Recently we received information from the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) that we thought important to share. Below is an expert from an email titled: "Why Workforce Investment Boards Should Support the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)" written by NAWB's President Ron Painter. As well as information about how you can get involved. 

Mr. Painter has been gathering opinions and fielding questions about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. He offers the following explanation for why he believes we should support the legislation and what are some cautions. With respect to regulatory details, the WIOA states that the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services will be responsible for developing and publishing the Act's proposed regulations in the Federal Register within 180 days after the date of enactment.

NAWB, after consultation with their members and others, lists several key principles critical to a revised Workforce Investment Act. Most of the early principles remained intact and were consolidated into the following:

• Governed by effective business-led workforce investment boards (WIBs) that make data-driven decisions;
• Focused on the market needs of its business & job seeker customers;
• Administered and managed in close proximity to its customers with local operations;
• Marked by private sector continuous improvement processes that achieve innovation and growth;
• Measured via outcomes that are relevant to both customers and investors/taxpayers;
• Funded sufficiently to address the most pressing labor market issues with broad-based solutions.

While WIOA as an authorizing bill cannot guarantee sufficient funding, it does address the key issues in a manner that NAWB's leadership believes warrants our support. 

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County would like to thank our Elected Officials, Board Members, Chambers and other Business and Community Partners for sending letters of support to our congressional leaders in support of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). If you would like to get involved and send letters of support below we have provided information:

WIOA Fact Sheet 

WIOA Letter of Support - Cornyn 

WIOA Letter of Support - Cruz

Texas U.S. Representatives Addresses

Thank you and please let us know if you need anything further. 

April 24, 2014, Congressman Marc Veasey was the keynote speaker at our Special Projects Center, for their monthly retention meeting for those associates who have gone to work. 

The group heard great testimonials from the employers and participants and learned about their successes on the job. Thank you to Fort Worth Hope Center - Culinary Arts School for providing an amazing dinner for the group. The desserts were a work of art!

Also a special thank you to Congressman Marc Veasey for taking the time to join this group. The group heard all about the Congressman's new Initiative, 'Marc Means Business'. This initiative has the Congressman visiting employers across Texas' 33rd congressional district to better understand the jobs that exist in the district and the challenges that constituents face in their jobs and daily lives. As part of this ongoing initiative, Veasey will visit a variety of local businesses across the Metroplex. On the day of his visit to the Special Projects Center he had just worked with the local UPS delivery truck in his district. 

The Congressman spoke about the important work Workforce Solutions was doing as well as shared stories and kind words with all who attended. He made sure to congratulate the program participants and thanked the employers for taking part in the program, joining us that night and hiring our newly skilled participants. 

Thank you again to everyone who made that night possible!

Congressman Veasey addressing the group

Congressman Veasey speaking with guests before the meeting got underway. 

Some of the beautiful and intricate work from the Fort Worth Hope Center. 

Governor Rick Perry inducted nine outstanding Texas women into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame, which celebrates accomplishments of those who have made significant contributions in areas such as business, education, philanthropy, military and public service. 

We are honored to call Lillie a Board Member and more importantly a friend. More information including an article that was featured in the Star Telegram can be found in this month's packet.  

Congratulations again to Lillie and the other outstanding women who were inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame.

A manufacturing consortium has partnered with Tarrant County College to provide job training using an $889,886 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). 

The businesses partnering in the grant include Alexander's Machine and Maintenance Service Co. Inc., Four Seasons Inc., Grover Corp. and Lear Operations Corp. The grant will be used to train 581 new and incumbent workers through a customized curriculum that will allow the business partners to keep pace with new and emerging manufacturing technologies. Those trained will include assemblers, materials handlers and machine operators. The Press Release from TWC can be found here. 

Congratulations Tarrant County College!

Make sure to check out the new Engineer Job Connect (EJC) Video on Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County's YouTube Channel. This video will be part of this month's briefing presented by The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. You can always find links to all of our social media sites on the top right corner of our website, www.workforcesolutions.net.  

As you know it is SUMMER TIME! Our youth program serves youth year round, but we are well underway to finding summer employment for our youth ages 16-21, especially those from diverse and low-income communities get their first work experience and an on-ramp to career success.   

If you currently know any Tarrant County Youth ages 16-21, please encourage them to fill out our Youth WORKS inquiry form (click on the image below or go to our website). We will also be hosting a Job Fair for Youth (ages 16-24) and their parents on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Resource Connection Gym. 

Want to Learn More?? 

If you would like to know how to you can get involved in our youth program please contact Tabitha Smith at tabitha.smith@workforcesolutions.net or visit www.workforcesolutions.net.

Child Care Management Services (CCMS) is offering child care enrollment opportunities to our customers and it has exhausted our wait list!! Please help us spread the word within our community!! If you know of someone who needs some assistance with child care please share.  Thank you for helping us get this message out!! This information can also be found on our website. 

