August 2016
 

 

Executive Director's

E-Newsletter  
Pack up the sun block and beach towel..... School is officially back in session! For most districts school starts today and this month also marks our 20th anniversary as a workforce board. 
 
I hope that everyone has had a safe and happy summer! Happy first day of school to everyone starting back today! 

The summer was full of anniversaries, celebrations, career exploration and employer engagement activities. This fall we will kick off job fair season, continuation of our Business Forums and wrap up with a strategic planning session. 
 
At this month's Board Meeting, we look forward to hearing from our elected officials. Our Board Members and the audience always enjoy hearing the latest Tarrant County news from them. We have important action items on this month's agenda, including the budget, a clean audit and an Adult Education proposal. We will also share the ways we continue to partner and organize Job Fairs, grant applications, and ways to better serve both employers and job seekers throughout Tarrant County. We are excited to have a few of our young adults join us this month, as well to talk about their experience with the program. 


 - Judy McDonald
 Executive Director
In This Issue
20th Anniversary
Child Care
DARS Transitioning to TWC on September 1, 2016
Young Adult Initiative
Business Forums
Texas Business Conference
Board Members in the News
Job Fair Update
High School Equivalency Graduation
Pictures
Stay up-to-date
Calendar of Events
Connect with Us on Social Media
Join Our Mailing List!
Workforce Solutions celebrate 20 years in the Biz!!



 
Hard to believe, but 20 years ago Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County officially became your local workforce board. It's been a great ride so far and we could not have done it without our amazing board members, staff, elected officials and partners who have cheered us on along the way.

Get ready for some great throwback pictures. As you know, we are on many of the popular social media sites (links to all can be found on our website). We have been posting a series of throwback photos you are sure to enjoy, so be sure to follow us.  

Again, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our Board Members for being the greatest board in the land. We are blessed to work with such a high caliber of Tarrant County leaders. We look forward to celebrating 20 years of excellence on February 8, 2017 at our Annual Awards Meeting. Save the Dates for that meeting will go out this month. 
  • Save the Date: 20th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Awards Meeting - February 8, 2017 - 9:00 a.m. -Lena Pope Amon Carter Center (invitation to follow soon)
 
A throwback circa 2005

If you are joining us at this month's board meeting you are in for a special treat as we share some fun memories from our past 20 years!
New Child Care Law Seeks Continuity and Quality of Care 
The Child Care Program is administered by the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (HHSA).  This program was reauthorized for the first time since 1996, as the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG Act) of 2014. The CCDBG Act authorizes the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which is the primary federal funding source for providing child care subsidy assistance to low-income families and for improving the quality of care for all children.
 
The new law makes significant changes to the design of the CCDF program in Texas.  There is a new emphasis on the importance of promoting children's healthy development and safety, improving the quality of child care, and preparing children to enter school ready to succeed.  This will move the focus of the program to the development of the "child" and not just a support program for parents who are working or in training or education.  The new design is for the child's enrollment to be more stable during a 12-month period.  Whereas currently, the child is moved in and out of care based on the participation and rule compliance of the parent.  As a result of the family's placement being more consistent, the lack of turnover of children could have an impact on the wait list.
 
With the continuity of care for the child's placement the main focus now, this makes the quality of care being provided so much more important. We are making changes to local policies to increase quality care, as well as educating and encouraging parents to select quality care for their children.
 
A major emphasis of the Child Care Program in Tarrant County is to support quality improvement activities.  Our intent is to increase the availability of high quality child care facilities serving children in the child care subsidy system; increase the total number of children enrolling in high quality facilities; and prepare more young Texans to enter kindergarten school ready.

The Texas Workforce Commission joined Governor Abbott and the Texas Education Agency in hosting the Texas Early Childhood Learning Summit July 26-27, 2016 in Dallas. The summit focus was to build the foundation for student excellence and a skilled and competitive future Texas workforce. The summit featured speakers and workshops on important topics and new trends in early care and education while providing opportunities to share your experiences in and bet practices for working with children. The speakers included: Governor Abbott, Mike Morath, Commission of Education for TEA, and with TWC, Chairman Alcantar, Commissioner Hughs and Commissioner Alvarez. 


 
DARS Transitioning to TWC on September 1, 2016
AUSTIN - The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is preparing to welcome several programs operated by the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to the Workforce Solutions system on Sept. 1, 2016. 

Through legislative action and authorization by Governor Greg Abbott, programs from DARS will transfer to TWC and to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). TWC will welcome more than 1,860 DARS employees to its Workforce Solutions partner network.

