AGENDA STAFF REPORT

Agenda Item AGENDA STAFF REPORT ASR Control 19-000916
MEETING DATE:	09/24/19
legal entity taking action:	Board of Supervisors
board of supervisors district(s):	All Districts
SUBMITTING Agency/Department:	OC Community Resources (Approved)
Department contact person(s):	Dylan Wright (714) 480-2788
	Renee Ramirez (714) 480-6483

Subject: Orange Regional and Unified Local Workforce Plan PY 2017-2021

ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

Concur

No Legal Objection

Consent Calendar

3 Votes Board Majority

Budgeted: N/A

Current Year Cost: N/A

Annual Cost: N/A

Staffing Impact:

# of Positions:

Sole Source: N/A

Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

Funding Source: N/A	County Audit in last 3 years: No

Prior Board Action: 5/23/2017 #16

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

1.	Approve the biennial modifications to the Orange Regional and Unified Local Plans as reflected in the attached Orange Regional and Unified Local Plans PY 2017-2021 Two Year Modifications.
2.	Authorize the Chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors to sign all documents required by the California Workforce Development Board and the Employment Development Department of the State of California necessary for the submission of the Orange Regional and Unified Local Plan Modifications.
3.	Authorize the Chair of the Orange County Development Board to submit the Orange Regional Plan and Unified Local Plan Modifications to the California Workforce Development Board and the Employment Development Department of the State of California.
4.	Authorize Orange County Community Services staff to make necessary revisions to the Orange Regional Plan and Unified Local Plan Modifications as requested by the California Workforce Development Board and the Employment Development Department of the State of California.

SUMMARY:

Approval and submission of the Orange Regional and Unified Local Plans Program Years 2017-2021 Two Year Modifications will meet federal and state planning mandates to continue eligibility for local Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 106 requires local boards and chief elected officials within each designated region to prepare and submit a single Regional Plan that includes a description of the activities that incorporates a Local Plan.

On February 24, 2016, the Employment Development Department of the State of California issued a directive designating Orange County as a single economic sub-region and regional planning unit. Each Regional Planning Unit (RPU) is required to develop a Regional Plan.

The Orange Regional Plan identifies regional coordination and alignment strategies to increase collaboration and alignment between the Anaheim Workforce Development Board, the Santa Ana Workforce Development Board (SAWDB) and the Orange County Development Board (OCDB), currently serving the greater part of the County’s residents and businesses in all cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County.

The Orange Regional Plan has been developed with collaborative feedback and input from key regional partners and stakeholders that have provided leadership, employment, education and services in the Orange County Region (OC Region). Implementation commitments and partner roles are described and detailed within the Orange Regional Plan. Regional goals were designed to align with the County’s Economic Development Strategy. The engagement of partners has been a priority for the region to align workforce, education and businesses to foster comprehensive public systems that are responsive to demand-driven needs in the region.

The Orange Regional Plan is focused on constructing a regional training, education and workforce architecture that aligns with the Orange County regional labor market and California State Plan policy objectives. Individuals will access and experience this regional workforce architecture primarily through local service delivery efforts outlined in the Unified Local Plan included as part of the Orange Regional Plan. The vision of the Orange Regional Plan addresses industry identified skills gaps, employment, education, workforce, economic development and poverty challenges in the region through assessment and strategic alignment of the local workforce system partners’ regional goals, policies, practice and service delivery.

The Two local boards in the OC Region, OCDB and SAWDB, have collaborated to develop one Unified Local Plan while City of Anaheim has its own local plan. The OCDB/SAWDB Unified Local Plan is driven by strategic initiatives in the Orange Regional Plan. The primary purpose of the OCDB/SAWDB Unified Local Plan and partnerships is to facilitate access to workforce services at the local level. The OCDB/SAWDB Unified Local Plan’s vision is to fuel collaborative partnerships, system alignment, policy development, funding oversight and an integrated and innovative service delivery system that drives the OC Region’s development to support and strengthen growth for the local and regional economy and economic self-sufficiency for individuals. As mandated by the California Workforce Development Board (State Board), the OCDB/SAWDB Unified Local Plan’s goals are in alignment with both the California State Plan and the Orange Regional Plan.

