TEN24-08acc.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 TO ALL STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES ALL STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS FROM BRENT R. ORRELL s Deputy Assistant Secretary SUBJECT Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Resources for Workforce System Administrators and Staff 1. Purpose . To inform the workforce system of the important Department of Labor resources that have been developed for faith-based and community initiatives. These resources educate workforce system administrators and staff in how best to partner with faith-based and community organizations FBCOs and how to integrate FBCOs into their stra tegic planning and service delivery process. 2. Background . The Department s Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives was created when President Bush signed Executive Order 13198 on January 29 2001. The purpose of the Center is to empower FBCOs that help individuals in their communities prepare for enter and thrive in the workforce. To accomplish this goal DOL has increased collaboration with FBCOs that are trusted institutions providing valuabl e services. To ensure that FBCOs are utilized as partners in the workforce system the Center developed a host of resources for these groups and for workforce system administrators and staff that discuss how government and local organizations can partner to serve the needs of local communities. 3. Logistics . Below is a list of resources to educate the workforce system in how best to partner with FBCOs to serve the needs of local communities. It is important for workforce system administrators and staff to understand the best practices for partnering wit h FBCOs and to understand the resources available for FBCOs to learn how to partner wit h their local workforce system. All of the below mentioned documents are also available on the Employment and Training Administration s Web sites at http www.doleta.gov and http www.workforce3one.org . Access Point Toolkit Sharing How Access to Resources Empowers is a step-by-step guide that provides Workforce Investment Boards and One-Stops everything necessary to train FBCOs in high-poverty areas to act as Access Points based on implementation of the Access Point model in nearly 50 locations across the country. Specifically Access Po ints NO. TEN 24-08 TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE DATE January 14 2009 2 is a model aimed at building connections between businesses in need of human capital and FBCOs helping individuals find employment available at http www.dol.gov cfbci 20080707AP.pdf . Project Reach Out Guide and Toolkit is a toolkit produced by Seedco Inc. based on its experience in the Project Reach Out program to help other One-Stops integrate FBCO networks into their service delivery design. The toolkit describes the benefits of partnering with faith-based and community organizations through a formalized network as well as challenges that One-Stops may face organizing this type of network available at http www.seedco.org pro toolkit project reachout.pdf . Directory of Foundation Workforce Grant Opportunities provides a detailed list of private and corporate foundations that provide grant opportunities to FB COs in order to give community organizations a clear and concise tool to pursue grants availabl e at http www.dol.gov cfbci DFWGO.pdf . Mentoring Ex-Prisoners A Guide for Reentry Programs provides guidelines and recommendations to address the challenges and increase the benefits of mentoring adult ex-prisoners as part of their involvement in reentry programs available at http www.dol.gov cfbci 20071101Mentoring.pdf . Ready4Reentry A Prisoner Reentry Toolkit is a guide for faith- or community-based organizations interested in establishing or enhancing their prisoner ree ntry programs. This document covers a variety of topics such as recruiting case management job placement mentoring and forming successful partnerships available at http www.dol.gov cfbci PRItoolkit.pdf . 4. Action Requested . State workforce agencies and local workforce investment boards are encouraged to be aware of these documents and share them with local FBCOs. 5. Inquiries . To ask questions regarding the information contained in this Training and Employment Notice or to discuss these resources please contact Kristin Fortin in the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at 202 693-6457 or at fortin.kristin dol.gov .