TO: Chief Elected Officials
Local Workforce Investment Board Chairs Local Workforce Investment Board Staff WIA Fiscal Agents and Grant Recipients WIA Program Services Administrators
One-Stop Operators
WIA State Agency Partners Other Interested Persons SUBJECT: Illinois workNet™
DATE: November 30, 2007
I. SUBJECT INDEX
General Administration Governance
Planning
II. PURPOSE
This policy provides guidance on the acceptable methods by which WIA mandated and other services may be made available through the Local Workforce Investment Areas (LWIAs).
III. ISSUANCES AFFECTED A. References:
Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Public Law 105-220; Sections 121, 134 WIA Final Rule 29 CFR Section 662, Parts 200, 230, 240, 250, 300 and
663.160
Workforce Investment Act Title III - Wagner-Peyser Act
Workforce Investment Act Title II - Adult Education and Family Literacy Act of 1998
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Title I- Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and amendments
Internet Address http://www.commerce.state.il.us 620 East Adams Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1615 217/782-7500 TDD: 800/785-6055
James R. Thompson Center 100 West Randolph Street, Suite 3-400
Chicago, Illinois 60601-3219 312/814-7179 TDD: 800/785-6055
2309 West Main, Suite 118 Marion, Illinois 62959-1180
618/997-4394 TDD: 800/785-6055 Printed on Recycled and Recyclable Paper
Older Americans Act Title V, as amended
The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act, Public Law 105- 332
Trade Act of 1974, as amended
Veterans' Rehabilitation and Education Amendments of 1980
Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981, P.L. 97-35, the Community Service Block Grant Act, as amended
Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (PL 89-174) The Social Security Act of 1935, Public Law 74-271
Welfare Reform Law of 1996 and Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 The Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended
National and Community Service Act of 1990 - Public Law 101-610 WIA Policy Letter No. 07-PL-43, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) WIA Policy Letter No. 06-PL-24, Change 1, Resource Room Utilization
Tracking (May 14, 2007)
Illinois World Class One-Stop Delivery System, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (December 2002)
State Plan Taskforce Report: Issues and Recommendations (September 20, 2007)
B. Rescissions:
Workforce Development Policy Letter No. 00-GOV-013, Letter Presenting the Document Entitled "Developing a World-Class One-Stop System for Illinois: Moving Beyond WIA" (June 27, 2001)
IV. DEFINITIONS None
V. BACKGROUND
Title I of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and its implementing regulations require the establishment of a One-Stop delivery system in each designated Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA). WIA specifies that required partners must make applicable services available through this One-Stop system. Within the system, WIA requires that these services must be available through at least one comprehensive physical center in each LWIA.
In Illinois, the development of a One-Stop delivery system began prior to WIA authorization. Under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), the US
Department of Labor (USDOL) provided One-Stop implementation grants to the states. Collocation of staff was a key part of these implementation grants, and in many cases resulted in the JTPA administrative entity moving into Illinois
Department of Employment Security (IDES) local offices. When WIA began,
many local areas had already collocated staff, therefore collocation became the primary delivery method of required core services for the WIA Title I, Wagner- Peyser partners, and Unemployment Insurance (UI) partners.
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which became effective July 1, 2000, established a national workforce preparation and employment system to meet the needs of businesses, job seekers and those who want to further their careers. The intent was to ensure customers had easy access to information and services through Illinois' One-Stop Career Center system. Several revisions to the One-Stop system have occurred since WIA was implemented, beginning with the issuance of several WIA Policy Letters by the State. Although none of the policies required collocation as the only method of core service delivery, as a practical matter, collocation had already occurred in many areas. In 2001, IDES funded a review of its One-Stop system which contained several
recommendations for improvement of the One-Stop delivery system including:
support for the use of collocation as the underlying method for One-Stop service integration and the enhanced use of technology in which the report states,
"Technology may be used to create a totally on-line resource room as an option to connect customers to a live person during expanded hours, provide distance learning, and lead to other creative ways to improve service access."
