Deval L. Patrick, Governor

Timothy P. Murray, Lieutenant Governor

Joanne F. Goldstein, Secretary EOLWD

Alice Sweeney, Acting Director DCS

THE MASSACHUSETTSWORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM

The MA Workforce Development System was designed to carry out the goals of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The purpose of WIA is to create a comprehensive workforce investment system. The system is intended to be customer-focused, to help customers access tools they need to manage their careers through information and high quality services, and to help U.S. companies find skilled workers.

“A State and Local partnership to support, promote and deliver quality

workforce investment services.”

Provide services to job seekers and employers – dual customer focus

Streamline services through better integration at the local level through a one-stop delivery system

Empower individuals through choice, provision of information and support by One-Stop partners

Provide “universal access” to One-Stop Career Center system and to core employment related services

Increase accountability through establishment of performance measures

Provide Youth services that are linked to local labor market needs and community youth programs and services, and that have strong connections between academic and occupational learning

Governance of the MA Workforce Development System is evidenced at three levels:

National Level – U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

State Level – Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD)

Local Level – Chief Elected Official (CEO) and Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB)

The U.S. Department of Labor (US DOL) through its National and Region I Offices provides leadership and guidance to support a system that meets the objectives of WIA, and in which State and Local partners have flexibility to design systems and deliver services that best achieve the goals of the Workforce Investment Act.

The DOL, in consultation with other Federal and State partners, as appropriate, may publish guidance on interpretation of statutory and regulatory provisions.

Executive Office of Labor & Workforce DevelopmentJoanne F. Goldstein, Secretary

MassachusettsWorkforce Investment Board

(MWIB)

Commonwealth CorporationNancy Snyder, President

Department of Unemployment AssistanceMichelle Amante, Director

Department of Career ServicesAlice Sweeney, Acting Director

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) through the MA Workforce Investment Board (MWIB) is responsible to assist the Governor in:

The development of the state plan;

The development and continuous improvement of statewide system of activities carried out through the One-Stop Delivery System; and

The development of linkages in order to assure coordination and non-duplication among the program and activities carried out by One-Stop partners.

Commonwealth Corporation (CommCorp) supports the mission of The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) by:

Convening private, public and MA workforce development partners, leveraging resources, building local and regional capacity, and creating new program models in three areas:

◦ Sector Initiatives

◦ Youth Programs

◦ Research and Evaluation

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) through the Department of Career Services (DCS) is responsible for:

The provision of leadership, guidance, oversight and technical assistance to the Local Workforce Investment Areas and One-Stop Career Centers (OSCCs);

The establishment of policies, interpretations, guidelines and definitions to implement the provisions of the Workforce Investment Act and the programs/activities operated through OSCCs;

The development of a monitoring system and a plan to ensure the integrity of the local and sub-recipient fiscal and administrative systems;

The certification of the local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs); and

Customer accountability.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) through the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA):

Manages the Unemployment Insurance program, which provides temporary income support to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and provides funding to staff walk-in centers within One-Stop Career Centers;

Manages the Medical Security Program, which provides the continuation of health insurance benefits to unemployed workers who meet certain income criteria;

Manages the Work Sharing Program, which allows workers in a company to share reduced work hours while also collecting unemployment insurance benefits to supplement their reduced wages; and

Serves as the official agency that gathers and disseminates information about the Massachusetts economy, its industries and its growth patterns.

1994, Prior to the Implementation of WIA, MA applied for Federal One-Stop Implementation Grant.

Four Workforce Areas applied for and were approved by USDOL to maintain a competitive model. These four areas continue today as competitive models.

As the competitive model was no longer an option the twelve other Workforce Areas planned co-location to begin to explore formal collaboration. Currently all twelve are collaborative models.

- 16 Local Workforce Investment Areas

- 34 One-Stop Career Centers

32 Full Service Centers 2 Limited Service Centers

Chief Elected Official (CEO)

Local Workforce Investment Board (WIB)

Fiscal Agent

Title I Administrator

One-Stop Career Center (OSCC)

Serves as grant recipient (may designate Fiscal Agent). Retains Fiscal Liability (regardless).

Appoints Workforce Investment Board (WIB) members (according to WIA and State guidelines, e.g., private sector majority).

Approves Local Workforce Board budget.

With WIB, jointly oversees programs and services.

There shall be in each local workforce investment area of the State, and certified by the State, a local workforce investment board to set policy for the portion of the statewide workforce investment system within the local area.

