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 - Page 39 -B. Workforce Development System The Workforce Development System includes a variety of programs and services that assist people to prepare for jobs. Often programs have been established by legislation and various governmental agencies to meet the needs of specific groups of people. Recently, the federal and state governments have been working toward the establishment of a Workforce Development System that includes the programs and activities funded for the general public and specific groups. Programs that are a part of this effort are co-located in Workforce Service Centers. This is part of the overall Career Development System which also includes training at the high school and post secondary levels. This section provides information on specific programs under the Workforce Service Center portion of the system. Many activities and programs are operated under the auspices of the area Workforce Development Board and Local Elected Officials, while other activities are provided by state and other agencies. Welfare Reform
Welfare Reform programs continue to experience a variety of changes. The majority of customers are single parents receiving public assistance and non-custodial parents who are in arrears on payments to the Friend of the Court. As the economy has improved in recent years, job placements have remained at about 50% of the customers served. The customers in programs most recently have been those with more barriers to employment, and are generally more costly. Funding has changed also, carry-in funding from one year to the next ended for the 1998-99 year, and initial allocations have been significantly lower. The initial allocation for the 1999-2000 year was 1.1 million dollars. Other funding has been added as the year goes by. Welfare Reform programs have also expanded in the types of customers who may be served. Non-cash recipients or NCRs (those receiving services from the Family Independence Agency (FIA) but not cash assistance, and are generally employed) were added in the 1999-2000 year. All non-custodial parents, not just those whose children are receiving cash assistance, are expected to be added soon. The addition of customer groups, and significant numbers of potential customers (the number eligible with NCRs goes from about 2,000 to about 6,000 persons for 1999-2000) without additional funding has resulted in limited services to these expanded groups. The priority customers remain the cash welfare recipients and Non-Custodial Parents whose children are receiving cash assistance. The timing of introducing new groups of customers and adding funding have not gone together. The trend appears to be that funding remains about level while new groups of customers are added. The priority customers (cash welfare) are those having more problems and costing more money, therefore, a limited number of other customers can be served. The programs appear to be working well, however, the priority caseload is down about 500 persons from the 1998-99 to 1999-2000 year. This can be attributed to three things: the good economy; the effectiveness of the programs; and more stringent rules at FIA which encourage participation. Title III Dislocated Workers Programs
Funding for dislocated workers has remained fairly consistent. A portion of this funding has been transferred to the economically disadvantaged adults. (The figures shown are what was actually available for the dislocated worker program and are end of the program figures which are likely to be the highest.) The region has not experienced a high number of dislocated workers. These are workers who lose their jobs due to a facility closing or permanent layoff, or are long term unemployed. With the economy fairly strong in recent years, there have not been many closings or permanent lay-offs. Dislocated workers most often receive training, either on the job, or at an educational facility. The dislocated worker programs actually have less funding available also, as they contribute to maintaining the new Workforce Service Centers. Under the Workforce Investment Act, which took effect on July 1, 2000, dislocated workers now also have access to a variety of Core Services, most of which do not require registration, and Intensive Services, which do require registration and are more staff intensive. Those dislocated workers who do not find employment at all or employment that meets wage outcomes for WIA will have access to training services. This triage or Afunnel@ type of approach will allow services to be available to the general population of dislocated workers, and will serve more of them with less funding. The downside is that there will be less training money available for those who need it. The Work First/WIA programs represent a substantial change in the way services are delivered. The priority is on job placement rather than training. In fact, in less prosperous economic times, it is possible that training funding may not be available at all, and available funding will provide the Core and Intensive Services available to more workers who may need fewer services to find employment. Title IIA Economically Disadvantaged Adult Programs
The situation for services to economically disadvantaged adults is similar to the welfare reform programs. Performance has been good. The decline in job placements for PY1999 is probably artificial, and the numbers will come up once the entire year (through June 30, 2000) is in. Funding has declined and a portion of the funding has been used to fund the new Workforce Service Centers. The trend is to serve fewer participants as funding declines. For the transition to WIA on July 1, 2000, funding, including carry-in from JTPA, may remain about the same as for the last year of JTPA (PY1999). However, the added costs of Workforce Service Centers and changing eligibility for WIA programs will result in many more customers. Under WIA, all adults may receive Core Services, some, who meet fairly general eligibility requirements may receive Intensive Services and economically disadvantaged persons may receive Training Services. The added costs of providing Core Services to the general population and Intensive Services to some individuals will have the effect of reducing the funding available to serve those who are economically disadvantaged and in need of training to become self sufficient. Title IIC Year-Round Youth Programs
The Title IIC program recognizes attainment of youth competencies as positive outcomes, and some youth attain competencies and become employed. Note that employment is at termination. The Title IIB program (figures given below) is a summer only program. The Title IIC, year-round program allocation has fallen to about $82,000 per year in recent years, and the Title IIB funding has fallen as well. We are able to move funding between the summer and year-round programs, and have done so to have a larger year round program instead of a large summer program and a very small year-round program. The year-round program has performance standards measured as entered employment and employability enhancement (attainment of 2 youth competencies). Title IIB Summer Youth Employment Program
