KANSAS WORKFORCE INNOVATION FUND

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1 KANSAS WORKFORCE INNOVATION FUND In this issue: Cross-system training Ideas for collaboration Encouraging thoughts Upcoming trainings Thanks aagain! On-the-job training update WIF online portal Cross-System Training Over 175 staff from multiple WIOA partner agencies attended the trainings across the State last quarter. Each group of participants was asked to complete a pre-assessment and post-assessment of the content. On average, there was an 87% response rate to the assessments. Across cohorts, there was an average increase in knowledge of 12.6 percentage points after attending the training, with an average post-assessment score of 69%. The project outcome goal is for 90% of staff to complete the post-assessment with a score of 80% or better. The training offers a chance to brainstorm ways to collaborate that might improve the customer experience, network with colleagues and commit to applying their knowledge by recording their next steps. It was informative and a great resource tool for serving our customers. Interaction with staff from other agencies was a The WIF training in Great Bend on November 15th at Barton County Community College was a huge success! Thanks to those who attended. definite highlight. -Participant Quotes 1

2 WIF Participant Ideas for Collaboration 1) Increase marketing efforts to get the word out through joint outreach activities; for example, training and employment fairs and other community events. 2) Create and share contact lists for field staff from each program and use for monthly s between staff to discuss potential/current clients and new resources. 3) Make knowledgeable referrals using a warm hand off to your contacts in other programs. 4) Explicitly include partner activities in the employment plan with specific steps and deadlines. 5) Listen to your clients. Learn what has worked for the client in other programs and get their feedback. 6) Use a shared database for client information to reduce duplicate application information and permit case managers to see what other services are available. 7) Use central call center where a single person could provide the most up-to-date information about all the programs. It would be each agency s responsibility to keep staff in this position up to date. 8) Hold quarterly meetings with peers. 9) Assign on-site liaisons to coordinate with other agencies. 10) Continue to offer training opportunities between agencies at least annually. 11) Create checklists of documents required by your agency or program and share widely with partners. 12) Create a universal referral form (by area). 13) Use comprehensive services website that might include answers to pertinent questions, a message board, a list of services with eligibility criteria, links to applications, and locations of nearby providers. 14) Encourage cooperation between agencies at all levels with clarification of procedures to best use the multiple funding sources. 15) Develop an online screening tool for use by case managers or general public that determines possible resources based on a short survey. 2

3 During the WIF Training participants were asked to write down how they will use what they learned when they return to work. Here are a few of the self-assignments. Make sure Adult Education and Workforce Services are collaborating on customer orientation Contact the local representative with KANSASWORKS, Vocational Rehabilitation, Adult Education, and the DCF Career Navigators Develop a resource list for my area Gather information about documents required for application to other programs Invite partner agency to (adult education) new student orientation Review current participants and make referrals to partners Make myself available to co-workers at other agencies Upcoming WIF Trainings January 17 in Kansas City January 20 in Wichita February 7 in Manhattan March 7 in Emporia *Register at Thanks again to all the subject matter experts and agency leaders who contributed to developing and delivering the training! We couldn t have done it without you. 3

4 WIF On-the-Job Training (OJT) The Kansas WIF grant is supporting on-the-job training for individuals with multiple, WIOA barriers to employment including individuals with disabilities, those who are basic skills deficient and those who are long-term unemployed. Based on the needs of each individual enrolled in the WIF OJT program, a Service Guidance and Support Team (SGST) will work to coordinate and plan services that support the individual through completion of the OJT and through the follow up period. The SGST will be comprised of representatives from agencies who are, or will be, serving the individual. OJT is an excellent opportunity for individuals who will benefit from advancing their skills and want to earn while they learn. OJT reduces an employer s extraordinary cost of training and is based on the customized needs of each employer. OJT can also be used as a pre-apprenticeship training. The Statewide WIF grant OJT outcomes are to: 1. Recruit 150 individuals. 2. Enroll 120 WIF OJT participants. 3. Have 70% of the WIF OJT participants complete the training satisfactorily by September Have 77% of WIF OJT training completers employed within six months after exit. For more information, contact a local WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker Representative at a KANSASWORKS Center in your area (click here). 4

5 WIF Online Portal Development The Kansas WIF funds are being used to support the development of an online portal with the vision of providing Kansans: Online access to multiple services with a single sign-on Information about training and employment opportunities Discussions are underway to determine how to best connect the users of KANSASWORKS.com and the Kansas Unemployment Insurance website. The Workforce Data Quality Initiative team has already produced the Kansas Career Navigator Portal found at This site offers real-time labor market information on promising careers in Kansas, links to information about training providers and employment opportunities. 5

6 Kansas WIF Benchmarks Completed Year One Developed the face-to-face, Cross-System Training to be delivered over the first year of the grant Sub-agreements for On-the-Job Training (OJT) are fully executed in all areas WIF Evaluation team selected and the evaluation design completed Kansas WIF Benchmarks Year Two OJT and SGST WIF OJT implemented in areas Statewide 150 eligible individuals recruited for placement in OJT Service Guidance and Support Teams (SGST) actively serving OJT participants Staff cross-training Face-to-face, cross-system trainings delivered Web-based modules developed and tested Pre-/post-assessment and six month follow up monitored and quarterly reports developed by evaluation team START HERE Single sign-on developed for portal Interface with Kansas Career Navigator website developed Interest, benefits and risks of adding WIOA partners determined Kansas WIF Benchmarks Year Three OJT and SGST 120 eligible individuals enrolled in WIF OJT 70% of WIF OJT program participants satisfactorily completed training by 9/30/ % of WIF OJT training completers are employed within six months after exit Staff cross-training Web-based modules available on KS-train START HERE A steering committee is formed to guide further development of the online portal Additional features and products to online portal are added based on direction of steering committee Beta testing of portal completed 6