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Receive a status report from Bruce Wagstaff on the continued progress of implementing the Solano Workforce Development Review recommendations approved by the Board on July 26, 2016
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors receive a status report from Bruce Wagstaff on the continued progress of implementing the Solano Workforce Development Review recommendations approved by the Board on July 26, 2016.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On July 26, 2016, the Board of Supervisors received a report reviewing the County’s Workforce Development effort from Patrick Duterte which identified the strengths of the existing workforce development system, looked at weaknesses, reviewed individual programs and potential duplication of services and focused on outcomes and measurable results. The review identified and culminated in fourteen (14) recommendations, all of which were accepted and approved by the Board.
On January 4, 2017, more than 40 workforce development partners met to discuss the 14 recommendations and begin the steps to implementation. The partners agreed to address the first three recommendations with individual taskforce workgroups and to form an overall steering committee to guide the coordinated efforts. The committee’s work included (1) the adoption of a Standard Assessment Tool, (2) the adoption of a practical and useable employer definition of Soft Skills, and (3) the formation of a steering committee of providers and stakeholders to look for opportunities to coordinate, realign services, end duplicative practices and look for opportunities to blend funding and services. The partners met quarterly and agreed to give periodic updates to the Board of Supervisors and the Workforce Development Board.
An initial update was provided to the Board of Supervisors on April 25, 2017 by Patrick Duterte and Bruce Wagstaff. The report reviewed the establishment of the steering committee to oversee the ongoing implementation of the project and initial work in three areas, including (1) the development of an employer-driven set of Essential Skills that would be focused on throughout the system, (2) the establishment of an improved approach to Skills Assessments that are completed by the various workforce development programs to avoid duplication, and (3) the promotion of an improved collaboration and leveraging of resources among the organizations involved in workforce development.
Since that time, work has proceeded in all three areas detailed in the report, including:
(1) The Essential Skills curriculum developed by the County Office of Education (COE), in partnership with the Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce, was determined to be a strong employer-oriented approach and is currently being reviewed by the various workforce development organizations to determine how to include training on the needed skills that employers have identified.
(2) The Adult Education system has worked closely with COE to pilot this program in their schools, and County Health and Social Services is working with the Workforce Development Board to review the skills identified for the CalWORKS program.
(3) Discussions are taking place regarding the creation of a shared database for the assessments being completed by the various programs. With a client’s consent, these efforts would remove the duplicative way information is currently being collected, allowing job-seekers to move throughout the system more efficiently. The end goal is to establish a “no wrong door” approach, meaning clients can enter the system at any point and be referred to the appropriate program or job placement.
These conversations also include the exploration and development of a user-friendly website for job-seekers and employers that would provide information on the programs available in the workforce development system, including jobs available in the community and the experience required for available job openings.
It is expected that by the end of calendar year 2017 the County’s workforce development programs will have (1) identified their approach to Essential Skills training focused on the skills identified in COE’s program, (2) Established a method for sharing assessment information and developed a prototype “no wrong door” intake process, and (3) acted to strengthen the County’s job posting system to be responsive to the needs of job seekers and employers.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The County Administrator staff time associated with this item is budgeted within the Department's FY2016/17 budget. Bruce Wagstaff’s total contract is for $56,425 to assist in transitioning the recommended actions into to a sustainable workforce development plan and program. The contract for implementation support service is included in the FY17/18 Recommended Budget for the County Administrator’s Office.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to receive the status update on the Workforce Development Review implementation. This is not recommended because this presentation supports efforts to improve workforce development programs in Solano County by enhancing coordination between providers of workforce development services and expanding access to available services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Workforce Development Board, Fairfield/Suisun Adult School, Children’s Network, Solano Family and Children’s Services, Dreamcatchers, LCA (Probation) City of Fairfield, Sheriff, Goodwill, Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce, Caminar Jobs Plus, Solano Economic Development Corporation, Solano County Office of Education, Probation, Solano Public Health, Health and Social Services, Board of Supervisors, Solano County Library, Solano County Adult Education, Northbay Health Care, Solano Transportation Authority, Kaiser Permanente, Six Flags, Solano Community College, City of Vacaville, Central Labor Council, and Senior Coalition are all actively collaborating on workforce development program enhancements
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION