Calcasieu Parish Consortium - Workforce Investment Board

Calcasieu Parish Consortium Calcasieu Workforce Center

Workforce Investment Board (WIB) P. O. Box 1299

P. O. Box 1592 Lake Charles, LA 70602

Lake Charles, LA 70602 Phone: (337) 475-4900

Phone: (337) 721-3584 Fax: (337) 475-4888

Fax: (337) 437-3814

Jean M. Augustine, WIB Director Shari Grimes, Program Director

About the Workforce Investment Board (WIB)

The Calcasieu Parish Consortium Workforce Investment Board (WIB) is a 29-person Board appointed by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury for three year staggered terms. The Board consist of fifteen (15) private sector and fourteen (14) public sector members. The private sector members represent various sectors of the local economy including auto dealers, medical, real estate, business/industry, restaurants, services, etc. The public sector members include education, labor, economic development, HUD, vocational rehabilitation, Title V Older worker, technical college, Wagner-Peyser, community-based organizations, etc. The chairman must be a representative of the private sector and is elected by the membership.

The WIB has policy and oversight responsibility for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, Welfare-to-Work, and the One-Stop Center System.

The purpose of the WIB, in partnership with the chief elected official (Calcasieu Parish Police Jury), is to:

develop the local plan to the Governor
select One Stop operator
select eligible youth service providers
develop a budget for carrying out the duties of the Board
appoint a youth council, and
other governance functions relating to the workforce development system.

The Local Workforce Investment Area #51 (LWIA) includes Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis Parishes. Regional activities also include Allen and Beauregard Parishes.

The Board has adopted a vision statement, goals and objectives for the workforce development system. The goal reflects the needs of the customers, labor market analysis, and gaps in service identified through the planning process. The WIB plays a key role in designing a workforce development system that meets the needs of the unemployed, underemployed, welfare recipients, and other individuals seeking to enter the workforce. In addition, the WIB is endeavoring to ensure that individuals are being equipped with the necessary skills needed by employers. The WIB is focused on customer satisfaction with a commitment toward continuous improvement.

Meeting Schedule

The Board meets quarterly. Meetings are held on the third Thursday during the months of September, January, April, and June. The meetings begin at 11:30 a.m. at Pat’s of Henderson Restaurant, 1500 Siebarth Drive, Lake Charles, Louisiana. An agenda with other pertinent information is mailed to members at least seven days prior to the meeting so that they may prepare for Board business.

Committees

Committees of the Workforce Investment Board undertake specific action initiatives related to the overall goals of the WIB. The Board Committees consist of the Executive Committee, Local Planning and Budget Committee, Regional Planning Team, and Youth Council. There are various subcommittees of the Local Planning and Budget Committee and the Regional Planning Team.

Program Services

The function of the Calcasieu Workforce Center is captured in its Mission Statement:

“We are a partnership of local community organizations and employers providing a comprehensive range of useful career and employment services, job training, and up-to-date information which will empower our customers to become self-sufficient and improve their overall quality of life”

Which is consistent with the purpose of the Law; as stated in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998:

"To consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs in the United States, and for other purposes."

Services to Adults and Dislocated Workers - Core Services (Job Search Assistance, Labor Market Information, Resumé Preparation, Job Referrals) Intensive Services (Comprehensive Assessment, Case Management, Development of an Individual Employment Plan) Training Services (On-the-Job Training, Occupational Skills Training, Work Experience, Internship) and Supportive Services (Child Care & Transportation).

Services to Eligible Youth (age 14-21) - Tutoring & study skills training and instruction leading to secondary school completion, including dropout prevention strategies; Alternative secondary school offerings; Summer employment opportunities directly linked to academic and occupational learning, Paid and unpaid work experience including internships and job shadowing; Occupational skill training; Leadership development opportunities, which include community services and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social behaviors; Supportive services; Adult mentoring for a duration of at least twelve months which may occur during and after program participation; Follow up services; and Comprehensive guidance and counseling including drug and alcohol abuse counseling, as well as referrals to counseling as appropriate to the needs of the individual youth.

Services to Employers - A pool of applicants for job opportunities, employer capacity building, proficiency testing of job applicants, job order postings, job analysis, local wage survey information, interview room, resource materials, labor exchange applicant pre-screening etc.

Services are provided through the Comprehensive One Stop Center in Calcasieu Parish and through satellite Centers in Jeff Davis and Cameron Parishes.

