Journey to the Future: Our Partnership Story The Competitive Workforce Alliance Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership

Initial Intention: Address all Challenges Comprehensive assessment of high growth allied health occupations Inconsistent and non-standardized training Competition among employers and training providers Student and worker recruitment and retention Aging population, workforce and faculty members

Changing Direction: Perspective too broad to gather useful data Needed real results: creates value for members and Partnership identity in the community

New Intention—Get Specific Top Priority: increase number of Occupational Therapists/Assistants and Physical Therapists/Assistants Increase public awareness of allied health career opportunities Career Ladders: enhancing recruitment and retention

Surprises Along the Way: Collaboration, not competition. Training: Reality Check

Not one, but many: A Team of Champions Employers Community Colleges Private Trainers Workforce Boards

Critical Partners: Role Models for Leadership Employers Workforce Intermediary Community Colleges Private Trainers Workforce Boards – must play key role

More to Come: Economic Development JobLink Career Centers K–12 Career Counselors

RSP: A New Approach Create value or “what’s in it for them” Not your father’s Oldsmobile: Changing systems Working together: win-win

Workforce Intermediary: Partnership Builder Relationship Builder Resource Coordinator Process Facilitator Support Staff Fiscal Agent

Governance model

Governance Particles By-laws: complete MOA: in process Succession Plan: complete

Staff Support: Administrative assistance- Centralina WDB Facilitation and project management- To be determined

Our Epiphany: Realizing and owning this Partnership’s potential by successfully creating a regional Allied Health Solutions Summit in a very short time.

What have we learned? Have decision makers at the table Let people express skepticism Don’t stop-even when someone says no Never underestimate what people can bring to the table It may not look like you expect it to look Facilitating or managing an RSP is a full time job Strong employer leadership is key to success

Successes Regional Solutions Summit

Successes Developing 3 strong project plans Launched public awareness and communication initiative at Regional JobLink Managers meeting last week

Successes Largest regional employers leading the way

Challenges: No employer funding committed for future operations Region Size Continued value for participants

If we could turn back time… Confusion over grant guidelines Better marketing pitch to employers needed Start sooner!

Moving forward… Launching Public Awareness and Communication Plans Expanding OTA and PTA Programs Career Ladder Pilot Finding sustained funding

www.agreatworkforce.com

Need more information?? Please visit the Competitive Workforce Alliance website…. www.agreatworkforce.com Or contact David Hollars – Centralina WDB – (704) 348-2717 or dhollars@centralina.org