, the Bureau of Senior Services, WV Adult Education, and WDB Regions 2, 3, and 5.

Number of Individuals with Disabilities Served

The approximate number of consumers with disabilities served by each agency varied greatly, from 1 to over 26,000. One respondent was unable to provide this information.

Services Most Often Needed

Six respondents provided service need information.  The most commonly reported service needs were transportation, education/training, soft skills training, assessment for accommodations, and job placement.

Service Gaps

Four respondents provided service gap information. The responses included access to services, assessment for learning disabilities, transportation, assistance with training and related costs, job coaching, youth services, and rehabilitation technology.

DRS Assistance and Additional Comments

Respondents indicated a desire for continued cross training and collaboration, more outreach to potentially eligible individuals, and making cross referrals.