Workforce New York 2009 Fall Conference
Workshop Session Descriptions
October 20-21, 2009
Breaking Through The Personnel Wall To Get Interviews
…Creative Methods Of Developing Job Leads In A Depressed Economy!
Speaker: Dick Gaither, Job Search Training Systems, Inc.
Employment professionals know that traditional approaches to prospecting for job leads results in fewer interviews than if a job seeker used more creative methods. This is especially true in a tight labor market where the competition for good (Get Out Of Debt) jobs is tougher than ever. Dick Gaither – The Wizard of Work - will show you how to train your clients to set themselves apart from their competition by branding themselves with a simple, yet extremely powerful self-marketing tool, introduce you to more than 30 creative methods of finding job leads, show you how to help you clients design a job search campaign on the Internet that it enhances their odds of getting an interview, and help you formulate an experience equation that turns education into relevant experience that employers want.
Steps To Preparing Your Clients For A Downsizing
…Critical Tasks To Perform Before The Hammer Comes Down!
Speaker: Dick Gaither, Job Search Training Systems, Inc.
Downsizing is going to be a reality for a long time to come and up front preparation has always been the key to smoothing your clients’ transitions from a downsizing to reemployment. He will share with you what he’s learned from 30 years of preparing “soon to be” downsized workers for a job loss. He’ll discuss the importance of designing a delivery system that takes into consideration the emotional factors and fears downsized workers must work through; list the steps the downsized workers must take before hitting the bricks; show you the 25 types of information downsized workers must have about themselves, the decisions they have to make, and the options they have to sort through, and show you how to evaluate the return on investment of going back to school.
How to Keep Motivated and Overcome Rejection Shock
Speaker: Dick Gaither, Job Search Training Systems, Inc.
Too many downsized workers lose the motivation to fight the five-level battle of coping with new education and training, looking for work, dealing with their emotions, maintaining the family, and finding ways to manage their finances. This is especially true for people who have been out of the labor and educational market or looking for work longer than a couple of months. In this session Dick will teach you 26 concrete tactics you can deliver to your clients that will help them get through the tough times. He'll also present ways you can teach your clients how to manage the pain or rejection, the misunderstood realities of being rejected, and the most common reasons for applicant rejection.
Strangers in a Strange Land: A New York Strategy for jumpstarting recently hired WIB Directors into their new job
Speaker: John Twomey, New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals, Inc. (NYATEP)
Being a WIB Director in New York, and across the country means largely working in a Baby Boomer dominated industry. Demographics suggest that we will have much turnover in the coming years. Under contract from NYSDOL, NYATEP authored a New WIB Directors Manual. It is the A to Z, everything you need to know to survive the initial weeks living in the alphabet land that is W-I-A. While essential for new WIB Directors, this manual will also be very valuable for WIB staff, WIB Chairs, One Stop Managers, and State DOL staff who work with local WIBs. Topics include: WIA’s Different Titles and Each Title’s Required Performance, Governance of WIA, roles of the WIB, and much more.
Building Partnerships to Meet Healthcare Workforce Needs
Speaker: Jill Walls, Hudson Mohawk Area Health Education Center
HM AHEC is utilizing online resources, community partnerships, and training programs to introduce underserved career seekers to careers in healthcare. HM AHEC is training an underserved population in various health careers while partnering with health care facilities to address workforce shortages. HM AHEC and its partners provide job skills training, skill assessments, and career counseling services to work with program participants to become successful in the health care field. HM AHEC has been working with WIBs and One-Stops in the region to develop a platform for current and future program collaborations. Workshops participants will leave with at least one new tool to build partnerships in the community.
Structuring Business Development for Successful Marketing of City Recruitment and Training Services
Speakers: Elena Boyd and Tim Pinel, New York City Department of Small Business Services
This session will discuss methods for marketing recruitment and training services to businesses. It will cover brand building among prospective business customers with a limited marketing budget, use of data to identify company targets, market segmentation, business development activity planning and accountability. The purpose is to inform the audience of how developing a structured business engagement plan maximizes resources, increases system scalability, and achieves greater outcomes for both business and jobseeker customers.
Coaching Leaders to Success
Speakers: Begonietta “Be” Jensen and Barbara Sparks, Literacy Assistance Center
Coaching is a promising new tool for developing staff and impacting engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction as well as organizational outcomes. Attendees will learn key concepts and strategies of the LAC coaching model- a blend of collaboration, facilitation, and transformation that engages participants in an ongoing inquiry process that encourages them to create solutions, take action, and be accountable. Attendees will learn about the challenges and rewards for them and their staff, and how coaching can be used to build organizational capacity.
The Career Pathways in the Life Sciences Program (iSciWNY)
Speakers: Sherryl D. Weems, Ed.D. and Marnie Lavigne, Ph.D., University at Buffalo
The Career Pathways in the Life Sciences program (iSciWNY) is a joint venture between the University at Buffalo’s Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) and the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences (CoE). The program is supported by both private and public funding. A career pathway model has been created through program efforts. In this session several successful and promising strategies that address areas of industry and business engagement, career pathway identification, compatible pipeline development, workplace readiness emphasizing EFF standards and the National Work Readiness Credential, curriculum development and modeling for regional growth and expansion will be presented.
