Northwest Workforce Development Council Accomplishments 2001

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Home > Goals > System Accomplishments 2001 Fall 2000 — Fall 2001 The following major initiatives highlight accomplishments for Program Year 2001 (July 1, 2000 - June 30, 2001). Accomplishments are organized in reference to the Council’s most applicable strategic goal, however, many are multi-goal related. Goal 1 Implement the requirements of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) by leading the design, implementation, and accountability of the WorkSource system…. Facility Preparedness WorkSource-Whatcom is remodeled to increase the capacity of customer service delivery areas and enable co-location of new partners Workforce Development Council Fiscal Services moves to new off-site office Wireless laptop lab added for additional workshop activities at WorkSource-Whidbey Skagit Career Center Computer Lab is expanded and updated Bellingham Community Services Office staff areas are reorganized to accommodate co-located affiliate staff and to accommodate WorkFirst group activities Co-location of Partners: Employment Security, Veteran’s Services and WIA staff fully co-located into WorkSource-Whatcom Bellingham Technical College and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation co-locate at WorkSource-Whatcom WorkFirst, Welfare to Work, Community Jobs, and TANF programs co-located into the proposed Meridian Affiliate site Veteran’s Services co-located at WorkSource-Whidbey Deploying Technology: Staff website "Inside WorkSource Northwest" enhanced Preparedness for the Services, Knowledge and Information Exchange System (SKIES) implementation. SKIES is the State’s new required information technology system which supports case management, labor exchange and performance measures for the WorkSource system in Washington WIA program forms developed and implemented in electronic format Extensive input provided into the functionality and design of the SKIES system Northwest Regional Council provides learning and assessment software for senior services partner in centers Interagency Release of Information and Data Sharing Review of all current RCW related to information sharing Convene team and develop revised common Release of Information forms Full partnership and legal review of revised product Conducted staff training on Informed Consent Data Sharing agreement negotiated and signed with Employment Security Creating a Network of Current Information and Referral to Enhance Integration School to Work Clearinghouse office co-located at WorkSource-Whatcom Youth services community audit survey form drafted and under review by WDC Youth Council Analysis of existing data on youth needs is underway Collaboration with Skagit-Island PrepWork Consortium to conduct resource mapping of business, work-based, and service learning opportunities for youth Submitted grant application for DOL funding for comprehensive audit of youth resources in the Northwest area Increased capacity of staff website "Inside WorkSource Northwest" WDC Approved Training Provider list posted on line Whatcom County high school career counselors hosted at WorkSource-Whatcom Expanded Use of Labor Market Information Conducted extensive labor market research and analysis of health and allied services occupations Forged a new working relationship with the Labor Market & Economic Analysis Department of Employment Security Validated and documented area-wide advancing and declining occupations Local colleges’ Pre-employment Programs research labor market information for suitability and appropriateness of training Collaborations and Partnerships Design and implementation activities to develop a WorkSource Affiliate site at Bellingham Community Services Office include: Department of Social and Health Services, Employment Security Department, The Opportunity Council, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Workforce Development Council Affiliate/WorkFirst Outreach to local tribal services offices for collaboration and coordination around WorkFirst activities, including beginning to incorporate Partnership products and processes Addition of Lummi Nation Employment & Training on recruitment distributions and pre-employment planning team Creation of Northwest Alliance for Health Care Skills which brings to the table health industry leadership, education, and workforce development Technology upgrades for the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce Business Services Center provided by WDC WDC Rapid Response coordination of worker dislocations at; Georgia-Pacific West, Inc., Britax-HeathTechna, National Frozen Foods, Geographics, Home Base, Pacific Aero, Lignotech, and Trident Seafoods Outreach activity with the Port of Bellingham economic development office Whidbey Island stakeholder (Economic Development Council, Opportunity Council, New Leaf, Housing Authority of Island County) regularly participate in WorkSource Whidbey activities Northwest Regional Service Council expands service level support at centers for older worker population Upriver Library and Computer Center Project in Concrete will use the WorkSource Universal Services as a foundation piece Goal 2 Promote the importance of lifelong learning for workers, and a systemic approach… Pre-employment Preparation throughout the Service Delivery Continuum Competency-based curricula continues to support pre-employment skills and attributes as a fundamental preparation for successful employment in WIA and WorkFirst programs Life skills/employment retention issues built into all orientation and pre-employment training program curricula for WorkFirst initiatives connected to the Affiliate Site Specialized workshop implemented for participants returning to TANF assistance, which focuses on life skills/retention