In 2003, a baseline evaluation of WIA was conducted by DCEO. One of the issues identified by the evaluation was the perception that the WIA program had been overly focused on collocation and physical infrastructure rather than service delivery and access to training. This evaluation led to the development of a new vision for Title I of WIA that focused on the linkage between workforce
development and economic development. The evaluation also led to several recommendations for change to the one-stop system. One of the
recommendations was to “implement a Career Center Network that is responsive to the needs of Illinois workers, makes effective use of current technology and expands access to those most in need of such access.” This recommendation further led to the development of Illinois workNet™ as a part of the overall strategy to increase access to services and serve more people.
A USDOL review conducted in 2005 of One-Stop systems identified that “access to all services is limited at the One-Stop centers due to structural obstacles.” The cost of operating comprehensive One-Stop centers, since rebranded as Illinois workNet Centers, has also been identified as one of the limitations in providing access to all services. This lead to a review by the State of alternative service delivery plans.
DCEO has confirmed (through consultation with USDOL) that the WIA statute and regulations allow Illinois LWIBs and partners to use technology to make their applicable core services available to individuals at the comprehensive Illinois workNet centers. There must be at least one physical location in each LWIA where the applicable core services of all required partners can be accessed,
including via technology or one of the other allowable means listed in section 662.250(b) of the WIA Final Rule.
With this understanding, maximum flexibility is provided to the state and to local areas to structure the career center network in the most efficient and effective manner possible. It supports the overall state objective of encouraging flexible service delivery arrangements, including the use of alternative networks, to increase access of Illinois residents to career transition services. It is based on the recognition that the traditional model of a large, central facility may not always be the best way to reach those who need access to services. It will be a local matter as to how LWIAs can best operate their local One-Stop system, determine their costs and budget limits, and meet the training expenditure requirements.
VI. POLICY
This policy is in response to the recommendations made by the Illinois Workforce Investment Board (IWIB) to clarify and provide guidance on required services and the acceptable methods by which those services may be made available.
The requirements contained within emphasize the shifting mindset towards flexible service delivery arrangements.
A. Illinois workNet Partners
1. In Illinois, each LWIA must ensure their local Illinois workNet includes the following programs (partners):
a. Title I of WIA including:
1) Adults;
2) Dislocated workers;
3) Youth;
4) Job Corps;
5) Native American programs;
6) Migrant and seasonal farm worker programs; and 7) Veterans workforce programs.
b. Wagner-Peyser programs (WIA Title III);
c. Adult education and literacy activities (WIA Title II);
d. Programs under parts A and B of Title I of the Rehabilitation Act;
e. Welfare-to-Work programs authorized under the Social Security Act;
f. Senior community service employment activities (Older Americans Act title V);
g. Postsecondary vocational education activities under Perkins;
h. Trade adjustment assistance and NAFTA transitional adjustment assistance under the Trade Act;
i. Veterans’ employment representatives and disabled veterans outreach programs;
j. Employment and training activities under the Community Services Block Grant program;
k. Employment and training activities under the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
l. Unemployment compensation programs;
m. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) authorized under the Social Security Act (and amended by Welfare Reform Law of 1996 and Deficit Reduction Act of 2005); and
n. Employment and training programs authorized under the Food Stamp Act.
2. LWIAs may also include, in the local Illinois workNet, the following entities that carry out a human resource program:
a. Work programs authorized under the Food Stamp Act;
b. Programs authorized under the National and Community Service Act;
c. Other appropriate Federal, State, or local programs, including those related to transportation and housing; and
d. Programs in the private sector if the LWIB and Chief Elected Official (CEO) approve the entity's participation.
B. Required Core Services
The core services required to be provided include (reference Attachment A for the partner program that provides each of the services):
1. Determinations of whether the individuals are eligible to receive assistance under WIA Title IB;
2. The information and other services available through the local Illinois workNet through:
a. Outreach;
b. Intake (which may include worker profiling); and c. Orientation.
3. Initial assessment of the following:
a. Skill levels;
b. Aptitudes;
c. Abilities; and
d. Supportive service needs.
4. Employment assistance including:
a. Job search;
b. Placement assistance; and
c. Where appropriate, career counseling.
5. Provision of accurate employment statistics information relating to the local, regional, and national labor market areas, including:
a. Job vacancy listings in such labor market areas;
b. Information on job skills necessary to obtain the jobs described in clause (a); and
c. Information relating to local occupations in demand and the earnings and skill requirements for such occupations.
