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NetAssets
Intelligence for
Workforce Development Professionals
Distributed To Over 6,100 Workforce Development Professionals Nationwide
October 21, 2003 Vol. III, No. 30Publisher: Richard Katz
Welcome to NetAssets, the first and only online trade journal for the workforce development industry. NetAssets is published by Human Resource Marketing Services, Inc. (HRMS) and is currently provided without cost. If this newsletter was passed on to you, and you wish to subscribe to NetAssets, send an email to . Our Privacy Policy:We are strongly committed to safeguarding consumer privacy on our Web site and newsletter. Your subscriber information is never revealed, resold, or made public for any reason. Drop A Note ...Send us your organization's news, personnel changes, and other interesting tidbits.
To Read Articles, Click On The Blue Links Below
Publisher’s Comments
Employment TV: Readyfor Primetime?
NewFeatured Agencies
Goodwill Industries toOperate $3.6Million Grant to Serve Chronically Homeless Mentally Ill in Los Angeles
NewFiscal Management
California Based-Non Government Agencies Only- Your Organization May Be Eligible To Claim Microsoft Settlement Benefits
Economic Development
Job Creation: Weekly JobCreation Intelligence Report
Comic Relief
And Now For A Little Variety
NewAwards and Distinctions
Palm Beach Florida Workforce Alliance Honored With Three Statewide Awards
Get Out Of The Office
Conference and Workshop Calendar
One Stop Operations
Do You Really Know What The Internet CanDo For Your Clients?– ACINet featured
RFP Activity Report
Selected Funding Opportunities fromAround theCountry
Links
Workforce Development Related Resources
Professional Development
Who’s Hiring:WebSites ForYour Own JobSearch
Legislative Updates
NASWA’sHeadlines
Sponsoring Messages
2003 International Career Development Conference’s 20th Anniversary Celebration: November 5- 9 Oakland, California
2003 CalWORKs Partnerships Summit: Beyond the Changes and Challenges December 15-17,2003, San Diego, California
Halloween Is Coming -- Can You Tell A MonsterFrom A HotJob?
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Publisher’s Comments:
Richard Katz, Publisher
Employment TV: Ready for Primetime?
Several days ago I received an email blaster from the Western Virginia Workforce Development system promoting a one-time, three-hour “One Stop Live” TV program, distributed over the Blue Ridge Public Television Network.
For those of you not familiar with employment television programming, let me assure you that this is not a new concept. As far back as 1986, HRMS, publisher of NetAssets, produced and aired a series of half-hour, regularly scheduled TV programs called “Meet Your Next Employer”. The series aired for four years on Sunday nights during the labor shortages and was sponsored by employers to supplement their newspaper Help-Wanted TV advertising. Each show focused on a specific industry, occupation or workforce demographic, and allowed the viewer to respond to a toll-free phone number to apply for a job. The concept was simple—make the employers’ help wanted advertisements “come alive” with sound bites from employees and managers marketing the value of their company as an “employer of choice.”
Many attempts have been made to use “long-form” TV programming (we are not talking about 30- or 60-second commercials) to promote job opportunities, and to provide career and job search advice. The underlying, long-term strategy is to establish a national employment TV network. After all, if there are channels airing shows 24 hours a day on topics such as food, fine living, home improvement, tennis, and technology, just to name a few, isn’t it logical that employment should have its own channel?
From a commercial, private sector point of view, let me be clear that the concept of a career network has not been well received by broadcast and cable executives. They view employment television programming as boring talking heads, entertainment-challenged, and appealing mostly to the unemployed—an audience that is too small and wouldn’t have the money to purchase products and services promoted by potential advertisers even if they did watch.
From a Workforce Development point of view, that is another story. There is no doubt in my mind that, if properly funded, employment television programming can be a viable tool in a WIB’s marketing mix. But, the process is full of land mines. Any tax supported effort to produce and air a show needs to have experienced employment television programmers on its team who understand the importance of:
- Designing a program format that is entertaining, engaging and compelling
- Producing the show so that it looks professional because TV viewers are very demanding. “Public Access quality” shows won’t be watched
- Focusing the content of the show so that it appeals to a specific cluster, population or demographic—because TV is linear, it is unlikely an engineer will sit through a discussion of nursing jobs
- Choosing a distribution method (channel) and airtime that reach a targeted audience. For example, although Public Broadcasting stations would be a likely outlet for such programming, they limit your ability to gain corporate sponsorship to subsidize the costs.
- Understanding how to promote the program so that people will know about it and be motivated to tune in
- Integrating Internet and call center technology so the viewers can make contact with employers, apply for a job, and obtain additional information
- Finding other sources of funding so that government can promote workforce development services and not have to pay the full freight
- Establishing metrics that demonstrate the program’s effectiveness.