Job Training That Works – Initial Findings from the Sectoral Employment Impact Study
Speakers: Josh Freely, Public/Private Ventures; Plinio Ayala, Per Scholas, Inc.
Public policy has increasingly promoted rapid attachment to the labor market, leaving low income individuals with few opportunities to gain the skills needed for higher paying jobs. The findings from the Sectoral Employment Impact Study demonstrate the effectiveness of well-implemented sector-focused training programs as a strategy to improve the employment outcomes of low-skilled workers. In addition to highlighting the impact that these training programs had on participants’ earnings and employment, this presentation will include reflections from the Executive Director of Per Scholas about the keys to that acclaimed program’s success.
Successful Partnerships for Building a Green Workforce in the Building Trades
Speakers: Moderated by Paul Shatsoff, The Workforce Development Institute (WDI); Bob Trouskie, The WDI Director for the Rochester Region; Steve Beck, Upstate Green Building Council and LeChase Construction; Jerry Landers, the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 13; Greg Hart, WDI’s Director for the North Country Region.
This session will demonstrate a model partnership for green job training that is currently being used to train union trainers, and will also include a discussion of how this model might be replicated as the demand for new skills emerges in the clean energy sector. These new skills may emerge because of breakthroughs in technology, changes in public policy that will require new standards for buildings to reduce carbon emissions, and also because of newly required certifications for people who design, manage and construct commercial and residential buildings, mass transit, automobiles and more.
Getting the Most From the Business-Driven Model
Speaker: Dale Grant, DB Grant Associates, Inc.
By now, the business-driven workforce development model has become so widely accepted that it’s almost rote. But what does business-driven really mean? Drawing upon her 25 years of experience working with America’s leading companies, Dale Grant, President of Grant Associates, will explore critical facets of the business-driven model, including: making business the primary workforce customer; aligning career counseling, training and skills development with business demands; soliciting business input on program design; engaging businesses in service delivery; and providing multiple services to deepen business relationships. Ms. Grant will offer insights and strategies for using the business-driven model to its greatest potential.
Revitalizing, Restructuring and Refocusing Your Workforce Board
Speakers: Arnie Redsicker and Todd Gustafson, Michigan Works!
The Berrien-Cass-Van Buren Workforce Development Board has transformed itself from administering WIA and TANF programs, to a regional leader in providing Labor Market information (LMI), directing curriculum changes at local Community Colleges and Intermediate School Districts, and being a partner to local Economic Developers.
The session will describe the transformation process, which includes viewing the mission of the organization as analogous to a manufacturing process, educating Board members to view themselves as policy makers, and establishing trust and credibility with stakeholders, including employers, Community Colleges, local elected officials, economic developers and other non-governmental partners.
Participants will be asked to compare their Board agendas with the agenda of the presenters.
Using Work Readiness Performance Data for Youth Program Design and Improvement
Speaker: Diana Jackson, Wonderlic, Inc.
You survived the ARRA Summer Employment Program of 2009. Now what? As a result of ARRA performance requirements, local programs and areas have a substantial amount of data on the work readiness skill achievement of their participants. Why not put that data to good use beyond simply reporting performance? In this session, we will discuss how to use that information to evaluate program success, identify lessons learned in program design and implementation, and plan effective future programs that include work experience and work readiness training for youth. Don’t let your data go to waste!
Death of a Job: Grief, Mourning and Personal Reinvestment
Speaker: Dennis R. Donahue, NYS Department of Labor
Typical reaction to all types of loss tend to follow the same pattern and only the degree of the grief tends to vary based upon a wide number of factors. Job loss is no different and in many cases can have a grief reaction equivalent to that of one who has experienced the death of a loved one. This session will provide a basic understanding of some of the more critical factors that can increase this loss to the level of the death of a job. It will cover the critical elements of the mourning process that brings one back to the point where they are more willing and able to reinvest in a new vocation. Finally tips will be offered on things that employment professionals can do to help the job loss griever mourn more effectively and reengage more quickly into the career system.
Workforce Tutoring and Instruction Program
Speaker: Kathy Houghton, Literacy New YorkLiteracy New York, working with Sullivan County Job Development and the Literacy Volunteers of Sullivan County, developed a curriculum for a Summer Youth Tutoring program as an enhancement to the 2009 Summer Youth Employment Program.
The curriculum is an intensive, six week, reading strategy-based program, designed with an NYSED curriculum developer, and organized around the SCANS workplace competencies. The model employs one-to-one tutoring with the option of adding small group learning opportunities, should more than one participant at a site enroll. The addition of small group work further develops workplace competencies, which rely heavily on working well with others. Any texts can be used in the model, including job manuals and other workplace related materials. Through the curricula, the participants are equipped to be better readers AND workers. This program can be modified to meet the needs of both youth and adult workers. Literacy New York can provide this program through our statewide network of literacy affiliates, with support, training, and coordination from our state office.
Professional Opportunity Developers (POD) Groups:
Proven strategies to take your Professional customers from down-sized to newly employed!
