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"Partnering for Quality" is a modular training program designed to help local workforce investment partners meet the requirements of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) for an integrated One-Stop service system. The program will provide participants with tools, strategies, and case study examples on:
1. developing broad partnerships,
2. designing seamless services that meet customer needs, and
3. managing integrated One-Stop systems.
The training modules--developed by Social Policy Research Associates (SPR)--are designed to address specific WIA requirements. During the course of this training, participants will create products, and develop strategies that will directly facilitate the transition to a WIA-ready One-Stop system.
The "pending Internet availability" of this product was mentioned at the One-Stop training modules in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. You may want to alert your One-Stop and WIA principals about opportunities for on-line access and future training. For further information about the curriculum and training available, interested parties may contact Vinz Koller at SPR at (650) 617-8625, ext. 638 or via e-mail at Vinz_Koller@spra.com.
Memorandum of Understanding
The ICESA ATM has just added the "Memorandum of Understanding Between
the Indiana WIA Steering Committee Members" to its web site (www.icesa.org).
"The purpose of this state-level agreement is to foster data sharing and
coordination and accessibility of services, and commitment to achieving regional
outcomes between and among the federal and state agencies representing the
One-Stop Partners in Indiana."
Elaws
For those team members who have not seen the April 1999 LABOR EXCHANGE, the
cover story featured the Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small
Businesses. The One-Stop office has commended this web site in the past to
GOTRs to bring to the attention of One-Stop and workforce development
"webmasters" in the States. The story is transmitted for your
reference and potential use:
"Back in 1997 the U.S. Department
of Labor (DOL) received funding to develop the elaws Advisors. (Elaws
stands for Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses.)
The elaws Advisors are interactive Web-based
tools that provide easy-to-understand expert advice on Labor Department's
compliance issues, workplace laws, and rights and responsibilities.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Advisor and The Drug-Free Workplace Advisor are the two most recent elaws additions to the web site. The FLSA Advisor is designed to provide employers and employees information on Federal minimum wage, overtime, child labor, and record keeping requirements. The Drug-Free Workplace Advisor contains information on how to establish and maintain an alcohol- and drug-free workplace and comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988.
In addition to the new Advisors now available, the elaws Web site includes several improvements -- a new contemporary look, clearer organization of available resources, and a search engine that allows the user to search by subject or by the agency that mandates a particular regulation.
'As technology evolves so does the elaws Web site,' said Dr. Roland Droitsch, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at the Department of Labor. 'We are constantly working to improve and to provide the best resources technically possible for our customers.'
Elaws utilizes a computer technology
known as 'expert systems.' Expert systems put complex information, such as
the detailed requirements of a regulation, into a computer program. The
system imitates the interaction an individual might have with a DOL employment
law expert--it asks questions and directs the user to the appropriate resolution
based upon responses given. The technology is simple to use and saves
the employment community time and money.
Currently, sixteen elaws Advisors are
available, representing regulations from Employment Standards (ESA), Mine Safety
and Health Administration (MSHA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA), Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA), and Veterans'
Employment and Training Service (VETS).
Additional elaws Advisors will become available throughout 1999.
The elaws Web site address is http://www.dol.gov/elaws . For more information, please contact Karen H. Vaughan at (202) 219-6001, ext. 137 or send an e-mail to elaws@dol.gov."
CONNECTICUT'S WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SYSTEM UNDER THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998 (WIA)
The Connecticut Employment and Training Commission (CETC)
The Connecticut Employment and Training Commission (CETC), established in 1989, is Connecticut’s highest workforce development policy body. Its members are appointed by the Governor. The majority of its 24 members are from business and industry, with the rest representing state and local governments, organized labor, education and community-based organizations. Chaired by Wallace Barnes, CETC has been designated by the Governor as Connecticut’s state-level Workforce Investment Board, as required by the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). As such, CETC has the responsibility to develop policy for a statewide workforce system that will:
The Office for Workforce Competitiveness (OWC)
The Office for Workforce Competitiveness (OWC), also created by Executive Order No. 14A, is intended to focus on coordinating the changes needed to prepare Connecticut’s workforce for the rapidly changing and competitive economy of the 21st Century. OWC does not administer programs. It is directed by Mary Ann Hanley, who is appointed by and reports directly to the Governor. In this capacity, she is authorized to draw upon officials from any state agency for temporary assignment to OWC, as well as to call upon any office, department, commission or other agency of the state to supply such reports, information and assistance as may be necessary or appropriate in order to carry out Executive Order No. 14A. OWC also establishes a small staff capability to support both the CETC and the Governor’s JOBS Cabinet. As a new organization, OWC has a temporary Web presence within the Website of the Connecticut Economic Resource Center; it can be accessed through the "OWC/IT" link at www.cerc.org.
Local Workforce Investment Boards
The Connecticut General Assembly created Workforce Development Boards in 1992, basing them on existing business-led Private Industry Councils. The membership of the Boards also includes representatives of community-based organizations, state and local organized labor, state and municipal government, human service agencies, economic development agencies, community colleges and other educational institutions, including secondary and post-secondary institutions and regional vocational technical schools. Boards do not operate or administer programs, nor do they provide services. Under WIA, Boards are given increased authority for oversight, strategic planning, and policy-making related to workforce development activities provided through One-Stop Delivery Systems at the local level in eight regions of the state, working in close collaboration with local elected officials. Their responsibility can be summarized as leading the workforce investment system in each local area.
Local One-Stop Delivery Systems
The local One-Stop delivery systems are at the same time the foundation and the front line of the state's workforce investment system. When fully implemented, they will bring together in a local delivery system nineteen different workforce partners required by WIA, as well as any state workforce partners mandated by the Governor and the local chief elected officials in conjunction with the local boards they appoint. The One-Stop delivery systems should allow services to be streamlined and accessible to those who need the services by requiring the co-location of workforce partner representatives in the One-Stop centers. One-Stop systems should encourage the provision of services in a logical and seamless manner, pursuant to Memoranda of Understanding which establish a framework for the integration of the range of workforce programs and activities in each local area.
