DEED WorkForce Center Reception and Resource Area Certification Program (RRACP) Module 2 Unit 1a: WorkForce Center System I Learning Objective 1

DEED Workforce Development Division Lisa Snyder One-Stop Delivery System

Unit Competency Statement and Learning Objectives Competency Statement: Understand the fundamentals of the WorkForce Center (WFC) System and know the services and programs well enough to help customers navigate the system on an intermediate level. Learning Objectives:  WFC System Fundamentals  WFC Programs and Services  Resource Area

Learning Objectives 1. WFC System Fundamentals  History  Mission  Funding  WFC System Workings 2. WFC Programs and Services  Program Referrals  Programs and Services 3. Resource Area  Functions  Staff  Standards

Learning Objective 1 WFC System Fundamentals  History  Mission  Funding  WFC System Workings

HISTORY

History 1933 the Wagner-Peyser Act established the public employment service office, also known as Job Service the Social Security Act established unemployment insurance under the employment security system the South Minneapolis WorkForce Center became the national prototype for the CareerOneStop, which launched the national One-Stop Career Centers in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) amended the Wagner-Peyser Act through which transformed the separate public employment offices into collocated partnerships.

History Continued 2003 the former Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Security merged into Minnesota Department of Economic and Employment Development (DEED). Today, WorkForce Centers (WFC), once known as unemployment offices, are a one-stop delivery system designed to meet the economical, employment and training needs of the universal customer and program recipients.

CareerOneStop Supported by the Department of Labor, CareerOneStops underpin the efforts of WIA. Nationally, most centers are called One-Stop Career Centers, in Minnesota they are called WorkForce Centers. “[T[he term ‘one-stop delivery system’ means a one-stop delivery system described in section 134(c) of the Workforce Investment Act of (1998 Workforce Investment Act)”

One-Stop Delivery System A one-stop delivery system’s list of information and resources available to customers: Unemployment Insurance Salary and labor market Career exploration and planning Education and training opportunities National and state job banks Resume writing and job searching Regional economic development Veterans information

CareerOneStop Web site lists Minnesota WFCs

Discussion Point 1.With regards to the one-Stop delivery system, how do you discuss the WFCs services with customers?

MISSION

Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, with programs promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. Mission: To support the economic success of individuals, businesses, and communities by improving opportunities for growth.

Our Mission Collectively To assist customers with their employment and training needs through referrals and resources.

Discussion Point 1.How do you assist customers with the self-serve options?

FUNDING

Funding Sources at a Glance Department of Labor:  Wagner-Peyser Act  Workforce Investment Act  American Reemployment Recovery Act State Department of Human Service Grants Why does this matter? Not all programs pay for training and provide support services. Resource area staff time is based on funding allocations. DEED and partners are held to rules and regulations of these funding sources.

Wagner-Peyser Act AN ACT As amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Public Law ) To provide for the establishment of a national employment system and for cooperation with the States in the promotion of such system, and for other purposes. ***

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) An Act To consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs in the United States, and for other purposes. *** WIA offers a comprehensive range of workforce development activities through state and local organizations. The purpose of these activities is to increase the employment, job retention, earnings and occupational skills of participants.

Workforce Investment Act Titles WIA Title I Adult Services DW Youth Title II Literacy (ABE) Title III Wager-Peyser Job Service Title IV Rehabilitation Title V Coordination

WORKFORCE CENTER SYSTEM WORKINGS

WorkForce Center System The WorkForce Center System: Is a unique partnership of 50 WFCs made up of employment and training organizations (state agencies and partners) that reflect the needs of each community. Is nationally recognized for its accessibility and wide range of services offered to the universal customer. Has a resource area housed in each WFC that operates similarly to a public library or personal office. Offers all its services at no cost.

Are All The WFCs The Same? WFCs operate like a franchise. Most provide the same programs, but services, staff arrangements, size and layouts vary. Decisions regarding an individual site are made by the regional Workforce Investment Board (WIB) within its Workforce Service Area (WSA).

Workforce Investment Boards The WIB boards direct federal, state, and local funding to workforce development programs and oversees WFCs within their WSAs. Some of these decisions include where a WFC is located or how job seekers obtain employment information and career development opportunities.  There are sixteen WSAs in Minnesota.

50 WFC Locations Only 47 locations are shown.

Who are the customers? Program Recipients Non-program recipients  Immigrants  People with limited English Skills  Persons with disabilities  Ex-offenders  HS/College students  Career changers  Unemployed and under-employable Businesses The Universal Customer

Satisfaction Survey

Discussion Point 1.What do you do at your site to increase customer satisfaction?

Fundamentals KEY POINTS 1. The 1933 Wagner-Peyser Act established the public employment office, but was amended in 1998 by the Workforce Investment Act or WIA, which brought together the separate offices and collated them into the CareerOneStops. 2. The purpose of WIA is to increase the employment, job retention, earnings and occupational skills of participants. 3. One-Stop delivery systems, called WorkForce Centers in Minnesota, model their services after the national CareerOneStop Website, which is hosted in Minnesota.

Fundamentals KEY POINTS 4. Our collect mission is to assist customers – the universal customer, which are program recipients, non- program recipients and businesses – with their employment and training needs. 5. Most funding stems from the DOL, which then flows through DEED then down to WIBs and WIA programs, through which DEED and partners, including staffs, are held to specific rules and regulations. 6. Although self-serve options are available, customers may still need assistance with them.

This completes Segment I: Learning Objective 1 of Module 2, Unit 1a. Learning Objective 1: WFC Fundamentals Learning Objective 2: WFC Programs and Services Leaning Objective 3: Resource Area