Develops and submits Annual Business Plan (in partnership with CEO)

Selects One-Stop Career Center operators (with CEO agreement)

Establishes Youth Council as a subgroup of the WIB

Selects Youth Providers (competitive process) based on recommendations of Youth Council

Identifies eligible Training and Intensive Service Providers

Develops local budget for purpose of carrying out local board duties, subject to approval of CEO

Directs disbursement (through fiscal agent) of local WIA funds for workforce investment activities pursuant to the requirements of Title I, if the direction does not violate a provision of the WIA Act

With CEO, jointly oversees programs and services Jointly negotiates local performance standards with

State Coordinates workforce investment activities with local

economic development strategies and develops other employer linkages

Promotes participation of private sector employers in workforce investment system

Ensures effective connecting, brokering and coaching activities through the one-stop system to assist employers in meeting their hiring needs

In order to assist in the administration of grant funds, the Chief Elected Official may designate an entity to serve as local grant sub recipient for such funds or as Fiscal Agent. Such designation shall not relieve the CEO of the liability for any misuse of grant funds.

The role of the fiscal agent is to safeguard the integrity of the fiscal systems on behalf of the Chief Elected Official.

The fiscal agent must have fiscal systems approved and certified by the State

The fiscal agent must comply with the applicable uniform cost principles included in the appropriate circulars of the Office of Budget and Management

The fiscal agent will disburse funds for workforce investment activities under the direction of the WIB, pursuant to the requirements of Title I, if the direction does not violate a provision of the WIA Act

The fiscal agent will provide oversight of local fiscal sub-recipient systems

The Title I Administrator is responsible to safeguard the integrity of administrative systems on behalf of the Chief Elected Official, and is partner in OSCC.

The Title I administrator must have administrative systems approved and certified by the State

The Title I administrator must comply with the applicable uniform administrative rules included in the appropriate circulars of the Office of Budget and Management

The Title I Administrator provides oversight to local Title I programming sub-recipients

Note: In many workforce areas the responsibilities of Title I Administrator and Fiscal Agent are combined within one

agency/organization.

The MA Career Centers are the cornerstone of the MA Workforce Development System connecting workers and employers.

The goals of a Career Center is to integrate systems to:

• Better leverage resources and manage labor market cycles

• Better meet the needs of diverse populations

• Better prepare workers to meet the needs of local businesses

The MA Career Centers will help job seekers:

Prepare to find their next job

Explore options to upgrade your skills and/or change careers

Access specialized services

Connect to community resources

The MA Career Centers can provide employers assistance with:

Recruitment hiring;

Job matching with potential hires;

Accessing labor market information;

Accessing workforce training grant information; and

Accessing tax credit program information.

BERKSHIRE - Berkshire Works, Pittsfield (Municipal)

BOSTON – Boston Career Link (Non-Profit); The Work Place (Non-Profit); Job Net (State Entity)

BRISTOL – Attleboro Career Center; Fall River Career Center; Taunton Career Center (Municipal)

BROCKTON - Career Works (UMASS Donahue Institute)

CAPE & ISLANDS - Career Opportunities, Hyannis (Job Training Employment Corp - Non-Profit)

CENTRAL MASS - Workforce Central , Worcester, Milford & Southbridge (Municipal)

FRANKLIN HAMPSHIRE – Franklin Hampshire Career Centers, Greenfield & Northampton (Municipal)

GREATER LOWELL – Career Center of Lowell (Municipal)

HAMPDEN - Future Works, Springfield; Career Point, Holyoke (Non-Profits)

MERRIMACK VALLEY - Valley Works, Lawrence & Haverhill (Municipal)

METRO NORTH - Career Source, Cambridge (Satellite Chelsea); Career Place (Middlesex Community College)

METRO SOUTHWEST – Employment & Training Resources, Norwood & Framingham (Municipal)

GREATER NEW BEDFORD – Greater New Bedford Career Center (New Directions - Non-Profit)

NORTH CENTRAL - North Central Career Center, Leominster & Gardner (Municipal)

NORTH SHORE - North Shore Career Center, Lynn, Salem & Gloucester (satellite) (Municipal)

SOUTH SHORE - Quincy Career Center Quincy & Plymouth Career Center, Plymouth (Municipal)

Please note: OSCC Director may be staff member of the partner agency that is not the Lead Operator.

One Stop Career Centers and Lead Operators

Open to all job seekers and employers

Job seekers do not have to be unemployed to use Career Center services

Provides access to Career Center services

Membership allows use of any One-Stop Career Center across the Commonwealth

Career Centers provide access to an extensive array of information and services to assist job seekers and employers

◦ Majority of funding is federal (blue circles)

Other

StateFunding

VETSWagner Peyser

FederalDiscretionary

Grants

WIADislocated

Worker

WIAYouth

WIAAdult

CareerCenter