To appropriately compare the JTPA Title IIB and IIC programs to WIA Youth programs, add the funding. This shows a substantial decrease in funding for WIA from the combined JTPA funding. Many of the same participants are in Title IIC and IIB. (Most Title IIC participants are also in Title IIB, but not all Title IIB participants are also in Title IIC). In JTPA, the summer program had goals but no specific performance measures. There was a summer remediation component and goals, but one goal of the summer program was to simply provide a basic work experience (that first job) for many participants (particularly those 14 to 16). In WIA, there is no separate summer program (although we must have activities in the summer), and all participants are subject to the WIA performance measures. In addition, the performance measures are divided by the age of the participants. One set of performance is for youth age 14 to 18 and another (more like the adult measures) are for youth age 19 to 21. In addition, there is an overlap in age for WIA youth and adult programs from 18 to 21. Participants may be enrolled in the youth or adult programs, or both, but must meet the requirements of both programs, and count in the performance of both programs. The WIA outcomes will effectively discourage serving youth who only need exposure to the Aworld of work@ without attaining specific outcomes. WIA eligibility is somewhat stricter, with 5% of the participants, instead of the 10% in JTPA, who are eligible by virtue of a barrier instead of income. The WIA also requires participants with disabilities to also be income eligible (or 5%) while JTPA only recognized the income of the student with disabilities (not the parents). As a result, the summer program will be much smaller, and the year-round WIA program somewhat smaller. Employment Service The Employment Service assists job seekers to find jobs and employers to find workers. The Labor Exchange functions that match job seekers to job orders from employers is available to the general public. The Michigan Talent Bank and Michigan Job Bank are Internet based services where job seekers can register for the type of work and area of the state they are interested in, and employers can register their jobs. These services are available from any computer that has an Internet connection and at five area Workforce Service Centers. In addition to the computerized system, staff assistance is available at all Workforce Service Centers. These services are also available to the general public. An individual or employer can work with an Employment Service Specialist on their particular employment needs, and receive assistance using the Talent Bank/Job Bank. Trends in Employment Services The trend for the Employment Services program within Michigan Works! West Central is to continue to provide the most extensive service as allowed by the individual client. Statewide, the trend will appear to be severely downward as far as the number of volunteer (or otherwise considered non-unemployment insurance) clients. In reality, the trend only appears downward because each voluntary resume submission may only be considered a resume client during their initial visit. Following their initial visit, they are considered job seekers. Hence, the appearances that we serve less and less voluntary resume submissions -- when in reality those same clients are returning time and time again for more extensive services and to keep up-to-date on the latest job listings. Number of Job Seekers who Registered Since the program began on February 2, 1998, we have assisted (through the month-ending July, 2000) 13,734 clients in submitting their initial resume. This does not include those individuals from our region who registered their resumes without our assistance, i.e. at home. Job Placement Rates Job placement rates are not a requirement of the program -- as the state has wisely not forced clients to report the success of their job search. We feel the success with the gratitude and appreciation of all clients as they embark on their job search with a new vigor and excitement having received guidance and leave armed with a resume document that realistically and positively represents their skills and background. We sense the success of the client=s job search when they do not return to review job listings. We respect those clients who contact us to let us know that they have found gainful employment, but respect the system of confidentiality and privacy that does not require them to do so. The greatest satisfaction that we hear from clients is that we currently operate a system that allows them to visit our office without appointment and without cost, that they will receive as much - or as little - assistance as they need or require, and their privacy is not compromised. Customer Satisfaction Measures We continually request that first-time resume submitters complete a non-intrusive AEmployment Services Summary.@ The results are continually positive and more-than-satisfactory at 98+%. Performance Measures Each protected or recognized group is introduced to the agency member or individual who is assigned to assist them most fully. In addition to personalized service from an additional staffer or agency, our personal performance measures are designed to offer a full menu of services to each client, including those in special classifications. Each client is given assistance and guidance into Michigan=s Talent Bank which includes hints and strategies on how to create the most representative resume for that individual. The opportunity to create a "traditional" resume so the client may have it available to hand in, mail to, or fax to potential employers. Those Atraditional@ resumes are securely and confidentially kept on Michigan Works! disks so the client may return at any time to enhance or change their resume for other possible employers. Creation of cover letters, as with the resumes, we provide special resume paper and envelopes for any client. Instruction in locating potential jobs via Michigan=s Job Bank. In addition to guiding clients to jobs on the MJB, we take the extra step of printing off those job listings for multiple surrounding counties for the individual who is uncomfortable utilizing a computer -- or in the event that the system might ever be inoperable or in the unlikely event that too many clients would be using the computers at one time. Provide Civil Service exams including instruction and viewing current Civil Service job openings. Job Workshops -- where all clients may receive job interview skills assistance, as well as resume and job application hints and strategies. Number of Job Orders and Placements Employers Registered 670* Job Orders 2,926* Placements are a voluntary submission by clients, and very few have officially recorded such a placement. * These figures were not recorded during the first 17 months of operation, therefore are from June, 1999 through May 31, 2000. Number of Enrollments in Trade Adjustment Assistance/North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAA and TAA/NAFTA) The Employment Service has three other components active in the region. These serve specific individuals. TAA and TAA/NAFTA are specific retraining programs for workers who lose their jobs due to imported products. The business must be certified for workers to receive re-training assistance. The TAA stands for Trade Adjustment Assistance and TAA/NAFTA is specifically for workers whose jobs are lost as a result of activities under the North America Free Trade Agreement. TAA and TAA/NAFTA, like the Employment Service activities described above are operated under the auspices of the Workforce Development Board and Local Elected Officials for the West Central Michigan Works! Region.
Thirteen (13) have completed and the amount expended to-date has been a total of $76,780.50. Veterans Employment Service/Migrant Seasonal Farmworkers The Michigan Department of Career Development, Employment Service Agency operates two activities for specific workers with staff assistance by state employees. The Veterans Employment Service staff provide assistance to veterans and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers in job search and other services. The results for Veterans follows the same trend. We appear to assist fewer and fewer Veterans when, in reality, we have already served the major bulk of those eligible for service, so there are fewer remaining to serve. |