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Tags Posts tagged with "Combined State Plan"

Combined State Plan

The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has drafted proposed changes to the 2024-2027 VR Services Portion of the Combined State Plan to implement an Order of Selection. A public comment period will be opened from October 7, 2024 – October 28, 2024.

Members of the public may provide feedback on the proposed changes by submitting comments electronically or by submitting live comments during one of two State Plan Public Meetings. Please note that comments should be limited to the proposed changes only.

To access the State Plan draft, please visit here.

Public meetings will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, from 9:00 am – 10:00 am as well as Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. During these meetings, OVR will review the proposed changes to the VR Services Portion of the Combined State Plan. These meetings will contain the same content, so it is not necessary to attend both. Following a summary presentation, the public will be invited to provide comment. CART and sign language interpreting will be provided during both meetings.

Virtual Public Meeting Information

Meeting #1
When: October 16, 2024, 9:00 am Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom for October 16 Public Meeting

Meeting #2
When: October 17, 2024, 3:00 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom for October 17 Public Meeting

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires the governor of each state to submit a four-year unified or combined state plan outlining the state’s workforce development strategy. The plan can be viewed on the Department of Labor and Industry’s website, and the draft for the 2024–2028 plan is available here.

Pennsylvania’s Combined State Plan includes the six WIOA Core programs: Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, Wagner-Peyser, Adult Basic Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation. It also includes the following optional programs:

  • Career and Technical Education Programs-Perkins Act
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program
  • Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Programs
  • Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program
  • Senior Community Service Employment Program
  • Reintegration of Ex-Offenders Program
  • Community Services Block Grant
  • Unemployment Insurance

Some specific areas of interest to our members include the following goals:

  • Empowering individuals paid subminimum wages through 14(c) waivers to obtain CIE;
  • Expediting the Integrated Vocational Engagement & Support Team (InVEST) Project to assist individuals with disabilities, families, and community businesses with CIE engagement, supports, and services/resource coordination;
  • Increasing competitive integrated employment (CIE) opportunities for individuals with disabilities;
  • Increasing transition services for students with disabilities; and
  • Increasing statewide collaboration with the Bureau of Special Education (BSE) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) to expand Pre-ETS across Departments.

Public comments will be accepted on Pennsylvania’s WIOA Combined State Plan until 5:00 pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Please submit your comments electronically. Written comments may also be submitted by mail to:

PA Workforce Development Board
651 Boas Street | Room 514
Harrisburg, PA 17121