Speakers: Kathy Beckhorn, Tom Jaccarino, and guest POD members from Niagara’s WorkSourceOne; Diane Bradac, Bud Shattuck, and guest POD Alumni member, Jeffrey Furst, from Tompkins Workforce NY
The current economic downturn is affecting workers at all levels, including white-collar professionals. Professional Opportunity Developer (POD) groups are a proven model for reaching and serving this segment of the workforce, who are often underserved in One-Stops. Join this session to learn how two centers are achieving success with white-collar professionals, and hear directly from program participants about how POD participation is helping them move ahead in their careers.
This workshop will provide an overview of POD from set-up to delivery as well as touch on how to ensure your efforts are duly noted in OSOS. Additional step-by-step handouts and marketing resources will be available for those who would like more in-depth information on how to get started immediately.
Serving Clients with Limited English Proficiency and Cultural Competency Issues: Challenges and Innovative Solutions
Speakers: Maritere Arce, NYS Department of Labor
The number of LEP and immigrant workers in the nation's labor force has grown in recent years and continues to increase. However, immigrant workers are less likely to access government services for a variety of reasons, including language barriers, long work hours, fear of government, and lack of access to transportation. Those who do enter the WIA system often find that the services offered do not address their particular needs.
Because of the growing numbers of this population, their contributions to the nation’s economy, and the challenges in serving them, State Workforce Agencies would benefit from considering innovative approaches to meeting the needs of the LEP and immigrant population. Such approaches would help develop this workforce for the future and also ensure equal opportunity under the WIA mandate.
The panel will address: The barriers faced by LEP and immigrant job seekers in accessing the WIA/One Stop system and in developing their careers; best practices for ensuring access to one-stop centers and WIA services by LEP and immigrant workers; and innovative approaches that have been developed to serve this population to ensure access and provide meaningful programming to address their needs
What a Reauthorized Youth System Needs to Look Like
Speaker: Linda Harris, CLASP
The opportunity to position the workforce system as the catalyst to change existing youth systems is now. Discussions regarding WIA Reauthorization are currently ongoing. This is the chance to intersect local systems, leverage flexibility, and coordinate programmatic endeavors.
The current youth workforce system receives little respect from other partners partially due to the imposed lack of flexibility in the administration of programs. This needs to be changed. This workshop session will look at components built into the current WIA law and ask what was their intent, how are they being currently administered, and what could they look like under a collaborative revised youth system.
Workforce Collaboration Through Sector Strategies
Speaker(s): Management Staff, Division of Employment and Workforce Solutions, NYS DOL
An overview of collaborative workforce, economic development and educational partnerships focused at the strategic use of public job training investments on the local, regional, state and national levels. This workshop will provide updates on NYS DOL’s Regional Economic Transformation (13N) grants, the National Governor’s Association (NGA) State Sector Strategies, and the SGA’s to support Careers in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, as well as Healthcare through ARRA investments. Green job strategies related to Pathways Out of Poverty, Energy Training Partnerships, the State LMI Improvement Grant, the State Energy Sector Partnership/Training and Weatherization will be discussed.
Meeting and Participating in the State’s Priorities and Goals:
Speaker(s): Marty Selleck and Melissa DeAndres, NYSDOL
New York State is using a performance-driven approach to reach our long-term goals for workforce development. The first step in working towards that goal is increasing the number of customers in training. To measure our progress we must use performance metrics: the inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes. In addition to reporting on the USDOL Common Measures, NYSDOL will continue providing management information through monthly and quarterly reports; and NYSDOL will be offering incentives on three priorities: training, youth training and making sure customers don’t exit our workforce system without our meeting their needs.
Recession and Recovery Strategies: Early Warning and Layoff Aversion
Moderator: Bruce Herman, NYS Department of Labor
Speakers: NYS Department of Labor Staff
The recent economic recession has elevated the need for states to be prepared to face an economic downturn and quickly implement an economic response plan. Early warning and layoff aversion strategies are an important part of such a broad economic response plan. The program will discuss the importance of integrating lay-off aversion in a state’s rapid response strategy. It also will offer a nuts-and-bolts background primer with practical information on how to establish a successful early warning and layoff aversion program. Finally, the workshop will offer state workforce agency perspectives on the related activities and lessons-learned.
Building and Maintaining an Effective Case Management System
Speaker: Sundra Franklin, Sundra Franklin and Associates
This session will discuss what a case management system looks like. We will cover the role of case managers or the front –line service provider in programs. "Case Management" will focus on developing a standardized process needed to achieve the primary end goal of employment programs – long term employability. Issues that will be addressed include: managing issues through group, individual and proactive approaches; service needs; problem resolution; and record keeping.
Transitioning Older Youth into the 21st Century Workforce
Speaker: Sundra Franklin, Sundra Franklin and Associates
This session will focus on developing programs to transition older out-of-school youth into the workforce. It will cover the complex change agenda at both the system and front line activity levels. Discussion will focus on: the vision, planning, programmatic development, skills needs for the 21st century workforce, resources, the workforce system, employer expectations and needs, and the new job market.
More Workshop Descriptions Will Be Added Shortly…
