This coming spring, several of our staff will share their expertise on workforce development programs at national conferences. Public Policy Associates, Inc. (PPA) is at the forefront of workforce development program evaluation and research across the country, currently working in five states. We hope to see you at these key events!
Fostering Employer-Driven Talent Pipelines: A Facilitating Role for Workforce Development
Mike Polzin, with John Beauregard (Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board [EWIB]) and Jacob Maas (West Michigan Works!)
National Association of Workforce Boards, The Forum 2018
March 24–27 in Washington, D.C.
Leaders from the EWIB and West Michigan Works! will describe how their respective demand-driven systems have fostered creation of employer-driven, industry-based talent pipelines in their regions. Panelists will describe how strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with education and training providers along with deep employer involvement led to the development of innovative training initiatives that meet employer needs for workers with specialized skills while accommodating the time and financial resource constraints of unemployed and underemployed adults.
Planning a Successful, Innovative Program
Colleen Graber and David McConnell
National Association of Workforce Development Professionals Annual Conference
May 20–24 in Phoenix, AZ
http://www.nawdp.org/training/annualconference.aspx
This session will provide insights on what it takes to make a creative idea into a successful reality in a complex workforce development environment. Based on years of evaluating programs funded by the federal government, including seven Workforce Innovation Fund and two Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training projects, the presenters will review the key elements that set a program up for success, including finding and utilizing prior research, estimating program demand and attrition, building support among partners and staff, and measuring progress for continual improvement.