washington state - Workforce Training and Education Coordinating ...

Workforce Investment Act / Title I-B A A N N U A L R E P O R TSOUTH-CENTRALWorkforce Development CouncilServing Yakima, Kittitas, Skamania and Klickitat countiesSouth Central WDC – YVCC Joint PlacementProjectA unique partnership between the South Central Workforce Council andYakima Valley Community College (YVCC) that targets low income adultsenrolled in the Integrated Basic Skills Training (IBEST) programs continues toprovide returns for a third consecutive year. The project which started in thespring of 2009 has served more than 110 IBEST students enrolled in AlliedHealth, Business Technology and Early Childhood Education programs.People for People, South Central’s WIA I-B adult provider, plays a key roleby providing services to students during the last quarter of their respectiveprograms with an emphasis on obtaining training related employment.Trained case management staff plays a central role working with studentsindividually to assess their skills and abilities, barriers to employment andidentify any additional training and educational needs that may stand in theirway to employment. Once the assessment is complete, a plan of action is putin place that can include seminars on appropriate work behaviors; financialliteracy, resume writing, and interviewing techniques; and may includejob shadow or mentoring experience for those needing to develop realexperience in the work place. Project activities are rounded off with employerpresentations and round-table discussions to allow students the opportunityto hear firsthand what expectations employers have in the workplace.Project staff are co-located at the college's campuses in Yakima andGrandview; and are cross trained in multiple programs’ eligibilityrequirements (Public Assistance, Commerce WorkFirst Programs, ClinicalPlacement Project, Public Housing, Basic Food, Opportunities Pilot Project,WIA, Financial Aid and various other funding streams) in an effort toleverage resources in the local area. The staff are also members of theSouth Central’s Business Services Team which gives them direct access toemployment opportunities in the local job market. The partnership hasbeen highly successful with a total of 86 percent of participating studentsentering unsubsidized employment or continuing a post secondary educationprogram in their chosen career pathway. Of those students served 60 percentwere on public assistance and wage at placement ranged from $9.00 to$12.00 an hour.Using On-the Job Training as a RetoolingStrategyConsistent with the State of Washington Workforce Board’s lead, theSouth Central Workforce Council (WDA IX) has aggressively embraced theRetooling effort to address the needs of the high numbers of unemployedand long-term unemployed. The Retooling initiative is the adoption of abroad set of strategies to help local jobless residents move to unsubsidizedemployment, either directly or through a wide array of training programs.The most potent tool in South Central’s arsenal is the use of On-the-JobTraining programs -- the traditional “learn while you work” training activitywith a commitment from employers to hire when the program has beencompleted successfully.Funding for the activity has come from a local priority shift of formula fundscombined with the State's National Emergency Grant which was initiatedin early 20ll. Latest reports reveal that the program is building momentumwith South Central now at 67 percent of its goal for the year. On-the-JobTraining placements cross varied industries such as automotive repair, healthcare, marine services, heating and air conditioning and span a range ofoccupations such as project managers/managerial, electricians and healthcare technicians, accounting, automotive mechanics and other types ofindustry repair technicians.With the new emphasis on OJT, the South Central Workforce Council’sproviders have adopted new strategies to rollout the programs through itslocal WorkSource Business Services Team. These activities include personalcontacts with business, group presentations to employer organizationssuch as Chambers of Commerce and working directly with local economicdevelopment organizations to target new and expanding businesses.The efforts are working, as many businesses are taking advantage of thetraditional “learn while you work” model that eases the cost and burden oftraining with wage reimbursements to the employer. Currently On-the-JobTraining wages average $12.42 an hour with current completers earning$12.80 at completion.30 > Section Two - WHAT IS WORKING WELL