The four DARS programs transitioning to TWC provide support to people with disabilities so that they can live independent and productive lives. Transitioning programs include: Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program (currently in separate divisions) , including the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, the Business Enterprises of Texas (BET) program, and Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind program.

For more information you can read the entire press release from TWC by clicking the link below: http://www.twc.state.tx.us/files/news/press-release-081716-program-dars-transition-to-texas-workforce-commission-twc.pdf 
Want to help change the future of our Young Adults?
It is easy to forget how early work experiences influence and shape current achievements.
However, these experiences are vital However, many young adults lack those connections, leaving
the door of opportunity shut.

In December we worked with the members of our Workforce Governing Board (WGB) to help launch a new campaign entitled, "From Where I Stand." The campaign promotes the importance of opening doors for young adults by providing them with first job experiences through relevant and rewarding career exploration activities and internships Too many young adults are not being given these opportunities, and without them, where do they stand?

In the April addition of our Talent Report we used the stories our WGB shared with us about their first job experiences and how it helped shape them into the leaders they are today. The opportunity for Career Exploration and training play an important role in helping today's young adults be successful. Did someone help you get your foot in the door? 


We are inviting you to partner with Workforce Solutions on our Young Adult initiative. If you are, or know of, an employer willing to open a door for a young adult, we are looking for businesses who can provide one or more of the following:
  • Internship opportunities (wages paid by Workforce Solutions). For this program year we have placed 139 young adults into internship opportunities (81 currently active, 58 completed).
  • On-the-job training opportunities (partial wage reimbursement to defray the cost of training). 
  • Tours (allowing a group of young adults to tour the facility and providing a brief orientation to your industry/business). Since February 2016, we have conducted 40 Career Exploration tours for 140 young adults in facilities that compromise industries such as Engineering, Distribution, and Logistics, Manufacturing, Construction, and Healthcare.

A picture from a recent career exploration tour at Cook Children's Northeast Hospital

 
 
 
 
If interested, please contact our Business Solutions Manager, Janie Sanchez at 
(817) 528-9020 or email her at: info@workforcesolutions.net 
Business Forums 
To enhance the economic vitality of our community, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County is hosting a series of Business Forums with Small Business Owners and Economic Development organizations to discuss and strategize resolutions to some common business challenges.  The Forum's focus is on informing employers of opportunities for funding, identifying needed industry credentials, and communicating business and workforce center services available through our workforce centers. In addition, Workforce Solutions is seeking feedback on skills needs and gaps, talent development and ideas to improve and meet the future workforce needs.  

Join us at this month's Board Meeting to hear a Business Forum update. 



Thank you to our Business Forum Hosts:
  • Arlington - William Krohn - June 23, 2016
  • Alliance - Tom Harris - July 28, 2016
  • Mid-Cities - Gracie Vega - August 25, 2016
  • Northside - Rosa Navejar - September 8, 2016
  • Eastside - Estrus Tucker - September 22, 2016
  • Resource Connection - Leslie Scott - October 20, 2016



 

 
Board Member, Edward Spears, Director, FWISD Office of Adult Education for the Fort Worth Independent School District
is presenting at each of the Business Forums. Mr Spears is speaking about the Adult Education and Literacy Services available for employers. Thank you again to Mr. Spears!








For more information please visit the calendar of events on our website. 
 
Texas Business Conference 


The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) hosted Arlington area employers, human resource professionals, business owners and managers at the Texas Business Conference employment law update July 21-22 at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington. The conference provided valuable information for employers and business owners concerning the legal issues associated with operating a business in Texas. 

TWC Commissioner Ruth R. Hughs was the host and spoke to area employers about the importance of working with TWC. Amber Gosser, Business Services Unit Director gave a presentation on the local workforce services available. 

"We are committed to providing employers the information they need to succeed," said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Ruth R. Hughs. "The Texas Business Conference brings valuable resources to effectively navigate employers through state and federal employment laws."


Our table at the Texas Business Conference 

Board Members in the News
We are proud of all the wonderful ways our Board Members are making Tarrant County a better place to Live, Work and Play. 


 
Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, Superintendent for Arlington Independent School Direct, was selected as the ESC Region 11 Superintendent of the Year for 2016. The award honors outstanding Texas administrators for achievement and excellence in public school administration. Dr. Cavazos will now move on to the state level of the competition. The state winner will be announced in September.

 








Rosa Navejar, President and CEO of the Rios Group was inducted into the Fort Worth Business Press - Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. The Rios Group Inc., a company which specializes in locating buried utility lines before construction of a major capital project such as a road or hospital addition. 

Founded in 2004 as the utilities division of Gorrondona & Associates, The Rios Group had revenue of $5.6 million in 2014 and employed 27 people, including four engineers. The business also has offices in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.