The Workforce Investment Board (WIB), in conjunction with the chief elected official (CPPJ) provides policy, planning, and oversight for the Local Workforce Development Programs. The WIB plays a key role in designing a workforce system that meets the needs of the unemployed, the underemployed, welfare recipient, youth, and other individuals seeking to enter the workforce. Also the WIB is making every effort to ensure that individuals are being equipped with the necessary skills needed by employers.

Goals and Objectives: (Goals are broad aims toward which the programs are directed; Objectives are more specific in nature. They are measurable and have specific time limits)

The goals and objectives of the Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) are consistent with the Governor's Statement of Goals and Objectives and include the following:

Goal 1: CUSTOMER FOCUSED: The workforce system will meet the needs of customers by identifying the needs of businesses and industry for new and upgraded workers, identifying the types of education and training needed by workers so they may be able to secure and retain jobs and advance in the workplace, encouraging training programs to incorporate the skills needed for individuals to secure and retain jobs and to advance in the workplace, and encouraging training programs to be flexible, responsive and timely in meeting the needs of businesses.

Goal 2: PERFORMANCE BASED: Performance standards will be used to measure the effectiveness of each workforce development activity. To accomplish this goal, statewide measurable performance standards, such as completion rate, placement rate, salary and retention rate, using independently verifiable outcomes data and customer satisfaction measures will be developed for workforce development programs. A comprehensive labor market information system from which performance data can be obtained has been developed. This data will be used to establish funding levels for programs and to recognize and reward, as appropriate, innovative programs.

Goal 3: MARKET DRIVEN: Incentives and funding decisions will be based upon performance data and upon occupational forecasting information.

Goal 4: STREAMLINED: State agencies will reduce or eliminate duplication and inefficiency within the workforce development system, implement statewide and workforce centers delivery system (One Stop Centers), thereby eliminating isolated delivery programs, and establish interagency work groups among state agencies, service delivery areas, and state boards for the purposes of collaboration and working toward common goals.

Goal 5: LOCALLY OPERATED In local/regional areas, businesses, training programs, labor, and education will forge effective partnerships. Local regional workforce boards will be developed in defined geographic regions. State agencies will decentralize delivery of workforce services and programs by appropriating the maximum funds allowable to regional and local levels.

Goal 6: FOCUSED ON THE WORK ETHIC The workforce system will instill good work habits as the foundation for successful employment. The system will identify and reach consensus on the elements/components of successful work habits for universal use within job training programs, encourage job training programs to incorporate the components/elements that comprise the work ethic and build the work ethic component into the education system.

Objectives:

The Objectives for the LWIA as outlined in the Local Workforce Plan include the following:

1. As a result of the efforts of the One-Stop Delivery System, a positive impact on the community will be experienced by employees increasing goals for their future through increasing self-esteem, pride and involvement, more partners will be involved, increased awareness of Board activities, upward mobility for entry level employment, create a desire for work, train for higher paying jobs with increased access to those jobs, and provide employers with a trained workforce.

2. As a result of the efforts of the One-Stop Delivery System, an improved image will result through community coalitions motivating both employers and job seekers, providing services that go beyond the image of a “government agency”, and by being a pro-active, accessible, client-oriented, employer-focused, provider-conscious resource that really helps to solve problems

3. To exhibit values of quality over quantity, excellence in all aspects of job development, celebration of success, business and community involvement & expansion, diversification of funding sources, training for jobs in demand, recognition of good performance, one stop shopping, and attracting high-paying jobs.

Workforce Investment Act Programs (WIA):

The Local Workforce Investment Area #51 (LWIA) is continuing to enroll individuals into the programs established under the WIA. Program activities include occupational skills training, work experience/internships, OJT, case management, job placement, follow up, supportive services, etc.

Performance Indicators:

Overall Quality of Programs: The Workforce Investment Board has been accepted as an associate member of The Workforce Excellence Network (WEN), a national network of Quality Programs. Associate membership is the entry level; the second level is “select” membership and the highest level is “elite” membership. The Board intends to achieve the highest level. The Calcasieu Workforce Center is also making application for Associate membership.

Achieving Performance is required at both local and regional levels. Obtaining of incentive funds will be based upon meeting performance at the regional level. The region includes Imperial Calcasieu (Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis). Performance goals are negotiated with the Louisiana Department of Labor (LDOL). The following performance indicators are measured under WIA. Performance records for WIA are provided by the State Management Information System (MIS).

Adults

Entered Employment Rate

Six-Month Retention Rate

Average Earnings Change in 6 months

Credential Attainment Rate

Dislocated Workers

Entered Employment Rate