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This week wraps up California’s “Roadshow for Public Input” on its WIOA state plan. Under WIOA, states must develop plans that describe their overall workforce strategy and how it will be implemented. With plans due to the federal government by March 3, 2016, many states are in the process of soliciting public input. In addition to posting a draft of its plan for public comment, the California Workforce Development Board held six events across the state to get feedback.
The state’s workforce board hosted this series of regional events in partnership with the California Workforce Association and local workforce boards during the month of December. Local workforce development boards invited board members, partners in their local workforce systems, and representatives from business and labor. Following presentations on the state plan’s vision, goals, and strategies, stakeholders participated in small group discussions.
California’s draft state plan places a heavy emphasis on regional planning and implementation. The Roadshow provided an opportunity for input on how California (via the State Plan) can better facilitate regional leadership, alignment with industry, and system integration, and set the stage for regional planning.
California’s draft plan was developed with input from a WIOA Implementation Work Group. Created by the State Board shortly after the passage of WIOA, the work group is charged with helping to develop the framework for the state plan. The work group is chaired by Van Ton Quinlivan, Vice Chancellor of Economic and Workforce Development for California’s Community Colleges, and includes 15 members representing state agencies, business, local boards, and community-based organizations.
Want to provide feedback on your state’s WIOA plan? Our recent case study of Chicago Jobs Council’s WIOA engagement activities provides a list of actions that stakeholders can take to impact their state’s plan. NSC’s other WIOA resources provide recommendations for creating effective state plans and for aligning WIOA with key human capital investments like Career and Technical Education, TANF, and SNAP Employment and Training.
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