Pennsylvania Partners

This presentation will highlight the role of Workforce Investment Act Title II PA Department of Education, Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) coalitions and their goals for the integration and alignment of services within the workforce development system. Title II programs are required to participate in Workforce Coalitions. These coalitions are comprised of all Title II agencies providing educational services in each of the 23 workforce investment areas. Through the coalitions, Title II providers build and strengthen their roles as workforce development system partners both in PA CareerLink® centers and throughout the community.

Presenters:

Michael Westover

Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education, PA Department of Education

KayLynn Hamilton

Workforce Education Research Center, PA Department of Education

(Education & Literacy/Overcoming Barriers to Employment)

RESET Roundtable and BETP Update

Crystal A

Dr. Bryon Noon, director of the Bureau of Employment and Training Programs (BETP), and BETP Team Members will provide policy and program information, updates on programs in development, and answer questions about RESET and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - formerly Food Stamps) employment and training programs. Agenda items will also include special allowances (SPALS), “Sanctions,” the use and review of “Good Cause” and ETP status codes, overview of KEYS, MPP, Move Up, and Distance Learning, and discussion about recent changes to SNAP employment and training participation including referrals to New Directions.

Presenters:

Byron Noon

Bureau of Employment and Training Programs, PA Department of Public Welfare

Tamila Lay

Bureau of Employment and Training Programs, PA Department of Public Welfare

Cathy Buhrig

Bureau of Employment and Training Programs, PA Department of Public Welfare

Brian Holler

CAO Program Unit, PA Department of Public Welfare

(Policy/TANF)

Project SEARCH: An Employer-Driven Search Model

Empire A

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, PA Department of Labor & Industry, is replicating Project SEARCH, a profoundly successful and internationally recognized transition model. This workshop will provide an overview of the Project SEARCH model as well as an overview of the sites already established in Pennsylvania.

Presenters:

Dana Hodges

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, PA Department of Labor & Industry

Wendy Patterson

Office of Vocational Rehabilitiation, PA Department of Labor & Indsutry

(Overcoming Barriers to Employment)

From Jails to Jobs: Ex-Offenders at Work

Empire B

Individuals with criminal histories face many barriers during their re-entry journey, the worst of which is often their own negative attitudes. The very same beliefs and behaviors that allowed them to survive in criminality often keep them from finding success at work. This dynamic session will help attendees to improve their understanding of the ex-offender mindset as it impacts successful employment. It will examine ex-offenders’ typical ways of thinking, feeling, and reacting in response to high-risk home situations, then compare this to employer expectations. It closes with strategies for connecting with former offenders and helping them to recognize the error of their ways.

Presenter:

Steve Parese

SBP Consulting, Inc.

(Overcoming Barriers to Employment/Workforce & Economic Development)

WorkKeys Career Readiness Certificates – A Statewide Initiative

Empire C

The PA Department of Labor & Industry will provide an overview and update of the statewide implementation of the use of WorkKeys assessments in the PA CareerLinks®. The Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation will talk about the WorkKeys assessment process including a basic introduction to uses with job seekers and employers.

Presenters:

Shannon Miller

Central PA Workforce Development Corporation

Kelly Whitman

PA Department of Labor & Industry

(Professional Development/Workforce & Economic Development)

Implementing a Virtual Career Fair: Lessons Learned

Empire D

Delaware and Chester counties will share the results and "lessons learned" of the online career fair they held the week of May 3, 2010 for students, parents and educators. They will demonstrate to other youth providers how they used social networking tools, webinars and other social media to to showcase middle-skill Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers and educational programs in their region. They will also introduce the job shadow videos and lesson plans they have developed to support STEM career awareness.

Presenters:

Michele Martin

Delaware County Regional Career Education Partnership

Laura McOdrum

Chester County Workforce Investment Board

Laura Heikkila

Chester County Economic Development Council

(Workforce & Economic Development/Youth)

Prepping the Workforce for Green Literacy and the ‘Green Ten’

Magnolia A

Workforce professionals must simultaneously track the emergence of green occupational clusters and design ways to introduce youth and adults to jobs that are still developing. This workshop will describe a 20-module approach that combines a green literacy series with a virtual tour of 10 important green industries – from solar and hydropower to geothermal and clean fossil fuels. The session will test participants’ understanding and feature the results of pilot rollouts of the modules.