In accordance with the WIOA Sections 107 and 108, a summary of public comments received that disagree with the regional and local plans were required. The plan was made available to the public through electronic means and public meetings as required. No public comments were received. The OCDB approved the Orange Regional and Unified Local Plans on February 22, 2017. The Santa Ana City Council approved the Orange Regional and Unified Local Plans on April 4, 2017. The Anaheim City Council approved the Orange Regional Plan on May 9, 2017. The Board approved the Orange Regional and Unified Local Plans on May 23, 2017.

Under WIOA, a biennial update of regional and local plans are required to ensure plans remain current and account for “changes in labor market and economic conditions or in other factors affecting the implementation of the local plan” (29 U.S. Code § 3123). The State Board has also made changes to the State Plan, which requires that Local Boards update their plans to keep them consistent with the policy direction of the State Plan. Pursuant to certain State Plan modifications that were submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor in the spring of 2018 and approved on June 11, 2018, the State Board provided guidance to Local Boards on the requirements associated with local and regional planning modifications in the Employment Development Department Workforce Services Directive #WSD 18-01 (Directive), attached hereto as Attachment E. This Directive provided specific guidance and instructions on both required and elective modifications to local and regional plans.

In order to comply with the Directive, the OCDB, OC Community Resources (OCCR) staff, City of Anaheim and City of Santa Ana developed modifications to the Regional Plan as reflected in the attached Orange Regional Plan PY 2017-2021 Two Year Modifications attached hereto as Attachment D. A summary of the key modifications include the following:

	1.	Amended all instances of “Orange County Regional Planning Unit (OCRPU)” with “Orange Regional Planning Unit (ORPU)”.
	2.	OC Region will continue to work closely with partners to coordinate training that allows for professional development of staff. The OC Region is part of the Young Adult Diversion Technical Assistance initiative. This initiative is a collaboration between the local workforce boards, Orange County Re-Entry Partnership, RTI International and the US Department of Education. It is focused on developing an online resource guide for justice-involved youth and the agencies that provide resources to this population. In addition, the ORPU will provide staff with the opportunity to attend training provided by partners, such as the National Institute of Corrections training, Workforce Development Specialist training and cultural sensitivity training that are required to ensure that staff remain updated and are aware of best practices and skills needed when working with the reentry population.
	3.	The ORPU recognized the need to provide coordinated services that range from pre-released and post-released incarcerated individuals.
	4.	The OC Region will continue improving the Workforce partnerships with the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum by establishing communication, policies and procedures with training providers and building trades councils.

The OCDB, OCCR staff and City of Santa Ana developed modifications to the Unified Local Plan as reflected in Unified Plan Modifications that begin on page 205 of Attachment D. Minor modifications were made to the Unified Local Plan to update information related to current workforce and economic conditions. A summary of the key modifications and updates to the Unified Local Plan includes the following:

On-the-job training, work experience, job coaching and job training will be made available to persons facing barriers to employment.

California Adult Education Program consortia partners will play a key role in providing services for English language learners. Activities will include, but not be limited to:

	-	Exploring co-location at the America Job Centers of California
	-	Developing formal referral system between adult education and WIOA Title I programs
	-	Developing a mechanism to share data to track co-enrollments and performance measures

Approximately 7.7 percent of Orange County’s population (248,723 residents) receive CalFresh assistance (monthly food assistance for persons with low income).

Over 30 percent of unemployed non-custodial parents have a history of incarceration which can make job placement more difficult.

The OCDB approved the Orange Regional and Unified Plan Modifications on January 30, 2019. The Santa Ana City Council approved the Orange Regional and Unified Local Plan Modification on August 20, 2019. The Anaheim City Council approved the Orange Regional Plan Modifications on July 16, 2019.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

N/A

STAFFING IMPACT:

N/A

ATTACHMENT(S):

Attachment A - Orange County 4-Year Strategic Regional and Unified Local Plan Executed
Attachment B - Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014
Attachment C - Employment Development Department Workforce Services Directive #WSD 15-17
Attachment D - OCRPU Regional and Local Plans PY 2017-2021 Two Year Modifications
Attachment E - Employment Development Department Workforce Services Directive #WSD 18-01
Attachment F - Local Board Assurances