Board Member, Dr. Diann Sanchez presented "The 10 Employer 'Watch-Outs' for Businesses in 2016" to the Northeast Tarrant Chamber members at their Monthly "Business over Breakfast" meeting on August 10th at Wood Forest National Bank, in North Richland Hills.   Dr. Sanchez shared her experience in helping business owners avoid legal disasters in the human resources functions of their business.











Leslie Board pic
Leslie Scott was recently promoted at Mother Parker's Tea and Coffee to Director, NA Operations HR. Leslie also is still serving in her capacity as the Chair of the Texas Association of Workforce Boards (TAWB).












 
Gracie Vega, Director of Human Resources for the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center was recently named the Human Resources Leader of the Year for the Western Region of Marriott properties. Under Gracie's leadership the Gaylord Texas was again named the Hotel of the Year for the second year in a row. As if that was not enough, the TX/OK market is leading the Western Region with number of Veteran Hires, 44 Veterans hired in quarter 2. Gracie is one of  two market leads on Veterans initiatives; her passion keeps this goal in the forefront of all of our minds. 
 
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 under the calendar of events. In addition to Job Fairs, we host Hiring Events at our Workforce Centers. All of the upcoming hiring events, including more information, can also be found on our website calendar. Also be sure to check out our Flickr account (link is on the website) so you can view the Hiring Event Notices on the go! Below are some of the job fairs we recently participated in or have coming up:
  • Fort Worth ISD Hiring Fair (for FWISD Students and Alumni) - Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County was again proud to be a sponsor of this wonderful event. The Hiring Fair was held on Thursday, June 9, 2016 at Will Rogers Memorial Center.  As always, Lila Boydston and the FWISD staff put on a top notch event. Workforce Solutions received a lot of interest from Employers and Job Seekers about our Internship and Scholarship Programs.  
  • 5th Annual Mansfield Area Job Fair - Workforce Solutions was proud to again partner with the Mansfield EDC on the 5th Annual Mansfield Area Job Fair. The event was held on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Mansfield ISD Center for the Preforming Arts. Below is a breakdown of the numbers. The job seeker turnout was low as we expected it might be with the economy, but the employers were happy as they were able to speak with some quality candidates.  
    • 40 employers (maxed out the space)
    • 166 job seekers 
    • 17 firm offers made
    • 89 Interviews scheduled / conducted


 

  • Tarrant County Back-to-School RoundUp - was held on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Will Rogers Memorial Center. Workforce Solutions was proud to have a table and help support this important event. A few members from our young adult program worked the event and helped get the word out about the services we offer adult and young adult job seekers.  As always this was a well-organized event.
  • South Fort Worth Job Fair - was held on Thursday, August 18, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at American Legion Hall Post 838. The event was full with 30 employers who met with over 125 job seekers (23 of which were Veterans). We are still gathering information, but we heard positive feedback from the employers and a few interviews have already been set up. 

    


 

SAVE THE DATE (more information about each event including registration information can be found on our website):

New Job Fairs/On-Site Hiring Events are added all the time! For the latest Job Fair and Event Information/ or to register and get your FAST PASS and avoid the lines please visit our calendar of events on our website www.workforcesolutions.net

 

High School Equivalency Graduation
The Countywide High School Equivalency Graduation was held on June 26, 2016 at Genesis United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. The graduation accommodated students from Community organizations as well as the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC grant funded providers.  The Tarrant Literacy Coalition, Fort Worth ISD, Tarrant County College, Birdville ISD, Arlington Library, Cornerstone Assistance Network and Arlington ISD were among the providers that participated. 
 
Over 150 graduates received their High School Equivalency Diplomas at the June ceremony.  Robert Earley, President of John Peter Smith Hospital addressed the graduates in an inspirational and motivating commencement speech. Lisa Mott from the Tarrant Literacy Coalition's Project BEST was the student speaker. Megan Spears did a first-rate job of singing and hitting every note of the National Anthem. 
 
We would like to thank Board Members, Joan Grigsby and Edward Spears for their participation and help with the graduation. In addition, staff member, Rikki McDonald donated her time and expertise to take some beautiful photos of the ceremony.   


 

For more pictures check out this link: Graduation Pictures   
Pictures and Other News


We are happy to announce that as of Friday, June 3, 2016, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County has achieve Blue Zones Project Approved™ worksite status - a national recognition for employers that implement best practices that create healthier work environments for employees.

