Indiana DWD and VR Taking Comment on Draft Unified State Plan

Earlier this week, Indiana Department of Workforce Development published its initial draft of Indiana’s Unified State Plan for public comment. Due to new requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), that require better alignment and integration of job training and service delivery, the State Plan must address all core programs, including Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Title 1 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by WIOA Title IV). The VR Portion of the plan begins on page 72 and addresses coordination with DWD, WIOA Partners, employers, providers, and other partners; personnel standards and qualifications; transition services; and establishes program goals.

Other core programs that must be reflected in the Unified State Plan include: the Adult Program (Title I), the Dislocated Worker Program (Title I), the Youth Program (Title 1), the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Program (Title II), and the Wagner-Peyser Act Program (as amended by Title III). 

WIOA reforms planning requirements, previously governed by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), to foster better alignment of Federal investments in job training, to integrate service delivery across programs and improve efficiency in service delivery, and to ensure that the workforce system is job-driven and matches employers with skilled individuals. The Act requires the Governor of each State to submit a State Plan to the U.S. Secretary of Labor by March 3, 2016, that outlines a four-year workforce development strategy for the State’s workforce development system. States must have approved State Plans in place to receive funding for core programs. 

Comments will be accepted until 4 PM (EST), December 21, 2015.
​Click here for more information about submitting comments. INARF will be reviewing the draft plan and submitting comments on behalf of the Association. As those comments are finalized, they will be shared with the membership for consideration and use in submitting individual member agency comments.