Workforce Skill Standards (WSS) are embedded in all WIA curricula and all WIA youth and WIA adult program services Computer Basics & MS Word workshop added to universal service product mix Developing standardized strategies for classroom and employment retention for WorkFirst Pre-Employment participants Pre-employment training programs in place at Skagit Valley College, Whatcom Community College, and Bellingham Technical College to upgrade skills, provide employment opportunities, and on-going support for retention Partner with Pacific Northwest Trail Association and Sedro Woolley School District to provide year round Service, Knowledge, Youth Project (SKY) Life Long Workforce Learning and Partnership with the K 12 System The WIA youth program connected to the Washington State Education reform goals of the "4 Ps" (Pathways, Plan, Portfolio and Projects) Vocational Training Enhanced partnering opportunities with the community and technical colleges for WorkFirst services Project developed to include selected older WorkFirst youth in supported employment placements as vocational training and work opportunity In collaboration with the Georgia-Pacific Labor-Management Transition Committee, successfully supported Bellingham Technical College’s and Whatcom Community College’s requests for additional vocational course capacity to serve the training needs of workers dislocated from Georgia-Pacific Conducted staff training sessions on Apprenticeship to expand knowledge of this training option Providing print and electronic access to apprenticeship programs in Career Centers and the Affiliate Career ladders being developed for the health and allied services field to document progressive attainment of skill and compensation Radiologic Technologist training program funded at BTC in direct response to needs identified by the industry-led Northwest Alliance for Health Care Services Flexibility in Meeting Learners’ Needs Skagit Valley College offers customized, Individualized Certificates for WorkFirst students that uses work experience, classroom training, and other training opportunities toward credit Skagit Community Action Agency Adult Literacy Program provides "talk time" and adult literacy instruction at Skagit Career Center during evenings and by appointment during business hours Evening computer skill upgrade classes offered at Skagit Career Center through Skagit Valley College Whole Family Services (welfare) collaboration for the most intensive services includes assessment of and education on parenting skills Goal 3 Create and provide quality, competency-based workforce preparation services which use employer defined workforce skill standards and essential academic learning requirements so that all students and workers area able to acquire skills, knowledge, and abilities required to equip them as lifelong workforce learners. Life Skills in the Curriculum Workforce Skill Standards included in curricula of all workshops Through learning-rich work-based sites’ and competency based tools, such as the Learning and Employability Profile, the Youth Program, in partnership with local school districts, is meeting the goals of the Essential Academic Learning Requirements Major component in Pre-employment training programs for WorkFirst participants and low-income working parents Participation in School to Work/TechPrep teacher institute to instruct teachers how to incorporate Workforce Skill Standards and job specific skill standards into curriculum Deception Pass and Skills Knowledge Youth Projects (SKY) from Summer Youth Component incorporate and integrate WSS and Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) Enhancing the Skill Standards-Based Relationship between Business and Job seeker Skills based job order created to assist businesses in identifying key skills required in the position and to facilitate matching of candidate skills to job skills NW Partnership influenced skills inclusion in new statewide SKIES labor exchange system Regularly scheduled employer panels provide forum for job seekers to meet representatives of local businesses, and to receive current information on what skills are needed to enter workforce Coordination of services for TANF youth to remain in school, attain high school diploma or GED and/or enter into employment Workforce Skill Standards embedded in curricula and print materials used with WorkSource customers Skills Identification Workshops tie skill attainment to employment planning Resume writing emphasizes customer skill sets in relation to employment search Career progression models identify how skill enhancements lead to better employment Assisting Customers in Making Choices Proposed Community Services Office Affiliate site provides expanded opportunities for customers to access information in the system Enhancements to Self Employment resources and workshop offerings in "Starting and Managing Your Own Business" are provided through collaboration with the Small Business Resource Center Selection of "priority" health care occupations with emphasis on career ladders and local training options Career research in WorkSource Resource Areas has expanded with enhancements to Labor Market information programs, listings of available volunteer opportunities, consumer report information, and increased marketing of work-based learning program opportunities On line Approved Training Providers list Advancing and declining industries identified for Northwest area Access to Community Resources Proposed Community Services Office Affiliate site offers immediate connections to state/federal assistance programs for job seekers in need Team-based case management approach to TANF intensive services ensures community resources are brought into play early Career Kit emphasizes the community resources available to customers Whole family