6. Provision of performance information and program cost information for the following:
a. Eligible providers of training services;
b. Eligible providers of youth activities;
c. Providers of adult education described in Title II;
d. Providers of postsecondary vocational education activities and vocational education activities available to school dropouts; and
e. Providers of vocational rehabilitation program activities.
7. Provision of information regarding how the local area is performing on the local performance measures and any additional performance information with respect to Illinois workNet in the local area.
8. Provision of accurate information relating to the availability of and referral to supportive services, including (but not limited to):
a. Child care; and b. Transportation.
9. Provision of information regarding filing claims for unemployment compensation.
10. Assistance in establishing eligibility for:
a. Welfare-to-Work activities; and
b. Programs of financial aid assistance for training and education programs that are not funded under this Act and are available in the local area.
11. Follow-up services, including (but not limited to):
a. Counseling regarding the workplace, for participants in workforce investment activities authorized under this subtitle who are placed in unsubsidized employment, for not less than 12 months after the first day of the employment, as appropriate.
C. Availability of Required Core Services
The required core services may be made available:
1. By the provision of appropriate technology (i.e., www.IllinoisworkNet.com) at the comprehensive Illinois workNet center;
2. By collocating personnel at the center;
3. By cross-training of staff;
4. Through a cost reimbursement; or
5. Through other agreement between service providers at the
comprehensive Illinois workNet center and the partner, as described in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
D. Other Core Services and Intensive Services
The types of other core services and intensive services, as well as the method(s) by which they will be made available shall be outlined in the LWIA's MOU.
E. Illinois workNet Partner Requirements All required partners must:
1. Make available to participants through Illinois workNet the core services that are applicable to the partner's programs through at least one
comprehensive Illinois workNet center. (The core services that are available for each of the partner programs are listed in Attachment A - Services Matrix for Comprehensive Illinois workNet™ Centers in Illinois.)
2. Use a portion of funds made available to the partner's program, to the extent not inconsistent with the Federal law authorizing the partner's program, to:
a. Provide support of Illinois workNet; and b. Provide core services;
3. Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Local Board relating to the operation of Illinois workNet that meets the requirements of Sec. 662.300, and WIA Policy Letter No. 07-PL-43, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
4. Participate in the operation of Illinois workNet consistent with the terms of the MOU and requirements of authorizing laws; and
5. Provide representation on the Local Workforce Investment Board as required through WIA Policy Letter No. 06-PL-27, Local Workforce Investment Boards (LWIBs) – Nomination, Appointment and
Reappointment of LWIB Members and Certification and Recertification of the LWIBs (January 17, 2007).
F. Compliance
1. Monitoring of Illinois workNet
The Bureau of Workforce Development (BoWD) will conduct ongoing and periodic monitoring of each LWIA's Illinois workNet and physical centers to ensure that all required core services are available through the center.
2. Technical Assistance
a. DCEO will provide technical assistance to LWIAs on the new vision, including the use of Illinois workNet for the provision of required core services. Assistance may be provided:
1) When monitoring of the local Illinois workNet and/or physical centers determines a deficiency in the availability of all required core services; or
2) When such assistance is requested by the LWIA.
b. DCEO will also work with the other partners in Illinois workNet to ensure they understand the new vision and policy.
VII. ACTION REQUIRED
This policy letter should be distributed to appropriate staff responsible for the administration of the WIA Title IB program.
Each LWIA should review their current local Illinois workNet to evaluate the effectiveness of the delivery method as it currently exists. Following the evaluation, a determination should be made as to the delivery methods to be used in the future. This determination should be made with consideration to the requirements of this policy and the new vision.
DCEO will provide technical assistance to LWIAs on the new vision, including the use of Illinois workNet for the provision of required core services. DCEO will also work with the other partners in Illinois workNet to ensure they understand the new vision and policy. The purpose is to ensure that LWIAs are fully able to implement changes that will maximize the use of local resources to expand access for all users.
VIII. INQUIRIES
Inquiries should be directed to your Regional Program Representative.
IX. EFFECTIVE DATE
This policy is effective on release.
X. EXPIRATION DATE
This policy will remain in effect until amended or rescinded by the DCEO, Bureau of Workforce Development.
Sincerely,
Therese McMahon, Deputy Director Bureau of Workforce Development TM:mb
Attachment(s): A - Services Matrix for Comprehensive Illinois workNetTM Centers in Illinois
