GED + NWRC + WE = EMPLOYMENT Presented by… Mark Cole Mary Hill Regina Papa FMS Workforce Solutions System

The National Work Readiness Credential A New Customer Service Indicator Requirement of Out of School Youth Participants: 30% or more will take the NWRC exam The LWIA will achieve a pass-rate of 50%

The Carrot and the Stick The Carrot: $$$ Incentive Eligibility Standard if the LWIA achieves 100% or greater of their goal. The Stick: Unsatisfactory Performance if the LWIA does not achieve at least 80% of their goal. No financial penalty, only a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)

Why FMS Chose the Carrot $$$ is a great incentive for us Pride in what we do, desire to be a role model, develop a best practice Some programming was already in place

Already in Place GED Program in All Three Centers Local Work Readiness Certificate Program

Incorporating the NWRC Become a Licensed Site Three Centers, three sites Train and Certify Proctors Three Centers

Our Personal Game Plan Purchased Curriculum Determined Time Frame – free vouchers came with a time limited offer! Developed a Schedule - across all three Workforce Solutions Centers

Our First Success with NWRC 94% of those youth we initially tested passed the first time 100% had passed after the second try We exceeded our LWIA goal Our first customer success story

Renatas Story My name is Renata, I am a mother of twin boys. I am a student at the Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties Workforce Solutions Center to get my GED & I recently participated in the National Work Readiness Program (NWRC). I took the exam & passed, it made me feel successful. I felt very unconfident at first & then I found out my scores & I couldnt believe my eyes. I also recently applied to Dollar General and I had to take an assessment that was required for the job & it was very similar to the NWRC I took recently. This benefited me and I did very well and I had passed that too. Thanks to the Work Readiness Credential I got the job! I felt so excited (still am) & I cant wait to start my new job and start supporting my twins and I can have a fresh start in the work world.

Our Formula for Success Pre-testing of candidates Providing targeted instruction to those who did not pass the pre-test Lessons learned from our first youth experience

Whats Next for Our Youth Program Incorporating into our SYEP program

Whats Next for Our Youth Program Implementing a pilot program that incorporates the NWRC into our already existing work experience program with our local businesses to compare workplace success of: those youth who had all three components of our youth program with… those youth who have not had these components

Expanding the Program to Include Adults and Dislocated Workers Why? Customer demand Some local businesses are now using this as a screening tool

Expanding the Program to Include Adults and Dislocated Workers How? Same basic recipe, but incorporating lessons learned Offering at the end of the day, after hours Utilizing previously trained and certified Youth staff but with DW and Adult $$ Additional lessons we learned

Next Step for NWRC: Increasing our Business Awareness Why? It is a nationally-recognized credential It is portable from Business to business Area to area State to state

Next Step for NWRC: Increasing our Business Awareness How? Business Services Representatives Chamber Newsletters Programs with Service Organizations

How Can this Formula Work for You? Questions and Answers