Maryland’s Demand-Driven Two-Year Workforce Investment Plan
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Maryland’s Demand-Driven Two-Year Workforce Investment Plan
Table of Contents
Page Number
Program Administration Designees and Plan Signatures ………………………… 4
Plan Development Process………………………………………………………….. 6
Acronym Guide……………………………………………………………………… 7
I. State Vision…………………………………………………………………… 10
II. State Workforce Investment Priorities…………………………………….. 28
III. State Governance Structure………………………………………………… 30
A. Organization of State Agencies in Relation to the Governor….. 30
B. State’s Workforce Investment Board…………………………… 35
C. Structure/Process for State Agencies and State Board
to Collaborate and Communicate with Each Other
and with the Local Workforce Investment System……………. 40
IV. Economic and Labor Market Analysis……………………………………. 43
V. Overarching State Strategies………………………………………………. 57
VI. Major State Policies and Requirements…………………………………… 68
VII. Integration of One-Stop Service Delivery…………………………………. 71
VIII. Administration and Oversight of Local Workforce Investment System… 73
IX. Service Delivery……………………………………………………………… 92
A. One-Stop Service Delivery Strategies…………………………… 92
B. Workforce Information…………………………………………… 95
C. Adults and Dislocated Workers………………………………….. 98
D. Rapid Response…………………………………………………… 117
E. Youth………………………………………………………………. 120
F. Business Services………………………………………………….. 124
G. Innovative Service Delivery Strategies………………………….. 126
H. Strategies for Faith-Based and Community Organizations……. 129
X. State Administration …………………………………………………………. 131
XI. Assurances…………………………………………………………………….. 142
Attachments
A. 2007 Governor’s Workforce Investment Board Subcabinet Members
B. State Workforce Development Partner Agency Communication Channels
C. Governor’s Workforce Investment Board Members
D. Executive Order 01.01.2004.60
E. Description of Workforce Investment Field Instructions 3-99, 7-99, 11-99 and 5-00
F. Maryland’s Youth Workforce 2005
G. Healthcare Industry Sector Report
H. Maryland’s Demand-Driven Workforce Development System
I. Waiver Requests
J. Requirements for Grievance Procedures, Complaints and State Appeal Processes
K. Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and Translation/Interpreter Services
L. Rationale for Maryland’s Proposed Performance Levels
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION DESIGNEES AND PLAN SIGNATURES
Name of WIA Title I Grant Recipient Agency:
Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Address: 1100 N. Eutaw Street, Room 616
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Telephone: 410-767-2997
Facsimile: 410-333-5355
E-mail:
Name of State WIA Title I Administrative Agency (if different from the Grant Recipient):
Same As Above
Name of WIA Title I Signatory Official:
Elizabeth Williams, Senior Staff Officer
Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Address: 500 N. Calvert Street, Room 616
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Telephone: 410-230-6070
Facsimile: 410-333-5355
E-mail:
Name of WIA Title I Liaison and Wagner-Peyser Grant Liaison:
Andrew Moser, Assistant Secretary, Division of Workforce Development
Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Address: 1100 N. Eutaw Street, Room 616
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Telephone: 410-767-2997
Facsimile: 410-333-5355
E-mail:
Name of Wagner-Peyser Act Grant Recipient/State Employment Security Agency:
Same As Above – Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Name and title of State Employment Security Administrator (Signatory Official):
Elizabeth Williams, Senior Staff Officer
Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Address: 500 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Telephone: 410-230-6070
Facsimile: 410-333-5355
E-mail:
As the Governor, I certify that for the State of Maryland, the agencies and officials designated above have been duly designated to represent the State in the capacities indicated for the Workforce Investment Act, Title I, and Wagner-Peyser Act grant programs. Subsequent changes in the designation of officials will be provided to the U.S. Department of Labor as such changes occur.
I further certify that we will operate our Workforce Investment Act and Wagner-Peyser Act
programs in accordance with this Plan and the assurances herein.
Typed Name of Governor: The Honorable Martin O’Malley
Signature of Governor: ______Date: ______
Plan Development Process
Describe, in one page or less, the process for developing the state plan.
1. Include (a) a discussion of the involvement of the Governor and the State Board in the development of the plan, and (b) a description of the manner in which the State Board collaborated with economic development, education, the business community and other interested parties in the development of the state plan. (§112(b)(1).)
