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Career Pathways:A Perkins/Workforce Investment Act

(WIA) Partnership Model

Maricopa Community Colleges and the Arizona Workforce Connection

National Association of Career and Technical Education Information (NACTEI) Conference

Boise, IdahoMay 2008

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• Perkins/WIA Mandated Partnership - Jennifer• Maricopa Community Colleges Overview – Karen• Arizona Workforce Connections Overview – Cheryl• Synergistic Strategic and Regionalization Planning – Karen/Cheryl• Conclusion, Questions, Model Sharing Discussion – Jennifer

Presentation Outline

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The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 was enacted to provide workforce activities through statewide and local workforce One-Stop systems, to increase the employment, retention and earnings of participants, and increase occupational skill attainment by participants.

What is the Mandate?– As a Postsecondary Carl D. Perkins Grant Recipient, The

Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is a mandated partner in the One-Stop System.

Perkins/WIA Mandatory Partnership

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What is Required?• MCCCD must enter into an MOU with the local Workforce Investment

Board(s) to provide applicable “core services” and provide representation on the local WIB(s)

What are “Core Services”:• As Defined by WIA:

– Services available to all job seekers including self-service access to job listings, information about careers and the local labor market, and limited staff assistance with job search activities.

The Workforce Alliance Training Policy In Brief

Perkins/WIA Mandatory Partnership

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How does the MCCCD address the requirements of this partnership?

• Over the past 2 years, the division of the MCCCD overseeing the mandated Perkins/WIA worked closely with the local One-Stop System partners to recreate and revitalize this collaborative partnership.

• In the following slides, we will describe who we are – the Maricopa Community Colleges and the Arizona Workforce Connection, how we work together, anticipated Next Steps in light of recent economic development.

Perkins/WIA Mandatory Partnership

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Maricopa Community Colleges

• Comprised of 10 individually accredited colleges and 2 skill centers

• Dedicated to educational excellence, meeting the needs of businesses and the citizens of Maricopa County

• One of the largest higher education systems in the world and the largest provider of health care workers and job training in Arizona

• A major resource for business and industry and for individuals

seeking education and job training. Nearly 270,000 credit and special interest students attend the colleges annually

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Center for Workforce Development

CWD to fulfilling job training needs of the many and diverse employer communities throughout Maricopa County by:

• Connecting workforce development programs through the Maricopa Community Colleges to any business or organization, public or private, in the Greater Phoenix Area

• Providing current labor market information, as well as regional and national data on economic and workforce trends and issues

• Bringing together industry and education for discussions on curriculum and faculty training

• Linking to regional economic development entities

Center for Workforce Development (CWD)

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Center for Workforce Development

As part of the Center for Workforce Development (CWD), the Public Workforce System Team (PWS) was revitalized in 2006 to:

• Dedicate the efforts of an Associate Director to maintain active representation on both the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County WIBs, meet regularly with One-Stop management and staff, and supervise PWS staff

• Create a new position: Manager of Workforce Initiatives to oversee the Perkins grant at a district level, serve as liaison between the colleges and One-Stops, create and maintain mutually beneficial accountability measures

Public Workforce System Team

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Center for Workforce Development

• Dedicate 2 full-time Managers of Career Services to:

– provide individual and workshop based support services at four local, comprehensive One-Stop Career Centers located in the Greater Phoenix area

– serve as the onsite experts providing resources for career counseling and academic advising for the breadth of certificate and degree programs offered at the 10 Colleges and 2 Skill Centers

Public Workforce System Team

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In Arizona the system created to meet the requirements of WIA is called Arizona Workforce Connection:

• Comprised of 14 Local Workforce Investment Areas • Provide youth, adults, and laid-off wokers with educational and

workforce services.

The goal is to improve the quality of Arizona’s workforce, reduce welfare dependency and enhance our business and industry’s productivity and competitiveness.