Congratulations to our wellness team for making this a reality for Workforce Solutions. We are proud of this distinction. Workforce Solutions joined the Blue Zones Project team at the Fort Worth City Council meeting at Fort Worth City Hall at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28th, 2016. The Council recognized the accomplishments of Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County and more than a dozen restaurants, worksites, and organizations that have become Blue Zones Project Approved. At this month's Board meeting we will have representatives from Project Blue Zones who will join us to help celebrate this accomplishment. 



Arlington Business Forum Event Host and Board Member, Bill Krohn, Personnel Director for General Motors Company welcoming employers to the event.

 
Alliance Business Forum Event Host, Tom Harris, President Alliance Air/Aviation Services A Hillwood Company welcoming employers to the event.

 
Thank you again to Board Member Edward Spears who spoke at the Alliance Business Forum.  




New Bus Service Coming to Alliance and Denton 
The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) plans to begin new bus service to Alliance beginning Sept. 26. The round-trip route will begin at FWTA's Intermodal Transportation Center and will stop at Alliance Opportunity Center before continuing to Denton for stops connecting to Denton County Transportation Authority's service and the University of North Texas. Initial service will have buses departing every three hours between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.  The route will also serve FWTA's existing North Park and Ride. Look for more information in our Items of Interest. 



 
Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County was awarded the 2016 Workforce Excellence Award (Merit Recognition) at the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) Mid-year conference in June. We submitted the Mansfield Manufacturing Partnership with Ben Barber. Thank you to Board Member, Michael Klein with Klein Tools for being such a champion of this initiative. 


Stay up-to-date with your favorite Workforce Board 
SOCIAL MEDIA PUSH: Workforce Solutions has so many great ways to connect both job seekers and employers to our services. Check us out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and Flickr. You will find direct links to all of our social media pages at the top of our home page on our website.  I encourage all of you to "Like" or "Follow" these pages and suggest them to others!
 
Workforce Boards and Professionals are using a new hashtag (#) when speaking about the wonderful work we are doing around the country. Tarrant County is joining in the movement of using #WeRworkforce, we hope you will join us as well.
 


Tarrant County HOT JOBS: Each week on our website you can find a link to the current HOT JOBS. Look for this graphic on our home page and click on it to see what the HOT JOBS in Tarrant County are. Share the link with others. This information is also share on our social media outlets. 


 
TEXT MESSAGING: At the end of January we launched text message alerts. You can sign up to receive the latest information on our Job Fairs, Hiring Events and even receive HOT JOBS. A flyer can be found in this month's Items of Interest packet. The information can also be found on our website and on social media.
 
If you are a customer, make sure to ask your counselor about getting text alert reminders for appointments, to turn in documents, etc.... 
 
 
Calendar of Events
Board and Committee Meetings:  
(for the latest information please make sure to check our website calendar)
 
Upcoming Events:
  • Business Forum - Mid-Cities - August 25, 2016 - 8:30 a.m. Mid-Cities Workforce Center
  • Workforce Center and Offices Closed in Observance of Labor Day - September 5, 2016
  • Fort Worth Chamber's State of the County Address - September 7, 2016 - 11:30 a.m. Worthington Renaissance 
  • Business Forum - Northside - September 8, 2016 - 8:30 a.m. United Way of Tarrant County
  • IAWG - September 15, 2016 - 9:00 a.m. - Goodwill Industries Fort Worth 
  • Workforce Improvement Committee Meeting - September 21, 2016 - 3:30 p.m. - Board Offices
  • Business Forum - Eastside - September 22, 2016 - 8:30 a.m. - Eastside Workforce Center 
  • Arlington Chamber Annual Dinner - September 29, 2016 - 5:30 p.m. Arlington Convention Center 
Workforce Board Meetings:
  • Joint WDB/WGB Meeting - August 22, 2016 - 11:30 a.m. Lena Pope (working lunch note special time)
  • WDB Meeting - October 12, 2016 - 9:00 a.m. Lena Pope
  • WDB Strategic Planning Session - December 14, 2016 - 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Gaylord Texan (more details to come soon)
  • 20th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Awards Meeting - February 8, 2017 Lena Pope (invitation to follow soon)
New events are being added all the time!
For the latest Job Fair and Event Information please visit our calendar of events on our website www.workforcesolutions.net. 
 
Connect With Us on Social Media
 

Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our profile on LinkedIn   View on Instagram  View our videos on YouTube  View our photos on flickr

 

 

More information about our events, services, programs and Workforce Center locations is available on our website.

 

 

Need more information about something listed in this newsletter?  Contact Lacey Douglas, Communications and Events Manager at lacey.douglas@workforcesolutions.net

An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available, upon request, to individuals with disabilities. (TDD/TTY) 1-800-RELAYTX