Front row from left to right: Rhonda Meidinger (Voc Rehab), Heather DeSart (ONWIB), Camille Padilla (ResCare), Amy Youngflesh (DHS), Srunny Houng (DHS), Myronda Schiding (NWESD)
Back row from left to right: Pete Svendsen (ONWIB), Donna Duff (Voc Rehab), Joyce Aho (OED), Bryan Campbell (Voc Rehab), Martha Lyon (CSC), Sean Larsen (CSC), Stephanie Hurliman (OED)
Not pictured: Tom Gill for Clatsop Community College, Sandy Chase (DHS), Elly Blaser (Goodwill), Martha Stangland (Experience Works), Loren Burnham (Apprenticeship Programs)
We are very proud that we have many partners who come to our LLT meetings! We continue to work on making our meetings a priority for our partners so that we can continue to build a strong workforce system that works for all.
The communication is that we all have a common goal and that is to help get people the skills they need to get a job. We are focusing on co-location with all partners to some degree. That may be having someone from another agency work out of the WorkSource office one day a week, but it is still providing services.
Currently we are working on having each agency tell the group what they do and how we can support each other. We would like to see what each agency has to offer for services, classes, resource and then work to mainstream those services so someone receiving help from any agency would have access and a warm hand-off when needed system to work with. Our LLT understands the WSO Standards that are expected in the WorkSource offices and contribute anywhere that can in those standards.
To learn more about Northwest's Local Leadership Team contact Stephanie Hurliman at 503-842-4488, ext. 221 or [email protected]
Best Practice: Mid-Valley Staff Work Teams Produce Results Above and Beyond WSO Standards Requirements!
From the left: Leigh Leavitt (Title III McMinnville), Shandi Walter (Title I Woodburn), Carol Files (Trade Adjustment Act), DiNae Hendriksen (Title I McMinnville/Woodburn) Tracy Moreno (Title III Albany/Lebanon), Andy Zobrist (Title III Salem), Jill Weissbeck (Title III Albany).
When WSO Operational Standards were announced in Spring 2015, the Mid-Valley Leadership Team decided to engage staff in designing local processes that support implementation. Five work teams were formed: Exploratory Services; Career Services; Training Services; Business Services; and Crossover. Staff became investors in WorkSource Mid-Valley, performing gap-analysis on services, researching technological solutions, and creating implementation methodology for nearly every WSO Standard. Over the course of a year, each team produced recommendations enabling Mid-Valley WorkSource offices to achieve all standards.
Additionally, teams produced proposals for services above and beyond those required by the WSO Standards. Here is a sampling:
Make workshops available in video and via other web-based technology
Office environment: Air purification systems in customer areas; U.S and Oregon flag displays; barista-style blackboards displaying details important to center visitors; and health-conscious seating for customers
Tablets for Business Team use when visiting employer worksites
Automate employer feedback functionality by using Survey Monkey
Use Prove-It as a skill validation tool (Incite Inc. accelerated this by funding a license for each center)
Make Mid-Valley WorkSource centers Certiport Testing Centers for Microsoft Office tools
Sector specific workshops covering career pathways and industries/occupations that are in demand
Workshop for mature workers facing employment barriers
Run LMI press releases, UI information, NCRC, and OED informational videos with closed captioning on lobby display screens
The Mid-Valley Leadership Team is proud of the energy, knowledge and enthusiasm staff put into the WSO Standards effort. While the approach required commitment and sacrifice for team members and for staff who maintained customer service while teams met, we believe it accomplished what we had hoped for: creation of a local system by staff for the benefit of WorkSource customers!