Television is the most powerful medium in the world. Where does TV fit into your marketing mix of tools? Do you see a value for our nation’s Workforce Development efforts? I encourage NetAssets readers to send me their experiences (or plans) for using employment television programming as a tool to market their services. Drop me a line at …
Richard
NewFeatured Agencies
Goodwill Industries to Operate $3.6 Million Grant to Serve Chronically Homeless Mentally Ill in Los Angeles
On October 1, 2003 the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) announced that over $5.7 million for two new programs targeting chronic homeless persons would be awarded in Los Angeles. Of that $5.7 Million, $625,000 was awarded to the City of Los Angeles by the United States Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Programs to pay for a program operated by Goodwill Los Angeles to treat chronically homeless clients suffering from mental illness. The overall program includes funding for housing, treatment, and employment services. The City of Los Angeles Community Development Department tapped Goodwill as one of the participants in writing the RFP and operating the program. Kori Miller, Director of the Los AngelesMetroNorthWorkSourceCenter, operated by Goodwill, spearheaded the RFP effort at Goodwill. NetAssets recently interviewed Miller on the process and the project.
Kori Miller
DirectorMetroNorthWorkSourceCenter
Goodwill Industries of Southern California
NetAssets:Tell us about your new project.
Goodwill is part of a group that just received a large grant from a variety of Federal agencies to combat homelessness among Los Angeles’ chronically homeless, mentally ill residents. We helped the City of Los Angeles submit the proposal a month ago, and got news about the funding last week. We were pleased that among the proposals from 100 cities, our proposal was one of the 11 that were accepted. Goodwill is the sole source contractor for the project. The Los Angeles City WIB is the lead agency and fiscal agent. The 200-page proposal was a collaborative effort among the Department of Mental Health, the City’ Community Development Department, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Goodwill, and Shelter Partnership, who provided the majority of proofing and editing. We provided about 70 pages of the proposal from here at Goodwill.
The partnership of agencies that received the grant is known as The Los Angeles Homeless Opportunity Providing Employment (LA's HOPE). It is a consortium of ten Los Angeles agencies representing the public and private, community-based and faith-based sectors, to integrate the permanent housing, mental health and workforce development programs serving the chronically homeless mentally ill population. The Community Development Department, on behalf of the City's Workforce Investment Board, was awarded $625,000 from the Department of Labor to develop customized employment programs, and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles in partnership with the County Department of Mental Health will receive $3 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide permanent affordable supportive housing under the Shelter Plus Care program.
Goodwill will provide vocational assessment and employment services from the DOL portion of the grant.
The members of LA's HOPE, in addition to the direct grantees of the Workforce Development Division of the City's Community Development Department, and the Housing Authority/Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, are:
* Goodwill Industries of Southern California
* Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
* Shelter Partnership, Inc
* Portals House
* San Fernando Valley Community Mental HealthCenter
* South Central Health and Rehabilitation Program
LA's HOPE will enroll 76 clients who are chronically homeless with serious mental illness, many of who have a history of substance addiction, through outreach at overnight emergency shelters. The goal of LA's HOPE is to ensure that clients are provided with mental health services, permanent housing and customized employment services throughout a five-year period. Significant leveraging resources were brought to the program from the Department of Mental Health's AB 2034 and PATH programs, as well as from other public and private partners.
The partners will bring together existing infrastructures among homeless services providers, mental health agencies, and the Los Angeles area WorkSource Centers to assure that the needs of the needs of chronically homeless mentally ill population are woven into existing funding streams and programs. As this will be viewed as a national demonstration project, LA's HOPE will disseminate best practices among these various networks to provide a roadmap on how to incorporate multiple services to this special population.
NetAssets:What is the duration of the project, and how many of what population will be served?
The grant was announced on October 2nd, and the program will start on November 3rd. It will serve 76 people in its first year, and is intended to be renewed over a five-year period. The first priority is to find housing, provide counseling, and medication. Before employment, the program supplies basic needs to the clients to help them become job ready.
NetAssets:How did you hear about the RFP opportunity?
Although here at Goodwill, we regularly search Websites for grant info from several sources, including private, Federal, state, county, and city funding, in this case the city called us and asked us to partner with them. We had previously submitted 2 grants requests that weren’t approved.
NetAssets:What did you say and do in your proposal that you believe was critical in obtaining the grant?
Ending chronic homelessness among those with mental health issues is a difficult assignment. “Chronically homeless” is defined as being homeless for 1 year, or for 4 episodes in two years. This is a tougher population to serve than those that are occasionally homeless. 50% of Los AngelesCounty homeless are in the Downtown area, and 20% of them are chronically homeless. Perhaps 50% have substance abuse issues.
NetAssets:What about employer involvement?
Business service reps are working now with employers to find food service, retail, and administrative positions that will fit the population. We will have 3 to 4 months before clients will be job ready and can complete vocational training.
NetAssets:How does the program design fit into your existing service delivery model?
This project fits perfectly into our model and mission. The city came to Goodwill because of our reputation of working with special needs populations. We will be adding 4 people to our staff, plus a project coordinator.