The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s (DLLR) Division of Workforce Development, in conjunction with the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board (GWIB), led the initiative to develop Maryland’s Demand-Driven Two-Year Workforce Investment Plan. The GWIB Executive Committee approved the proposed plan development process via email on April 27, 2007. Personnel from DLLR and GWIB were identified to serve on a development team that would be responsible for researching and drafting components of the state plan. Staff members were charged with assembling the plan and preparing all drafts for partner and community review and comment as needed.
During each phase of the development process, the team sought input from significant partners such as economic development and business leaders, workforce development professionals, partner state agencies and other stakeholders who had significant interest in workforce development issues. Various methods for data gathering and communication were used including e-mail, meetings, brainstorming sessions and data collection from local, regional and national workforce development areas.
2. Include a description of the process the State used to make the Plan available to the public and the outcome of the State’s review of the resulting public comments. (§§111(g), 112(b)(9).)
Significant steps were taken to make the plan available to the public including the following:
· A draft of the state plan was posted on the DLLR website on May 4, 2007, for 30-day public review and comment;
· Advertisements were placed in the Baltimore Business Journal and The Baltimore Sun inviting the public to review, respond and make recommendations to the plan posted on the DLLR website;
· Each of the 12 local workforce investment area directors and his/her workforce investment board chair were invited to review and make recommendations to the plan;
· The plan was provided to strategic partners such as the GWIB Executive Committee and Subcabinet for their review and comment; and
· A notice of the plan’s availability was posted in each of Maryland’s One-Stop centers.
As stated in the bullets above, a draft of the State Plan was posted on the DLLR website from Friday, May 4, 2007, until Monday, June 4, 2007, for public review and comment. No comments or recommendations were received from the public regarding the plan.
Acronym Guide
DLLR Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
GWIB Governor’s Workforce Investment Board
ABAWD Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependent Children
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ADVET Assistant Director Veterans Employment and Training
AFL-CIO American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
ASP Application Service Provider
BLN Business Leadership Program
BSN Bachelor of Science in Nursing
BSU Business Services Unit
CBO Community-Based Organization
CDBG Community Development Block Grant
CLEO Chief Local Elected Official
COMAR Code of Maryland Regulations
CSBG Community Services Block Grant
CTE Career and Technology Education
DBED Department of Business and Economic Development
DHCD Department of Housing and Community Development
DHR Department of Human Resources
DJS Department of Juvenile Services
DOD Department of Defense
DORS Division of Rehabilitation Services
DPSCS Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
DSU Dislocation Services Unit
DVET Director Veterans Employment and Training
DVHI Disabled Veterans Hiring Initiative
DVOP Disable Veterans Outreach Program
DWD Division of Workforce Development
EEO Equal Employment Opportunity
EI Early Intervention
EOC Employment Opportunity Credit
ESL English as a Second Language
ETA Employment and Training Administration
FSET Food Stamp Employment and Training
FY Fiscal Year
GOC Governor’s Office for Children
GOBA Governor’s Office of Business Advocacy
GACOEC Governor’s Advisory Council on Offender Employment and Coordination
GED General Educational Development
HR Human Resources
IDP Individual Development Plan
IFB Invitations for Bids
ITA Individual Training Accounts
JARC Job Access/Reverse Commute
JTPA Job Training Partnership Act
Acronym Guide
LED Longitudinal Employment Dynamics
LEP Limited English Proficiency
LMI Labor Market Information
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
LVER Local Veterans Employment Representative
LWIA Local Workforce Investment Area
LWIB Local Workforce Investment Board
MABS Maryland Automated Benefit System
MBW Maryland Business Works
MCVET Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training
MDoA Maryland Department of Aging
MEDC Maryland Economic Development Commission
MHEC Maryland Higher Education Commission
MIWE Maryland Institute for Workforce Excellence
MIS Management Information Systems
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MSDE Maryland State Department of Education
MWDA Maryland Workforce Development Association
MWE Maryland Workforce Exchange
NEG National Emergency Grant
NIC National Institute of Corrections’
OJT On-the-Job Training
O*NET Occupational Information Network
OWDS Offender Workforce Development Specialist
POAC Professional Outplacement Assistance Center
PROVET Promoting Reemployment Opportunities for Veterans
PY Program Year
ReC Baltimore’s Re-entry Center
RES Remployment Services
RESTART Re-entry Enforcement Services Targeting Addiction, Rehabilitation & Treatment
RFP Request for Proposals
SBA Small Business Administration
SBDC Small Business Development Centers
SCORE Service Corps of Retired Executives
SEA Self-Employment Assistance
STEP Skills-Based Training Employment Promotion
TAA Trade Adjustment Assistance
TANF Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
TAP Transition Assistance Program
TCA Temporary Cash Assistance
TEGL Training and Employment Guidance Letter
UI Unemployment Insurance
USDOL United States Department of Labor
USPS United States Postal Service
VA Veterans Affairs
VETS Veterans’ Employment and Training Service
Acronym Guide
VFW Veterans of Foreign Wars
VPL Veterans Program Letter
WARN Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
WEB Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore
WIA Workforce Investment Act
WIB Workforce Investment Board
WIFI Workforce Investment Field Instruction
WRIS Wage Record Interchange System
STATE VISION
I. Describe the Governor’s vision for a Statewide workforce investment system. Provide a summary articulating the Governor’s vision for utilizing the resources of the public workforce system in support of the State’s economic development that address the issues and questions below. States are encouraged to attach more detailed documents to expand upon any aspect of the summary response if available. (§112(a) and (b)(4)(A-C).)