Presenter:

Virginia Williams Joyce

ResCare, Inc.

Representatives from PA pilot sites

(Education & Literacy/Green Jobs/Workforce & Economic Development)

Industry Certifications – Skills to Sustain a Career

Magnolia B

This session will focus on industry-recognized certifications that correspond to specific educational and training programs. These certifications address specialized skill sets and can increase an individual’s marketability in the workforce. Come learn about ways that individuals can branch out and develop “new shoots and roots” that can sustain them in a changing marketplace.

Presenter:

Cynthia Gross

Bureau of Career and Technical Education, PA Department of Education

(Education & Literacy/Industry Partnerships/Workforce & Economic Development)

Learning by Doing

Magnolia C

Over the past 21 years, the Drafting and Design Class at Greene County Career and Technology Center and its industry partner, Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority, have expanded educational opportunities for youth through the use of technology.

Presenters:

Nick Kovacic

Instructor, Greene County Career & Technology Center

Kayla Panepinto

Student, Greene County Career & Technology Center

George Durbin

Student, Greene County Career & Technology Center

(Education & Literacy/Industry Partnerships/Workforce & Economic Development)

PREP Squad – Secret Agents of Change

Magnolia D

The Bureau of Workforce Development Partnership, PA Department of Labor & Industry recently added staff as a result of additional funding received from Unemployment Compensation (UC) to be devoted to employment and training services for UC customers. The mission is to successfully implement a standardized customer-centered Profile Re-employment Program (PREP).

Presenters:

Marge Mirachi

PA CareerLink® Delaware County

John Brunken

PA CareerLink® Delaware County

William Moulfair

Bureau of Workforce Development Partnership, PA Department of Labor & Industry

(Workforce & Economic Development)

Financial Grants Management Standards and Internal Controls

Tower 2

This workshop will review the financial and grants management standards – financial systems, records, internal control and accountability, budgets, cash management, allow-ability, allocate-ability and accounting records – that are imposed on all federally funded grant programs under the Uniform Administrative Requirements promulgated by the Office of Management and Budget. The session will also address some commonly found internal control issues and how those should be addressed by grant recipients.

Presenter:

Ed Donahue

Retired Chief of ETA’s Division of Policy, Review and Resolution, U.S. Department of Labor

(Fiscal)

Workforce Development Training Programs: Partner with the State for Success

Wild Rose A

How can your organization obtain resources for workforce training? Attend this session to learn about four specific state grant programs targeting industry training. Learn about the eligibility criteria, types of training available, and the kinds of organizations and industry consortia in your region that obtain these types of opportunities.

Presenters:

Mandy Book

PA Department of Community & Economic Development

Thomas Venditti

Workforce & Economic Development Network of PA (WEDnetPA)

Daniel Kuba

PA Department of Labor & Industry

(Industry Partnerships/Workforce & Economic Development)

ROUNDTABLES

Building Capacity in Industry Partnerships to Serve Low-Skilled Workers

White Room

This roundtable will examine how Industry Partnerships and other sectoral initiatives have built the capacity to serve low-skilled workers and job seekers. Participants will look at ways to overcome challenges, engage employers, recruit funding, and build basic competencies.

Presenter:

Lyn Kugel

PathWaysPA

(Industry Partnerships/Overcoming Barriers to Employment)

Aligning Adult Literacy and Workforce Development at a Community College

White Room

In light of severe disruptions to services this fiscal year and a reduced budget for programs, Northampton Community College used the idea of "creative destruction" to re-configure its education programs to better meet the needs of its learners. This roundtable discussion will highlight the work in progress and provide a forum to discuss best practices in adult literacy and workforce development.

Presenter:

Andrew Doren

Northampton Community College

(Education & Literacy)

ARRA Reporting

White Room

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has established unprecedented and complex reporting requirements for all grantees. PA Department of Labor & Industry staff will be available to provide technical assistance on Recovery Act reporting requirements. Grantees can stop by the roundtable discussion anytime during this workshop period to get answers to their questions and receive on-on-one assistance.

Carrie Kutney

PA Department of Labor & Industry

(Fiscal)