Pennsylvania Partners

This session will provide an overview of data currently available to analyze green jobs in Pennsylvania. It will also focus on new data collection options and the identification of the questions raised by various interested parties. Session participants will be made aware of the roles they can have in future green research.

Presenters:

Mike Butson

Center for Workforce Information & Analysis, PA Department of Labor & Industry

James Martini

Center for Workforce Information & Analysis, PA Department of Labor & Industry

(Green Jobs/Workforce & Economic Development)

Moving Low-Skilled Workers Into Green Job Pathways: Learnings from the Field

Crystal A

This panel discussion will examine several innovative models for moving low-skilled workers into green careers, from energy efficiency retrofitting to green building and construction. One model in Philadelphia focuses on how community-based organizations can assess and prepare low-literate adults for green jobs. Another model in Pittsburgh looks at how to work with affordable housing organizations to move low-skilled workers into weatherization. In addition to having panelists share models and information on how they are funded, the session will also give audience members an opportunity to share their success stories and lessons learned.

Presenters:

Susan Hoffman

Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board

Lindsay Ruprecht

ACTION-Housing, Inc.

Seth Green

Job Opportunity Investment Network

(Education & Literacy/Green Jobs)

Afterschool Programs: A Key Partner in Workforce Development

Empire A

This workshop will present both national and Pennsylvania afterschool program models that use evidenced-based best practices to increase career awareness and workforce skills. Learn how successful collaborations are being created and sustained among employment and training, education and afterschool providers to develop a sustainable workforce. Participants will have the opportunity to share successes and problem solve on how to overcome barriers they are experiencing to successful collaborations.

Presenters:

Kacy Conley

PA Afterschool Youth Development Network

Thierry Malley

Boys and Girls Clubs – PA Area Council

Don Spangler

Philadelphia Youth Network, Inc.

(Education & Literacy/Youth)

Engaging At-Risk Youth Transitioning from Foster Care with Education, Career Planning and Employment

Empire D

This interactive session will focus on innovative cross-system service delivery and collaborative strategies that improve services for older youth transitioning to workforce or postsecondary education that need support from multiple, separate systems. This workshop will describe and review best practices pioneered at The Bridge of Pittsburgh, a one-stop for aging-out and aged-out youth, operating through partnerships among government and diverse service providers.

Presenters:

Sharlene Gray

Arbor E&T

Jonathan Walkush

Allegheny County Department of Human Services

(Education & Literacy/Overcoming Barriers to Employment/Youth)

Adult Education Within Career and Technical Centers

Magnolia A

This workshop is designed to educate training providers on the many adult training opportunities available at the local Career and Technical Centers. Many people think that Career and Technical Centers only offer small "how-to" courses, but in truth, they offer a variety of short- and long-term courses geared toward helping adults enter or re-enter the workforce or discover new employment opportunities. Adults could even earn industry credentials. Depending on the course, some Career and Technical Centers are able to offer financial aid to those who qualify.

Presenters:

Beth Marshall

Bureau of Career and Technical Education, PA Department of Education

Sue Hoffman

York County School of Technology

(Education & Literacy/Workforce & Economic Development)

Assistive Technologies for the Visually Impaired

Magnolia B

This workshop will provide a hands-on demonstration of the latest technologies used to assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired in maintaining their independence in the workplace. Participants will engage in an interactive dialogue about resources, accommodations and assistive technologies to employers to aid in the hiring of individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Presenters:

David DeNotaris

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services, PA Department of Labor & Industry

Karen Walsh-Emma

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services, PA Department of Labor & Industry

Mary Saylor

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services. PA Department of Labor & Industry

(Overcoming Barriers to Employment)

The Scanning Center – An Innovative Solution for Paid Work Experience

Magnolia C

The Scanning Center is an innovative Paid Work Experience site located in an EARN Center. There are several benefits the Scanning Center provides to the work program. It gives the clients the opportunity to gain valuable clerical skills as well as learn some important soft skills that better prepare them for the workplace. At the same time, clients have the on-site support of their employment counselors and job developers. The Scanning Center also emphasizes the importance of going green and being environmentally conscious.

Presenters:

Roe Falcone

Educational Data Systems, Inc.

William Cruz

Educational Data Systems, Inc.

(Overcoming Barriers to Employment/TANF)

Veterans Priority of Service

Magnolia D

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) issued joint guidance on priority of service on November 10, 2009. ETA issued Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 10-09, and VETS issued Veterans’ Program Letter (VPL) 07-09. This session will discuss the new key priority of service provisions and the chief aspects of priority of service implementation and performance requirements.

Presenter:

Matthew Heaney

Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

(Workforce & Economic Development)

In Survival Mode: Problem Solving with Hardest-to-Serve Customers

Trinidad

Hard-to-serve customers present a unique challenge to case workers and employers. Proud, defensive, secretive and ultimately self-defeating, many would rather have certain failure on their own terms than risk the possibility of failure on ours. This activity-based workshop offers insights into four self-defeating dynamics shared by many customers from poverty. It then teaches a four-step, interpersonal problem-solving process based on the principles of cognitive restructuring. Participants will master skills needed to better understand and communicate with their most challenging customers.

Presenter:

Steve Parese

SBP Consulting, Inc.

(Overcoming Barriers to Employment/Professional Development)