Arizona Workforce Connection

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The Arizona Workforce Connection (Phoenix Workforce Connection and Maricopa Workforce Connections) One-Stop Career Centers provide multiple opportunities that assist companies to link employee development directly to business strategy, available on line. The Workforce Connection is managed by the Arizona Department of Commerce (ADOC).

http://www.arizonavirtualonestop.com

Arizona Workforce Connection

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The four comprehensive One-Stop Career Centers in the Greater Phoenix area provide programs including, but not limited to: Title I of WIA (adults, youth, and dislocated workers) Job Corps, Native American Programs, Job Service, Unemployment Insurance, Trade Adjustment Assistance, NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance, Welfare-to-Work, Adult, Postsecondary Vocational Education, Senior, Veteran, Vocational Rehabilitation, Housing & Urban Development, and Community Services Block Grant Employment & Training Activities. Maricopa County Community College District is a mandated partner.

One-Stop Career Centers

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Gilbert Career Center

735 N. Gilbert Road #134

Gilbert, AZ 85234

West Valley Career Center

1840 N. 95th Ave., Suite 160

Phoenix, AZ 85037

Maricopa Workforce Connections (MWC) Comprehensive One-Stop Career Centers

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Phoenix Workforce Connection-North

9801 N. 7th Street

Phoenix, AZ 85020

Phoenix Workforce Connection-West

3406 N. 51st Ave.

Phoenix, AZ 85031

Phoenix Workforce Connection (PWC) Comprehensive One-Stop Career Centers

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Regular Members of WIA Management Team – Dialogue/partner/collaborate on ideas

Surveyed WIA Line Staff – To meet the needs of job seekers, over 60,000 touch our one-stops (just city)

Researched/evaluated Governor’s, Education’s, and WIA Local Areas’ Economic Development Plans

Business, Education, and Workforce – Partners in Economic Development

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– Arizona Workforce Connection – Local Workforce (City of Phoenix and Maricopa County) and Center for Workforce Development

– Career Pathways focus determined by considering:• Arizona Workforce Connection/One-Stop Career Center priorities• Federal and Arizona Department of Education, Carl D. Perkins Grant

approved high-skill wage/high-wage/high-demand programs• Occupational Clusters

– Governor’s 13 Industries of Opportunity/16 Federal /MWC/PWC/MCCCD• Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) Initiatives• Middle America Jobs and higher education• National and Arizona Department of Economic Security regional occupational

data• Common Measures – System-wide data collection and reporting

Development and Alignment of Career Pathways

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Two Systems Share Common Ground

• Share Bottom Line – Education and Training• Same Results – Career Planning and Goals• Same Method – Target Industry/Occupation

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• MWC and PWC Full Boards came together based on the analysis of the 2007 CEO Workforce Summit to streamline seamless service.

• The directive was to review service assessments in both Phoenix and Maricopa One-Stops to identify differences in program structure.

• The event also streamlined communication among board members who share the drive to make a community impact.

MWC/PWC Regional Planning

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MWC/PWC The Big Picture - Changes Since the Legislation

• Business - Our “New” Customer

• State & Regional Areas Set Priorities & Raise Expectations

• Calls for Regionalization of LWIAs

• However - No One Changed our Customers60% Female29% Make Less than $15,00056% Make Less than $30,000Service Employers Seek Us Out

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2008 MWC/PWC Board Infrastructure

• Advocacy• System

Effectiveness• Business Services• Youth Council

• Governance Committee• Operations Committee• Business Services• Youth Initiatives

Committee

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• One-Stop Career Center Staff: Assist staff in understanding high demand career areas in the Greater Phoenix region to better assist customers/clients in making career decisions and writing Individual Training Accounts (ITA).

• Customers/Clients: Provide information about companies and occupations in different industry clusters, wage data, (turnover rates), transferable skills, local employment trends, etc. to assist in informed career choices.

• Businesses/Employers: Promote business, occupations, and connect with experts in the industry. Present industry specific information on behalf of all businesses in the Greater Phoenix region.

• MCCCD: Promote programs and services offered through MCCCD in high demand industries to encourage enrollment. Assist external partners of MCCCD Public Workforce System. Prepare the workforce of tomorrow.