services model employed in welfare programs to ensure barriers are identified and resources to meet them are brought into the participant’s plan Skagit Valley College’s Literacy Grant from Verizon provided computer literacy workshops at the Skagit Career Center for 8 months, most held in the evenings to enhance the opportunities for employed individuals wanting skill upgrade Outreach to limited English proficiency population and teaching of Spanish computer basics classes in Skagit Goal 4 Ensure business customers are satisfied with results of the workforce preparation system and workers have the skills to be competitive in the global economy. Enhancing Business Services Business services "single point of contact" approach tools developed and staff training commenced in support of meeting business customer need (common skills based job order, Online Guide to Business Services, protocols for responding to business, business customer common comment card) SKIES planning for protocols and procedures of using the employer section of the system has incorporated the NW Partnership’s Business Services Implementation Team recommendations Technology investment in Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Business Service Center provides infrastructure for business services access Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce collaboration to define and enhance business services at the downtown Bellingham Business Service Center "Starting or Managing Your Own Business" seminars hosted at WorkSource-Whatcom sponsored by Small Business Resource Center and S.C.O.R.E. Businesses needs assessment survey conducted by WorkSource-Whidbey Expand WorkSource-Whatcom capacity and capability of hosting employers’ on-site recruitment activity Create "employer of the day" events in Career Centers Train and coach businesses in the use of electronic labor exchange on go2worksource.com Co-host fourth annual Northwest Employment Expo Northwest Employment Expo exhibitor satisfaction data collection enhanced Local Job Fairs occur twice annually in both Skagit and Island County Outreach, Education, & Marketing to Business Feature article published in Business Pulse Magazine Guest editorial published in Bellingham Herald WorkSource exhibit booth at both the Whatcom and Skagit County Business Expos Education and training of businesspersons in the use of go2worksource.com as an effective recruitment tool both at their worksite and at WorkSource WorkSource presence on diversity website with an employer focus Two large direct mailings to select Whatcom County businesses Regular press releases to local media Outreach for affiliate pre-employment training programs to employers, coordinated through WorkSource employer services staff NAS Whidbey job fairs include WorkSource-Whidbey exhibit booth Economic Development Council of Island County and Housing Authority of Island County publications include feature articles on WorkSource-Whidbey Presentations at Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce meetings on the benefits of using WorkSource-Whidbey Goal 5 Promote community collaborations and the awareness and support of workforce development issues, policies and initiatives. Ensure, through formal mechanisms, customers are connected to the appropriate community support services that address their life support needs. Growing Collaborations & Building upon Positive Gains Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) is now an in-kind and resource-contributing Partner at the Skagit Career Center Whatcom Community College is now a staff in-kind contributing Partner at WorkSource-Whatcom New Design & Implementation Team chartered in September 2000 with a continued emphasis on implementation, saturation, and continuous quality improvements The Upriver Library and Computer Center project is collaborating to bring self-service job search activities to East Skagit County residents The NW has continued to participate in state-wide forums where we have stakeholder interest, e.g., SKIES development and implementation, industry sector based approaches to workforce development, the application of technology to key work processes, performance standards, and system design to achieve them, among others Demonstrating Our Successes to Funding Sources Lead statewide research into data capture and use of universal customer information Design competency based system for skills required of all workforce development professionals working in the northwest area. Development of indicators and measures for each professional competency Secured Washington State Health Department Health Services Resource Grant Secured Department of Labor Sectoral Employment Grant on basis of progress in Northwest Health Alliance Outreach and Marketing Active participation in statewide WorkSource marketing campaign Participation in Ferndale Community Network Guest Editorial written and published in Bellingham Herald Feature article published in Business Pulse magazine Two radio interviews with Partnership Coordinator aired Television coverage secured and aired for WorkSource-Whatcom Open House Newspaper coverage published for WorkSource-Whidbey and Skagit Career Center Open Houses Workshop listings published on website and in Whidbey Island newspapers WorkSource-Whatcom featured in documentary video produced by Whatcom County Drug Court for use with the business and legislative community
Serving Island, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom Counties The Northwest Workforce Development Council is an equal opportunity employer and provider of employment and training services. Auxiliary aids and services are available to persons of disability. What's New \| Vision \| Goals \| Meetings \| Minutes Members \| Committees \| Links \| Home © Copyright 2003 Northwest Workforce Development Council