Board and Staff Members attended the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) conference in Denver, Colorado,  May 4 -6, 2014.  Sal Adamski, Jann Miles and Debby Kratky attended as well as presented at the Conference. Cheering them on from the audience were Estrus Tucker (Board Member) and Judy McDonald (Executive Director). Thank you to Estrus for attending this important conference on behalf of the Board. 

• 2002: Systems Building Award - Jill Navarrete
• 2005: H.G. Weisman Award CWDP Committee Members: Limous Walker
• 2009: Jodi Spiegel Enhancement of Customer Service Award - Andre L. Johnson
• 2011: H.G. Weisman Award - Sal Adamski, CWDP 

Sal Adamski took part in a Super Session panel titled: Experience, Leadership and a Great Sense of Humor. This panel addressed the changing workforce arena in the past 25 years. Also while at the conference the past Chairs met with the Department of Labor's (DOL) Deputy Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training, Eric Seleznow. Mr. Seleznow was also the keynote speaker on Monday, May 5, 2014.  

Jann and Debby also presented while at NAWDP - their presentation was titled: Premiers in Human Capital: Successful Strategies with the Non-Traditional Workforce. 

NAWDP Past Chairs Group Picture

Debby Kratky and Jann Miles before their presentation at NAWDP

Job Fair Update

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County is involved in many job fairs throughout Tarrant County on a monthly basis. All job fairs that we take part in can be found on our website on our  calendar of events, including flyers where applicable. Here is an update on some of the most recent job fairs we participated (or will participate in):

• The AllianceTexas Job Fair was held, Thursday, April 24, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Texas Motor Speedway.  43 employers were on hand to speak with over 1,100 job seekers. The next AllianceTexas hiring event will be held Thursday, September 11, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Texas Motor Speedway. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer.
• Hiring Our Heroes Hiring Fair, took place, Monday, May 12, 2014 at Globe Life Park (Ballpark in Arlington). From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  58 employers and 6 resource agencies were on hand to speak with over 200 Veterans.

 

Upcoming Job Fairs:

• 4th Annual Tarrant County Back 2 School Roundup and Resource Fair- Friday, July 18, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Globe Life Park 
• 3rd Annual Mansfield Area Job Fair - Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at The Mansfield ISD Center for Preforming Arts
• Southside Area Hiring Fair - Thursday, August 14, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall Post 838, 1250 Mansfield Ave Fort Worth, TX 76104
• ArlingtonAnswers.com Fall Job Fair - September 2014 - More details soon!
• Hiring Red, White and You! Job Fair - Thursday, November 13, 2014 at Globe Life Park - More details soon!

Website Update

False Employment Scams

Recently on our social media sites we shared a message from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). They are warning Texas Job Seekers to Be Aware of False Employment Scams. Please check out the information below from TWC. 

http://www.texasworkforce.org/news/press/2014/060214press.pdf 

Award Recognition

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County will be recognized and receive a plaque at the Awards Luncheon of the Texas Economic Development Council's (TEDC) Mid-Year Conference in San Antonio on June 12,2014.  Each year TEDC recognizes efforts that have made significant contributions to workforce development in the State of Texas. 

The outreach partnership between Workforce Solutions and Tarrant County College is being recognized for innovation and community impact.  Over the past year, enrollments in Workforce Solutions' FACT project have exceeded enrollment targets largely due to the hosting of monthly FACT orientations at TCC's easily accessible Opportunity Center location in southeast Fort Worth.  The TCC facility is located in one of the prime target areas for this grant and affords interested individuals the opportunity to learn about the program and meet with Project staff for on-site enrollment.

Just in Time for Father's Day

In celebration of fathers, on Saturday, June 14, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County will participate together with two local barbershops in "Fatherhood Buzz," an initiative coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, as part of President Obama's Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative. More than 270 barbershops and local community agencies across the country are participating over Father's Day weekend in Fatherhood Buzz activities. 

Barbershops are trusted resources for men and, as such, are ideal locations to promote responsible fatherhood and disseminate parenting and other important information to fathers, families, and the community at-large.  Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County will provide fathers with information about their Project FACT (Fathers And Children Together), a comprehensive responsible fatherhood program designed to assist Tarrant County fathers reach their goals of economic stability, responsible parenting skills and healthy relationships. See location information below:

Saturday, June 14, 2014

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Bladez Barber and Beauty Salon

100 Bridgewood Dr., Suite 119, Fort Worth, TX 76112

Contact:  Jimmy Richardson at 817.655.0611 (Email: bladezbarbersalon@gmail.com)

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

KJ's Kutz

1707 Everman Parkway Fort Worth, TX 76140

Contact: Richard Lewis at 817.821.2436  (Email: KJKutz1707@gmail.com)

For more information about this local Fatherhood Buzz event, contact Mervil Johnson, FACT Project Director by calling (817) 528-0105 or for more information on national Fatherhood Buzz news call 877-4DAD-411 or visit www.fatherhood.gov.