February 2010 Vol 1, Issue 21
Workforce Development in Wisconsin WWDA Logo
Greetings!  
 
DC photoFebruary 11th is the Wisconsin Workforce Development Association's 3rd Annual Day at the Capitol.  Private sector business representatives from workforce development boards across the state will be visiting legislators to discuss jobs and training in Wisconsin.
 
The local workforce system is under greater strain than ever. Unemployment claims are on the rise and traffic in the Job Centers has reached record numbers.  We look forward to speaking with our legislators about the important issues in their district.
 
Please contact us with any questions or for further details on any of the programs.  If you wish to be added to future mailings or removed from mailings please use the links at the bottom of the newsletter.  Thank you!
In the News...
 
DC photo
The Wisconsin Workforce Development Associaton Wins National Award for ARRA Youth Reporting! Read the article!
In This Issue
"It's Just Like Speed Dating!" - More Employment Opporunities Available for Youth in North Central WI
LETC/SWWDB Book Exchange Saves Critical Workforce Training Dollars
Western Wisconsin Advancing Skills of the Hard-to-Employ
Wired for a New Network
Quick Links
LETC/SWWDB Book Exchange Saves Critical Workforce Training Dollars
 
Today it is not uncommon for a college text book to cost $50, $75 or even more. They days of $30 'bookstore special' are long gone. As the Rock County Labor Education and Training Center (LETC) and Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development (SWWDB) staff were discussing ways to save dollars in light of major funding constraints, the Book Exchange idea came forth.  In an effort to maximize WIA funding, they decided to ask clients to return their textbooks from the fall semester so they could be re-used. Truly it was a win-win situation, since because books are purchased using federal WIA dollars, clients are not supposed to return their books to the bookstore for cash. This allows them to receive value for their used books, especially since many clients are in the same programs.
 
"We were purchasing the same books over and over, which seemed to be a duplication of resources," said Mary Fanning-Penny, Workforce Operations Manager for the SWWDB. Since the LETC staff had a master list of all clients' email addresses, a flyer was sent explaining the book exchange with an inventory sheet for them to record the names of the books they were returning. Two days were scheduled for clients to drop off their books based on who their case manager was. By providing coffee, punch, cookies and a sign-up for a drawing for items such as boxes of candy and gift cards for groceries and gas it was hoped more clients would participate.
 
"We were very happy with the results, especially for a first-time process," said Julie Funk, LETC Project Coordinator. Over 100 students participated, saving $29,347 for the spring semester, with an inventory of approximately $25,000 for future use. "We see this as a continuing program on which we will build to get many more clients involved," Funk added.
 
Clients were also asked to provide their spring semester schedule to their Case Manager so the Manager could access the school website to record what book would be required for those classes. Managers used the shopping cart to find books to give back out to their clients, followed by the processing of vouchers for books that Managers did not get back during the exchange, up to the per-semester limit based on WIA program enrollment. Clients were then contacted to come in and obtain their books or vouchers.
 
"We now have an inventory and hope to get as much mileage out of each book as possible," Funk said. "As the program continues, our efficiencies will grow and we plan on increased savings,"  she added.book return image


LETC Employment Training Specialist Steve Ranum  stacks books after they were received from students as a part of the Book Exchange at the UAW Local 95 Labor Hall in Janesville, while LETC Employment Training Specialist Lisa Maijevich checks inventory in the background.
"Like Speed Dating?" - More Employment Opporunities Available for Youth in North Central Wisconsin
 
The North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (NCWWDB) has funding available through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act to provide meaningful paid work experiences for young adults 18-24 who lack work history.  To this end, we are excited to announce a "Winter Employment Program".  This will be a pilot program implemented in Marathon County, from February through March.  NCWWDB intends to serve an additional 40 young adults during this time.  They will meet with us for one full week of work readiness preparation prior to working with employers.
 
Employers who expressed an interest in participating in the past Summer Youth Employment Program are being recruited again, to employ and mentor a young adult.   Participating employers need to submit a detailed job description to NCWWDB by January 29, 2010.   NCWWDB will be reviewing the job descriptions during the one-week of work readiness preparation. 
 
Feedback from the past Summer Youth Employment Program was that employers wanted more involvement in the matching process.   Based on this feedback, NCWWDB is planning a half day event on February 10, 2010, where employers will have the opportunity to meet and interview young adults interested in the employer's field of work.  The event will be based on the concept of speed dating.  We are calling it Job Speed.  We ask that employers come to the Job Speed event prepared to interview up to five candidates in five minute intervals.  Once employers have rated the best candidate, and the final match has been arranged, employers can discuss with their new employees a start date and schedule agreed upon by themselves, the young adults and the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Case Manager.
 
Employers will be asked to enter into a worksite agreement with the young adult and the WIA contracted provider.  They will also be asked to complete a checklist of the employee's skills after the first week of employment.  The same checklist will then need to be completed at the end of the six week paid work experience.  The young adults will be paid $7.25 per hour by the WIA contracted provider, and Workman's Comp and liability insurance will be covered as well.  
 
See the related article in Time Magazine on teen unemployment
Western Wisconsin Advancing Skills of the Hard-to-Employ
 
 Through funds approved through the Western Wisconsin Workforce Development Board and US Dept. of Labor direct grants, Workforce Connections, Inc. is embarking on its third phase of transitional jobs programming.  Transitional jobs targets the hard-to-employ with real pay for real work with skills training, support services, case management and long term follow up.
·  The first phase of "Building Opportunities" was a YouthBuild project in partnership with the City of La Crosse, State Bank Financial, Gundersen Lutheran, Franciscan Skemp and other community partners.  Three cohorts of at-risk youth built a house to be sold to a low income family.
·  The second phase of "Constructing Opportunities" targeted upon long term unemployed adults was also in collaboration with the city of La Crosse Housing Department which provided a CDBG grant as participants rehabilitated two duplexes into condominiums to be sold to low income families.
·  The third transitional jobs phase is still in development targeting upon adjudicated youth in a "scattered site" model in multiple counties.

The following is an unsolicited testimonial from a woman from the first cohort in Constructing Opportunities, "I have learned so much about myself, and working with others in the past few months that will be an indispensable asset I will carry with me the rest of my life. I will never forget what you've done for me.  I hope your work goes well knowing that you are making a big difference in the lives of so many with this program."
 
Transitional jobs can make a difference in people's lives.
Wired for a New Network
Over the last year, the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board has worked with the Regional Workforce Alliance (RWA) to make tremendous strides in executing Southeastern Wisconsin's Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative.  Since its inception three years ago, WIRED funds have been used to grow talent, improve demand-driven workforce services, and catalyze systems integration. 
 
As the WIRED Initiative nears its end, lessons learned over the last few years are directing strategic investments.  In particular, in the remaining months, WIRED's Innovation Fund will focus on building a water generation to support and strengthen the region's emerging Water Industry.  The WOW Board will work with other workforce development stakeholders through June 2010 and beyond to synchronize efforts to prepare workers for a better economy. 
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Mari Kay-Nabozny
Wisconsin Workforce Development Association