Preparing native Preparing native Americans to be college Americans to be college

and career readyand career ready

National Indian and Native American Employment and Training National Indian and Native American Employment and Training ConferenceConference

April 26, 2010April 26, 2010

Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque, New Mexico

Workforce needs are different Workforce needs are different now…really differentnow…really different

• Workforce Change:Workforce Change:  this time the change is different  this time the change is different

• New Solutions: New Solutions: can’t keep using old solutionscan’t keep using old solutions

• Skills Needed: Skills Needed:  literacy in math and reading, communication,  literacy in math and reading, communication, problem solving, critical thinking and decision making, time problem solving, critical thinking and decision making, time management, computer fluency, Internet, teamwork and management, computer fluency, Internet, teamwork and collaboration, client orientation for customer service and collaboration, client orientation for customer service and relationship buildingrelationship building

• Vocational Workers: Vocational Workers:  must have academic skills in additional  must have academic skills in additional to job specific technical skillsto job specific technical skills

• Why Enhanced Skills Needed: Why Enhanced Skills Needed:  initial employment,  initial employment, advancement or promotion to supervisory, ability to react when advancement or promotion to supervisory, ability to react when nature of job changenature of job change

• Personal Payoff: Personal Payoff: results in higher standard of living for self results in higher standard of living for self and family, current and future generationsand family, current and future generations

Workforce needs are different Workforce needs are different now…really differentnow…really different

• K-12K-12

• PostsecondaryPostsecondary

• WorkplaceWorkplace

• In-houseIn-house

• PartnershipsPartnerships

Third party testsThird party testsaka portable credentialsaka portable credentials

• Key Train/Career Readiness CertificateKey Train/Career Readiness Certificate

• NOCTI (National Occupational Competency NOCTI (National Occupational Competency Testing InstituteTesting Institute

• NCCER (National Center for Construction NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research)   Education and Research)   

•   Industry specific certificationsIndustry specific certifications

Career Readiness Certificates ACT Career Readiness Certificates ACT WorkKeys WorkKeys

•Accepted by 17 statesAccepted by 17 states•Is your state one of them?Is your state one of them?•National Association of ManufacturersNational Association of Manufacturers

•Employer to give preferential hiring and/or salary Employer to give preferential hiring and/or salary treatmenttreatment

•Skill areasSkill areas•Reading for informationReading for information•Locating informationLocating information•Applied mathApplied math

•Bronze/Silver/GoldBronze/Silver/Gold

ACT Key Train ACT Key Train

Preparation toolPreparation tool

• Quick test vs. standardQuick test vs. standard

• Paper vs. computerPaper vs. computer

• Best if free to participantBest if free to participant

Preparing clientsPreparing clients

• Provide client with individualized attention to Provide client with individualized attention to prepareprepare

• Content areaContent area

• Test taking skills including timed testsTest taking skills including timed tests

• Computer navigation skillsComputer navigation skills

Standard, tutorial Standard, tutorial formatformat

• Computer preparationComputer preparation

• Refreshers for specific topicsRefreshers for specific topics

nccernccer

• Is a portable technical credential that covers Is a portable technical credential that covers some soft skills like communication some soft skills like communication • Core Core

• communication skillcommunication skill• technical mathtechnical math• safety focussafety focus• entry level entry level

• CraftsCrafts• advancing beyond entry leveladvancing beyond entry level• progression from apprentice to master level    progression from apprentice to master level    

partnershipspartnerships

• Functional partnershipFunctional partnership

• Personal relationshipPersonal relationship

• Win/Win requirements for each partnerWin/Win requirements for each partner• Moving beyond “What’s in it for me?” Moving beyond “What’s in it for me?”

• Improve ability to leverage federal dollars thereby Improve ability to leverage federal dollars thereby increasing the agency’s capacityincreasing the agency’s capacity

• Opportunity to increase awareness of Native American Opportunity to increase awareness of Native American issuesissues

Wrap around servicesWrap around services

• Career Pathways Initiative, University of Arkansas Community Career Pathways Initiative, University of Arkansas Community College at HopeCollege at Hope

• Case management approachCase management approach• SuperiorSuperior

• Relationship basedRelationship based

• Customized services for each case (identifying resource gaps)Customized services for each case (identifying resource gaps)

• Resources beyond financialResources beyond financial

• MentoringMentoring

• Aggressive student services (intrusive advising) (T R)Aggressive student services (intrusive advising) (T R)

• Career preparation beyond getting an academic degree Career preparation beyond getting an academic degree or credentialor credential

Workforce preparationWorkforce preparation

• Recognize the integration of education, economy, and Recognize the integration of education, economy, and employmentemployment

• Path to employment may be advanced training or Path to employment may be advanced training or direct to the workplacedirect to the workplace

• Today’s worker needs to think of themselves as self-Today’s worker needs to think of themselves as self-employed and contracting their time to an employer; employed and contracting their time to an employer; take responsibility for their own career developmenttake responsibility for their own career development

Arkansas Works: A Career Arkansas Works: A Career development tooldevelopment tool

ARKANSAS WORKS: ARKANSAS WORKS: All inclusive tool that:All inclusive tool that:

• Can help job placement providers serve clientsCan help job placement providers serve clients

• Can help clients better manage their own career Can help clients better manage their own career developmentdevelopment

• Provides a holistic approach beginning in grade school Provides a holistic approach beginning in grade school through the mature workerthrough the mature worker

What can we do?What can we do?

• Focus on the individual clientFocus on the individual client

• Focus on creating community partnerships with business and Focus on creating community partnerships with business and industry and with colleges, universities and technical schools.industry and with colleges, universities and technical schools.

• Forge partnerships with state agencies and community based Forge partnerships with state agencies and community based organizations that can provide resources to help workers organizations that can provide resources to help workers overcome barriers to education and sustained work.overcome barriers to education and sustained work.

• Make education and training relevant to local labor market Make education and training relevant to local labor market needs….ability and skills, work ethic and attitude. needs….ability and skills, work ethic and attitude. 

• Use a community development process; identify stakeholders, Use a community development process; identify stakeholders, reach out to them, affect policy, advocate for clients, help reach out to them, affect policy, advocate for clients, help clients build resources for self sustainability.clients build resources for self sustainability.

Thank youThank you

Jolane CookJolane Cook

Director of Industry Director of Industry Outreach and Continuing Outreach and Continuing EducationEducation

UACC-HopeUACC-Hope

870.722.8126870.722.8126

jolane.cook@uacch.edujolane.cook@uacch.edu

Monieca WestMonieca West

Federal Programs Federal Programs ManagerManager

Arkansas Department of Arkansas Department of Higher EducationHigher Education

501.371.2018501.371.2018

monieca.west@adhe.edumonieca.west@adhe.edu