Enhancing Supports for Low-income Apprentices Washington State’s Work-based Learning Policy Project NCWE Annual Conference October 8-9, 2019

Investigating Apprenticeship Pathways Challenge: Apprenticeship deemed unavailable pathway for low-income populations due to assumed resource limitations Mapping Activity: 5 construction apprenticeship pathways 4 low-income population scenarios Systemic state-level resources Objective: Identify resource gaps and present recommendations to increase access to apprenticeships and retention for low-income populations

Execution Plan Phase 1: Investigation Phase 2: Strategy Development Home Team and SME Team Development Project Background Information and Terminology Exploration of Disadvantaged Population Demographics and Completion Data Apprenticeship Pathway Inventory and Mapping System-level State Resources Inventory and Mapping Phase 2: Strategy Development Based on identified needs: develop recommendations Phase 3: Strategy Execution Based on strategies: legislation, guidance, marketing campaign The investigative phase has been the heaviest lift for this project. This included a strategic focus on stakeholder engagement, establishing a common language, understanding low-income and apprenticeship populations and changing the conversation and understanding of apprenticeship pathways and state resources. We are currently working on phase 2 and 3 and will be sharing some of the draft recommendations and next step strategies already in progress. But first we will share how we structured this project to ensure stakeholder engagement and different look at apprenticeship to change the conversation.

Stakeholder Engagement Core Team Construction Center of Excellence WA Department of Social & Health Services WA State Board for Community & Technical Colleges Home Team WA Building Trades Council WA State Labor Council NW Iron Worker’s Union State Apprenticeship Council SBCTC, Apprenticeship SBCTC, Basic Education for Adults SBCTC, WorkFirst SBCTC, SNAP Employment & Training DSHS, SNAP-Food Programs & Policy Administrator DSHS, TANF-WorkFirst Program Manager DSHS, WIOA Project Program Manager SME Team Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board Construction Industry Training Council (CITC) Puget Sound Electrical JATC NWCI Pre-Apprenticeship ANEW Dept. of Labor & Industries Employment Security Department Labor Apprenticeship Coordinators College Apprenticeship Coordinators …and more! peter

Apprenticeship Pathways Apprenticeship Pathways – Construction Electricians Laborers Carpenters Ironworkers Construction Industry Training Council (CITC) Shana We quickly realized we needed to change the conversation concerning apprenticeship pathways in order to address access and supports for low-income populations in apprenticeship Discussions concerning viability of apprenticeship pathways is usually focused on generalities – i.e. apprenticeship is paid on-the-job training so if we just get the individual signed up they will be good to go and won’t need public assistance; there is X hours of OJT and X hours of RSI they need to complete hides the cyclical structure of wages and no-wages throughout the apprenticeship pathway; etc. However, in order to address the viability of these pathways for low-income populations we must look at each apprenticeship pathway individually The details are important and not all apprenticeship pathways are the same – entry requirements, sequencing of RSI and OJT, credit, etc. Therefore, we will chose to begin with mapping 5 apprenticeship pathways in the construction field, each with varying levels of skill attainment, wage progressions, union and non-union, etc. In addition to addressing the challenges for low-income apprentices, we hope to establish a mapping model to apply to other apprenticeship pathways in the future

System-level State Resources Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment & Training (“SNAP E&T” aka “BFET”) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families WorkFirst Program Worker Retraining (State Funds) Working Connections Childcare Opportunity Grant (State Funds) State Need Grant Erin In order to establish a model for mapping other pathways, we have chosen to limit resource analysis to system-level state public assistance resources that are more likely to be available in all service areas.

Population Scenarios Public Assistance Recipients Single Adult, SNAP E&T Single Parent, one child, SNAP E&T Single Parent, one child, TANF *Single Parent, two child, TANF Erin Since eligibility criteria can vary based on family size and other factors, we also determined that we must look at specific population scenarios. This is also important to maintain a system-level analysis. We selected population scenarios to include individuals and families, and specifically selected the Single Parent, Two Children model to mimic the standard family scenario used by our Dept. of Social and Health services in their reports to the legislature.

Mapping Apprenticeship Pathways Preparing to Enter Creating Stability Pre-apprenticeship Meeting Basic Needs Pathway Variables New Conversation Access & Retention Supports Period of Support Benefit Alignment Wage Gaps Current Perception Just Sign Up & Get Paid While You Train erin

Map Version 1 - Laborers er

Map Version 2 - Laborers

Pathway Deep Dives Stakeholder engagement with apprenticeship maps What opportunities are there to support participants in these pathways? What policies support or hinder low-income individuals from entering or completing these pathways? What state-level resources (existing or not) could support low-income individuals in these pathways? What other elements should the project team investigate?

Potential Recommendations State Policy Program Policy Practice Resources

Potential Recommendations State Policy Approve All Registered Apprenticeships for SNAP Employment & Training Post-TANF support services through initial OJT Post-TANF Cash Assistance during first RSI

Potential Recommendations Program Policy Ensure RSI is credited and connected to degree Articulate RSI credit at the front end Basic Education articulation for boot camps Approve Apprenticeship for Opportunity Grant

Potential Recommendations Practice College staff promote apprenticeship access and supports Engage potential apprentices in basic education or pre-apprenticeship programs Advance drug testing to align with cannabis legalization Ensure potential apprentices understand cyclical pattern of RSI and OJT

Potential Recommendations Resources Establish a State Apprentices Support Fund Increase access to child care

Next Steps Child Care Task Force College Apprenticeship Support Series Continued Stakeholder Engagement Release report this fall Marketing Campaign Legislative Requests Further Research: Investigation of other apprenticeship pathways Investigation of other state-level resources Inclusion of local resources for community efforts Racial Equity Gender Equity Resource Matrix – still pulling the details into a usable format for overlaying Background Documentation – we know we are going to be promoting apprenticeship for low-income populations so we are continuing to develop a project overview and findings document to be the foundation for any future marketing and advocacy efforts Mapping Party WWA Conference Apprenticeship Conference

Questions/Thoughts Shana Peschek Director, Construction Center of Excellence 425-306-1846 speschek@rtc.edu Dr. Erin Frasier WA State Board for Community & Technical Colleges 360-704-4339 efrasier@sbctc.edu Peter Guzman 360-704-4360 pguzman@sbctc.edu Louisa Erickson WA Department of Social & Health Services 360-725-4559 ericklm@dshs.wa.gov