At the most general level, Maryland’s economic and workforce development goals are the same: to create a prosperous, competitive and growing economy in which all residents participate to the fullest extent possible. Traditionally, economic development policies have focused on the needs of business for infrastructure, financing, fast permitting and favorable taxes, while workforce development policies focused on the needs of unemployed and disadvantaged workers. Growing shortages of skilled workers have targeted the attention of both workforce and economic development managers on improving the skills of the workforce at large in order to prepare today’s job seekers for productive careers in the “new economy.”
The Governor’s vision for the State’s workforce development system is to balance the demand-driven approach with the supply-side. This demand-driven workforce development system that prepares residents for careers and meets the needs of business is driving the work of state and local workforce and economic development agencies. The administration’s mantra of “workforce development is economic development” illustrates the core principle that a successful public workforce development system is at the heart of any successful economic development policy is revolutionary and is changing the way in which public, private, faith-based and community organizations work together to meet the needs of business and the citizens of Maryland.
In recent years, dramatic changes have been made at all levels of the state’s workforce development system. The examples listed below are but a few of the changes shaping Maryland’s demand-driven workforce and economic development system.
· The Governor signed Executive Order 01.01.2004.60, which broadened the scope of the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board beyond the federal Workforce Investment Act to encompass all aspects of the workforce development system. The GWIB was charged with identifying inefficiencies within the state’s workforce development delivery system, developing improvement strategies and reducing costs. The GWIB Subcabinet is coordinating this effort.
· The GWIB reconstituted its board to be more reflective of the business landscape across the state. As membership changes, efforts continue to be made to ensure that new members representing the 13 targeted industry sectors are high-level private sector executives, selected because of their industry expertise, business acumen, ability to influence others and to bring resources to the workforce development system.
· The GWIB Center for Industry Initiatives serves as a national model in conducting a demand-driven approach to workforce development. The center’s industry-led, sector-based industry initiative process engages business, government and education leaders in 13 targeted industry sectors to address projected industry workforce needs and develop solutions. The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has supported the Maryland model though a $1 million grant and a recent USDOL review team stated that “the work of the Center for Industry Initiatives is leading the nation is this area.”
· The GWIB Subcabinet, which consists of deputy and assistant secretaries of partner state agencies, works diligently to find avenues for collaboration and to determine the best means of addressing workforce and economic issues while ensuring the responses remain business-driven. As new members are appointed, every effort will be made to ensure continued coordination by all the existing partner agencies and new partners may be recruited to the Subcabinet to ensure that all future workforce related issues are addressed; for example, workforce housing and transportation. As a result, partner agencies have begun working cooperatively and collaboratively to eliminate duplication and reduce administrative costs in order to redirect funds for direct service and programmatic activities. Another critical function of the Subcabinet is to respond to the workforce needs identified by GWIB’s industry steering committees.
· The GWIB initiated an effort to identify and define priority industry sectors for Maryland. As a result, the DLLR Office of Workforce Information and Performance coordinated a process to develop common definitions for Maryland industry sectors. Definitions were developed in conjunction with partner State agencies, the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board and business and industry.
· The Division of Workforce Development, formed by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, strategically focuses on workforce development, efficiently providing seamless services to its job seeker and business customers.
· The Maryland Workforce Exchange, a statewide, web-based case management and job matching system, is now accessible to job seekers and businesses via the Internet.