The Labor and Workforce Development Agency led a co-enrollment workgroup comprised of multiple state partners and several Local Workforce Development Areas that identified the need for a common intake and referral system between state workforce partners. That new system is called CalASSIST. CalASSIST promotes a no wrong door policy through the creation of a data exchange platform that creates a bridge between the partner programs’ unique data systems. EDD will be rolling out CalASSIST pilots later this Spring. If your adult education regional consortium is interested in participating in the pilot, please email Nicole Laktash at Nicole.Laktash@edd.ca.gov.

The Untapped Opportunity: Understanding and Advancing Prospects for Californians without a College Degree report addresses the 6.8 million Californians who have graduated high school but have not completed college and the impact the current economy is having on them in the job market. The report identifies who the potential graduates are, how graduates fare in the workforce, and what policies would help potential graduate’s complete college degrees.

PPIC asserts many Californians continue to grapple with the financial impacts of COVID-19. According to PPIC’s January survey, 72% of adults think the state is in an economic recession and 41% are worried that they or someone in their family will lose their job in the next year. Amid a backsliding economy, PPIC sees considerable racial/ethnic and income disparities in Californians’ views of the recession and concerns about job loss.

Overall, one in three Californians say the state is in a serious recession—similar to May 2020, in the early stages of the pandemic. Across racial/ethnic groups, whites (38%) and African Americans (36%) are more likely than Latinos (27%) and Asian Americans (23%) to say the recession is serious. Notably, there is less variation in views by income level, with about one-third of each income group holding this view (34% under $40,000, 32% $40,000 to under $80,000, 29% $80,000 or more).

The Infection Control for All Now (ICAN) Certificate/Digital Badge is now free online for educators and industry professionals. Join members of the Workforce Economic Development Division, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office as they provide information on the new ICAN program. Specifically, the ICAN program provides:

The Immigrant Integration Framework invites adult educators to partner more deliberately with immigrant students to identify their goals and priorities, devise strategies across the Framework’s ten areas, and collaborate with other organizations to improve our impact. Join this March 18 webinar to hear from High Road Alliance and a panel of CAEP consortium leaders across the state about ways adult education supports immigrant integration through curriculum and instruction, student support services, and community connections and referrals. Come with questions and be prepared to share and learn about ways CAEP partners are addressing the Framework’s ten goal areas to support immigrant students and communities.