— (04/30/2015) We would like to know if your agency has worked with the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Workforce Data Quality Initiatives (WDQI) that might be in your state and, if so, what has been the nature of the collaboration.Since 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has had four rounds of Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) grants in numerous states to develop state workforce longitudinal databases – a joint undertaking with U.S. Department of Education (ED)- that will build on the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) initiative that ED has underway to encourage the development of state education and workforce longitudinal administrative databases. Collecting these and other data sources longitudinally will provide a comprehensive picture of workers’ earnings throughout their careers. Through analysis, these data will demonstrate the relationship between education and training programs, as well as the additional contribution of the provision of other employment services.Each WDQI grantee is expected to fully develop (or expand in the case where states have a database underway) their workforce longitudinal database in addition to using that database to conduct analysis of state workforce and education systems. Additionally, WQDI grantees are expected to use this data analysis to create materials on state workforce performance to share with workforce system stakeholders and the public.

From Don Kay, WA-DVR:

Washington State DVR has not participated in any WDQI activities. I don’t even know if our state has ever received a WDQI grant from DOL.

From Kathleen Enders, WI VR:

No collaboration has been done

From Kirsten Rowe, Va. Dept. for Aging and Rehab. Services:

Yes, Virginia has had two WDQI grants, and DARS (the general VR agency in Virginia) has participated as a member of various interagency working groups implementing WDQI projects. We will be sharing de-identified VR participant data with the Virginia Longitudinal Data System (VLDS) for the first time this year, and expect to receive WDQI funds to support an initial data quality analysis to learn more about the strengths and gaps in VLDS data and its data linking capabilities that may affect our ability to use VLDS for research and policy analysis, as well as routine performance monitoring and reporting.

From Steve Collins, Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation:

Florida VR has only peripheral interactions with this system right now. It is more geared to education and workforce data, than a tie to VR caseload data and outcomes. The DOL report is at http://www.doleta.gov/Performance/pfdocs/FinalReport_updated.pdf and the Florida FETPIP webpage is at http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/fl-edu-training-placement-info-program.

From Ronald Barcikowski, Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation:

No.

From Richard Clark, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services:

Iowa has not that I am aware of.

Posted in: Data Management