NetAssets:How much staff time was involved in responding to the grant?
From our end here at Goodwill, it took about 3 weeks, on a half-time basis. Goodwill provided about 70 pages of a 200-page proposal. It helped that the infrastructure already existed, and that we had written previous proposals, and have existing relationships with appropriate partners.
NetAssets:Can you articulate a corporate policy/strategy that defines which grants to go after?
We go after grants that support our mission, that is, serving those who are disabled, mentally and physically, or have other barriers to employment.
For more information about Goodwill of Southern California, see:
NewFiscal Management
California Based Agencies Only- Your Non-Government Organization May Be Eligible To Claim Microsoft Settlement Benefits
Many of you may have already received this notification, but just in case, NetAssets thought it might be beneficial for our readers. The California Superior Court has reached a tentative (proposed) settlement with Microsoft to provide up to $1.1 billion of cash and vouchers that consumers and businesses can use to purchase computer hardware and software. The settlement applies to consumers and businesses that purchased the following items from February 18,1995 through December 15, 2001.
Below is an overview of the benefits your organization may be qualified to receive. You should contact the Microsoft Claims Administrator at the phone number below to obtain their complete Settlement pamphlet for all the terms and conditions.
$16 each for Microsoft’s “Windows or MS-Dos operating system software
$29 each for Microsoft’s” Office” product suite software
$5 each for Microsoft’s “Word” word processing software
$26 each for Microsoft’s “Excel” spreadsheet software
These claims are valid for individual purchases, volume license claims and purchases of computers that came with the software. Limited documentation is needed for benefits totaling under $100. You must submit a claim form with a postmark by March 15, 2004 to receive the vouchers. To obtain a claim form, contact the claim administrator by calling 1800-960-5660. You can also go to or
To All California NetAssets Readers: Keep in mind that you may be eligible for Microsoft Settlement Benefits as an individual for purchases made for your home computer.
Economic Development
Job Creation: Weekly Job Creation Intelligence Report
Workforce Development agencies are always interested in being the first to find out about new jobs being created in their region, and now there is a weekly service that monitors hiring at companies around the country. Below, you will a sample hiring profile for one of the five regions of the country within the past week. Profiles just like this are also available for the Northeast, South, Southeast, and Midwest.
For information and costs on how to receive these “Job Sensor” reports for your region on a weekly basis, contact .
Hiring Profiles Delivered Wednesday, October 15, 2003
NetAssets
Job Creator Report: West Region
This Week's West Region Hiring Profile Summary
California Employment Development Department, California, 100-199, Office/Clerical; Professional
Legacy Electronics, California, Undetermined, Professional
Liahona Academy, Utah, 20-99, Other/Undetermined
LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals, Montana, 1-19, Medical/Scientific
Nisqually Indian Tribe, Washington, 500-999, Office/Clerical; Other/Undetermined; Professional; Retail/Service
Universal Technical Institute, Arizona, 200-499, Education; Other/Undetermined
Sample Hiring Profile
Hiring Organization: LiahonaAcademy
State:Utah
Estimated Number of Employees to be Hired: 20-99
Skill Sets Needed: Other/Undetermined
LiahonaAcademy, a new youth home with room for 36 boys, is expected to be completed by February 2004 in Virgin, Utah, and will create 40 to 50 jobs.
Comic Relief
And Now For A Little Variety
Take a break. Here’s this week’s attempt at humor. Here’s a Website with a little bit of this and a little bit of that, from interviews, to applications, to resumes, and even a little inspiration at the end:
NewAwards and Distinctions
Palm BeachFlorida Workforce Alliance Honored With Three State-Wide Awards
Palm Beach County, Florida -- October 10, 2003 -- Workforce Alliance, Inc., a non-profit organization chartered to oversee a workforce development system in Palm Beach County, and one of its major contributing partners, The Palm Beach Post, combined to win three awards in competition with 24 other workforce development organizations throughout the State of Florida. The awards were presented in ceremonies held at The State’s Annual Workforce Summit in Orlando on October 9, 2003. /The Workforce Alliance received First Place and $15,000 for an Employed Worker Training project in partnership with three healthcare employers in the county and Palm Beach Community College. During the course of the project, over 100 persons were trained for improved skills to address the county’s critical shortage in the health care profession and were offered employment or a position upgrade after successful completion of the program. The healthcare participants included JFKMedicalCenter, PalmsWestHospital and ColumbiaHospital.
The Workforce Alliance also received Honorable Mention and a $5,000 Customer Service award for its continuous quality improvement and a “We Care” campaign to evaluate job seeker satisfaction with the services provided at the five one-stop career centers which are operated by ACSState and Local Solutions, Inc. under a contract with Workforce Alliance, Inc. throughout the county.
The awards were presented by Curtis C. Austin, President of Workforce Florida, Inc., at Florida’s annual Workforce Summit. The summit was attended by Emily Stover DeRocco, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as over 1,000 workforce development professionals and partners.