Value of Career Pathways Workshop

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Career Pathways Workshop

Introduction to 9 High-Demand Industry Clusters

• Automotive• Bioscience • Business Services• Construction• Education

• Health Services• Information

Technology• Manufacturing• Public Safety

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Career Pathways Workshop

Industry Cluster Information

• Industry Definition

• Essential Industry Transferable Skills

• Two (2) Example Job Titles Labor Market Information

• Wage Information

• Example Industries and Companies

• Programs offered through MCCCD

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Career Pathways Workshop

Industry Cluster Information, continued

• Additional training providers and programs available at - www.ade.az.gov/arizonaheat

• Resources for additional information on careers, financial aid and high-demand industries

• Next Steps for Additional Assistance with Career Decision Making

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Additional Workshops and On-Site Services Delivered by MCCCD

Workshops– Career Search Tools (Resume Writing & Networking)– Intergovernmental Agreements (IGA) contracts for training:

• Career Visioning/GateWay Community College • Skills for Success in the Workplace-Soft Skills/GateWay Community College

and Glendale Community College

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Additional Workshops and On-Site Services Delivered by MCCCD, continued

• One-Stop Career Center Core Services– Outreach and Intake– Information for Supportive Services– Labor Market Information and Educational Workshops– Career Counseling and Advising/Connection to Maricopa’s Educational Programs and Training– Individual Counseling, Career Planning, Assessment, and Resume Critiques– Information on Adult Education and Literacy Program

• One-Stop Career Center Focus– Employer/Business Outreach Services/Rapid Response– Veterans Services– Mature Workers Services– Youth Services Initiatives– Career and Education Fairs and Expos– Arizona HEAT (Helping Everyone Access Training)-ETPL website with over 400 programs

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MWC/PWC Seamless Delivery of Services

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• Arizona employers profit from services tailored to unique business needs through the Arizona Workforce Connection. We do the legwork – you get the employees with skills that match your needs. Please contact the One-Stop nearest you.

• Employee Recruitment • Customized Training and Skills Upgrading • Understanding Your Local Labor Market • Pre-Layoff Assistance • Employment Laws and Regulations

• Arizona Apprenticeship

Services and Resources for Employers

http://www.arizonaworkforceconnection.com/

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Services and Resources for Job Seekers

• Arizona Workforce Connection will provide access to information for individuals looking for jobs or seeking training.• Find a Job • Get Trained • Skills Assessments • Educational Opportunities • Financial Aid Resources • Unemployment Benefits • Employee Rights and Law  • Special Populations Information • Ex-Offenders• Mature Workers (coming soon) http://www.arizonaworkforceconnection.com/

• Youth

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MWC/PWC Two Year Plans

• 1st Opportunity for Strategic Integration and Regional Visioning– MWC/PWC Staffs Working Closely– Full and Open Information Sharing

• Key Elements– Improved Business Model– Opportunities for External Funding– Best Practices Sharing

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MWC/PWC Advertising to Business

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MWC/PWC Advertising to Business

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Expected Outcomes

•Better high wage/high skill employment opportunities for customers•Strengthened relationship between MCCCD and One-Stop Career Center partners •Increased enrollment in MCCCD programs•More knowledgeable One-Stop Career Center staff, customers/clients, business/employers, and MCCCD staff

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Workforce Trends In Greater Phoenix

• Unemployment rate – 3.5%, up from 3.0% in May 2007 (ADOC).

• Total Non-farm Employment Up 1.3% Between 2006 and 2007 (ADOC).

• Employment Trends Between 2006 and 2007 (ADOC):Construction – Down 6.3%Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing – Down 3.9%Information – Down 3.4%Manufacturing - Down 1.9%Healthcare - Up 5.1%Government – Up 4.6%

• Employment is expected to fall 1.0% in 2008 and increase 0.7% in 2009, according to the University of Arizona Eller College of Management.

• Home values in the region were down 7.8% between 4th quarter 2007 and 4th quarter 2006 according to the National Association of Realtors.

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In light of the recent economic downturn, mid-term to long-term career and educational pathways counseling may take a back seat to more immediate job training and placement activities. MCCCD and Arizona Workforce Connections are currently working together to explore the following:

• Create advertising/advising resources to promote MCCCD low-cost, short-term programs (typically 20 credit hours or less)

• Implement additional online resources

• Continue to advance regionalized strategic planning

• Offer MCCCD programs onsite at One-Stops

Next Steps

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Thank you!

Now, we’d like to hear from you!

•Share examples of your Perkins/WIA partnership - Best Practices - Challenges

•Questions/Comments