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Summer 2017
HappeningsHappenings at the Association of Iowa Workforce Partners
  • Save the Date for the 2018 AIWP Annual Conference April 18-20, 2018!
ResourcesResources Worthy of Your Attention
  • Workforce GPS is the newest incarnation of Workforce3One, the DOL technical assistance platform website.  It is free, relatively easy to maneuver, and has a ton of resources.
  • A new report from the Casey Foundation explores how five different workforce development boards have implemented Sector Strategies. Read the report here.
CaseStudiesCase Studies in Collaboration
Faced with dislocation from his production job of 38 years, Steven Foelske of Waverly was facing a daunting challenge: find a new full-time job after years of consistent, stable work. The key to finding this new job would turn out to be the tireless collaboration between Sara Spieker of IowaWorks Cedar Valley, Emily Boyd of TRADE, and Krista Monroe of Voc Rehab.

Following his employer's approval under the Trade Act, Steven came into the IowaWorks office for an Unemployment meeting. Already working with Voc Rehab for a potential learning disability, Steve was referred to Sara for different evaluations and assistance. Together, Sara and Steve began weekly meetings to do job searches, get assistance with resumes, and get support for job seeking.

As a team, Sara, Emily, Steve, and Krista constantly kept each other in the loop. Steve's wife was even added to the team. After numerous interviews, Steve accepted a part-time position as a custodian at the local school district. Although a good job, Steve needed a full-time position.

He expressed a desire to be a bus driver, so the team set into action. Sara, Krista, and Emily worked together to coordinate accommodations to the NCRC, training requests for a CDL, and even a tour and driving simulation at Hawkeye Community College.

As he interviewed more and more, Steve became more confident in the process. Finally, after months of support, Steve interviewed at Wartburg for a full-time custodial position with full benefits and accepted the position. Steve now works in the building with the wrestling team, a team he has followed closely through the years.

Steve says, "The help is out there, but you have to be willing to reach out for it." And with the help of a highly coordinated team, he was able to make the most of that help and overcome that initial challenge.

Go here for the full story.  
TranslatingWIOATranslating WIOA
There are 36 million working age adults in the U.S. who have limited basic skills in math, reading, or spoken English. Two-thirds of these individuals are currently employed. Traditional, sequential models for helping these adults build skills can be discouraging for workers who face the prospect of spending months or even years in basic education before they can begin occupational training.
 
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ("WIOA") addresses this need by including a requirement that states provide Integrated Education and Training ("IET") services.
 
IET has emerged as an approach to help people acquire or refresh key basic skills while also pursuing occupational or industry-specific training. Instruction in basic skills such as math, reading, or spoken English is provided simultaneously with training for a specific occupation or industry. This approach recognizes that busy, working adults need opportunities to acquire basic skills in a meaningful context that has an immediate application, enables credential attainment, and can directly increase their earning power.
 
The three required components of IET are
  1. Adult Education and Literacy, including:
    • adult education
    • literacy
    • workplace adult education and literacy activities
    • family literacy activities
    • English language acquisition activities

2. Workforce Preparation:

Activities, programs, or services designed to help an individual acquire a combination of basic academic skills, critical thinking skills, digital literacy skills, and self-management skills
 

3. Workforce Training for a specific occupation:

    • occupational skill training
    • on-the-job training
    • incumbent worker training
    • training programs operated by the private sector
    • skill upgrading and retraining
    • entrepreneurial training
    • transitional jobs
The core educational strategy for WIOA partners and private sector stakeholders is the creation of quality career pathways. The alignment of IET curriculum with the skill needs of the local economy and the use of occupationally relevant materials puts students on those career pathways.
 
For more information on IET and its incorporation into WIOA, please visit the following links:

DearBobDear Bob
Dear Bob,
What's the difference between Sector Partnerships and Regional Planning Partnerships?

We've discussed what Sector Partnerships are in this column before. See our Spring edition here. Basically, Sector Partnerships are industry-led groups designed to look at the industry career pipeline as a whole and determine effective strategies through which to match employers with employees.

Regional Planning Partnerships, in contrast, are narrowly focused on Career and Technical Education (CTE) and are school district-led. According to a new fact sheet from the Iowa Department of Education, these partnerships will support school districts in developing the best approaches for delivering high-quality CTE and concurrent enrollment, which allows high school students to enroll in college coursework. Read the full fact sheet on the AIWP website here.
UpcomingEventsUpcoming Events
  • Future Ready Iowa Summit - June 20 & 21, 2017; register online here
  • One Door Many Paths Summit - October 23, 2017, West Des Moines, Iowa; register online here
  • AIWP Annual Conference - Save the Date for April 18-20, 2018 in Des Moines, Iowa
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