STARTS SOON!

SpeakersSari Feldman, president-elect, American Library Associationand executive director, Cuyahoga County Public Library

Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, team leader, Applied Innovation and Improvement, Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education

Susan Hildreth, director Institute of Museum and Library Services

Kimberly Vitelli, chief of Division of National Programs, Employment

and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

2

Agenda

IMLS and Workforce Development Overview of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

(WIOA) Provisions Related to Libraries Frequently Asked Questions Partnership in Action Input from the Field WIOA Resources

3

IMLS and Workforce Development

Millions of Americans depend on libraries for workforce support (estimated 30 million in 2009)

IMLS Partnership with Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration connects libraries with One-stop Centers across US

http://www.imls.gov/about/workforce.aspx?id=14&category=0 IMLS Partnership with Office of Career, Technical and Adult

Education - “Dear Colleague” letter leverages libraries’ digital literacy training with adult education programs

http://www.imls.gov/about/adults_gain_skills_at_the_library.aspx?id=9&category=7

4

IMLS and Workforce Development

New opportunities with WIOA

Libraries named as One-Stop partners

Libraries recognized as important providers of training and employment services

Focus for State and Local Workforce Development Boards on digital literacy skills can leverage and build on library services

5

Overview of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

President Barack Obama signed WIOA into law on July 22, 2014. Passed by Congress with wide bipartisan majority (The Senate

voted 93-5 and the House of Representatives voted 415-6). Reaffirms ongoing role of American Job Centers. Promotes program coordination and alignment of key

employment, education, and training programs at the Federal, State, local, and regional levels.

Builds on proven practices such as sector strategies, career pathways, regional economic approaches, work-based training.

Complements and supports the President’s Job-Driven Workforce Vision. 6

Programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and retains and amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Identifies “core programs”: – Adults, Dislocated Workers, and Youth formula programs and Wagner-Peyser

employment services administered by the Department of Labor; and

– Adult education and literacy programs and Vocational Rehabilitation state grant programs that assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment administered by the Department of Education.

Authorizes the Job Corps, YouthBuild, Indian and Native Americans, and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker programs, and evaluation and research activities conducted by DOL. 7

Highlights of Reforms to the Public Workforce System under the Act

Requires states to strategically align workforce development programs to support job seekers and employers.

Promotes accountability and transparency of programs. Fosters regional collaboration to meet the needs of regional

economies. Streamlines and strengthens the strategic roles of workforce

development boards. Enhances services provided to job seekers and employers

through the American Job Center system. Improves services to employers and promotes work-based

training. 8

Highlights of Reforms to the Public Workforce System under the Act

Provides access to high quality training. Enhances workforce services for the unemployed and

other job seekers. Improves services to individuals with disabilities. Makes key investments in serving disconnected youth and

other vulnerable populations, including Native Americans and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers.

Increases the performance and quality of the Job Corps program.

Reinforces connections with Registered Apprenticeship. 9

Provisions Related to One-Stop Centers

WIOA increases the quality and accessibility of services that job seekers and employers receive at their local one-stop centers.

States will establish criteria to certify one-stops at least every three years to ensure continuous improvement, access (including physical and programmatic accessibility for individuals with disabilities) and integrated service delivery for job seekers and employers.

Key partners and services will be available at one-stops through co-location of partner programs, and the addition of the TANF program as a mandatory partner.

The workforce system will have a common identifier so workers that need employment or training services and employers that need qualified workers can easily find their local center.

States and local areas are encouraged to improve customer service and program management by integrating intake, case management, and reporting systems.

One-stop partner programs will dedicate funding for infrastructure and other shared costs. 10

Adult Ed and Literacy Act, Purpose

Create a partnership among Federal Government, States, and localities to provide adult education and literacy services that assist adults to: Become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and economic self-sufficiencyBecome a full partner in the education development of their childrenComplete high school

AND (new purposes):Promote transitions from adult education to postsecondary education and training through career pathwaysAssist immigrants and English language learners

improve reading, writing, math, speaking, and comprehending English

acquire understanding of American government, individual freedom, and responsibilities of citizenship 11

Provisions Related to Libraries

Libraries are an optional partner in one-stop centers.

State boards advise the Governor on ways to improve digital literacy skills.

States may use statewide funds to improve coordination of employment and training activities with adult education and literacy activities, including those provided by libraries.

Libraries are an “eligible provider” of adult education and literacy services. 12

Positive Partnership Examples

IMLS and OCTAE recently released a Dear Colleague letter pledging greater coordination of services to address digital literacy.

IMLS and DOL/ETA released joint guidance on how libraries support job seekers.

IMLS and USCIS pledged support on offering services to immigrants and their families.

Libraries are trusted community engagement and information hubs.

13

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to be a “one-stop partner”? Does WIOA change funding for one-stop partners? How will WIOA improve seamless service delivery for clients? Since libraries provide services to enhance digital literacy, how

can libraries help with planning and providing these activities, especially if the library does not sit on the State or local Workforce Development Board?

With WIOA’s increased focus on serving out-of-school youth, what are ways in which libraries can help meet the needs of these youth?

14

Input from Libraries to WIOA

1. How might libraries and the workforce system partner in the future?

2. What have libraries and the workforce system already been doing?

3. Are there barriers or stumbling blocks that have been identified?

15

Technical Assistance Tools and Resources

Department of Labor– WIOA Resource Page (www.doleta.gov/WIOA)

– WIOA Dedicated Email (DOL.WIOA@dol.gov)

Department of Education– Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education’s WIOA Resource

Page (http://www.ed.gov/AEFLA)

– WIOA Dedicated Email (AskAEFLA@ed.gov)

– Rehabilitation Services Administration’s WIOA Resource Page (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/wioa-reauthorization.html) – WIOA Dedicated Email (RSA.WIOA@ed.gov)

16

Cuyahoga Works

17

Stay tuned

For more information:

•District Dispatch (www.districtdispatch.org)

•Department of Education(www.ed.gov/AEFLA)

•Department of Labor(www.doleta.gov/WIOA)

•IMLS(www.imls.gov)

18