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Workforce Florida Weekly Update 5-09-07 |
CONTENTS The State & RegionsState Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) Update from AWI - May 9, 2007. The 8:30am briefing at the State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) included an overview of the current situation with wildfires in the State. The SEOC continues to be activated at Level One. The State has received four fire management grants to help combat the fires in 54 of Florida’s 67 counties, which currently cover 80,000 acres. A statewide ban on burning remains in affect. Regarding the system off the east coast, hurricane hunters are assessing the storm this morning to determine if the system will become sub-tropical storm Andrea. According to the State Meteorologist, Ben Nelson, the system does appear to be weakening and the majority of the rain associated with the system is on the east side of the system. Updated Situation Reports will continue to be posted to the Agency for Workforce Innovation’s Emergency website at http://www.floridajobs.org/emergency/emergency.html. High Tech Corridor a Candidate for WIRED III Grant. Endorsed by Florida Governor Charlie Crist, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council has applied for a Department of Labor Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative, a federal grant totaling $5 million. On behalf of our Corridor, the Florida MEP, and workforce boards in our 23-county region, the Agency for Workforce Innovation and the Brevard Workforce Development Board submitted the formal proposal titled “Launching Central Florida’s Economy,” one of two initiatives the governor selected to submit to Washington for consideration. Utilizing the WIRED grant money to implement effective training networks, Lisa Rice, executive director and president of the Brevard Workforce Development Board, noted the purpose will be to retain and redirect more than 8,000 highly skilled workers who will be impacted during NASA’s transition from the Space Shuttle to the Crew Exploration Vehicle programs. For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/SGA/sga.cfm. Free Seminar For Supervisors, Managers And HR Professionals. Ocala, Fla. – CLM Workforce Connection is hosting a
free, half-day seminar for business professionals in Citrus,
Levy, and Marion Counties May 23rd from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. at the Plantation Inn located in Crystal River, FL.
There is a challenge in our present workforce – the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) affirms that the U.S. is
facing a 10 million-worker shortage by 2010. The 2000 Census
states that 21.9 percent of the population in Florida ages
21-64 has a disability and only 58.3% of those with a disability
are employed. One solution offered by CLM Workforce Connection
is to hire people with disabilities. This informative seminar
is being conducted to provide local businesses with successful
strategies for including people with disabilities in the
workplace. A powerful Keynote Address will be given by George
Richard, Chief Assistant Statewide Prosecutor, who himself
is a wheelchair user.
Workforce Alliance Hosts International Expert at Its Inaugural Summit. West Palm Beach – Workforce Alliance will host internationally recognized author, researcher, speaker and consultant, Dr. Edward E. Gordon at the Inaugural Workforce Summit to be held Thursday, May 31, beginning at 7:45 a.m. at the Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion. Dr. Edward E. Gordon will discuss the impending jobs crisis and critical labor shortage, the subject of his recent book, “2010 Meltdown: Solving the Impending Jobs Crisis.” Reservations for the Summit can be made online for $40 per person at www.pbcalliance.com or by calling 561.340.1061, ext. 220. Kathryn Schmidt, President and CEO of Workforce Alliance, said, “As the human resource solution driving economic growth in Palm Beach County, Workforce Alliance believes that Dr. Gordon’s message of community collaboration is timely and extremely vital to the business community.” A nonprofit corporation chartered by the State of Florida, Workforce Alliance operates local workforce development programs that respond to the needs of both businesses and job seekers. For more information, visit www.pbcalliance.com. The NationED Releases Preliminary Title I Allocation Data. The U.S. Department of Education has released preliminary school district allocations for school-year 2007-08. Thompson Publications has posted a complete national table, as well as state-by-state breakouts of district amounts, a state summary table, and analytical tables on its Web site. The $12.8 billion in allocations represents just a slight jump, .98 percent over last year. Twenty-eight states show likely gains, while 22 show losses. Geographically, just about every state in the Midwest would gain funds, while several of the nation's most populous and politically powerful states -- including California, Florida and Texas -- are predicted to show drops. Readers are cautioned that these are preliminary data, and almost certainly will change when ED issues final allocations in June. Nonetheless, the preliminaries are often a good predictor of the final allocations. Wisconsin is predicted to show the largest gain, with 31 percent, followed by Indiana (24.6 percent) and New Hampshire (12 percent). The largest percentage losses are predicted in Hawaii (13.5 percent), West Virginia (10 percent), Oklahoma (9.2 percent) and Florida (9 percent). The preliminary tables reflect up-to-date Census estimates of low-income children, by far the most influential factor in determining allocations, aside from the amount of the appropriation. However, the tables do not reflect current counts of foster children, those in institutions for neglected and delinquent children, and certain children receiving welfare. Although those counts constitute only 5 percent of children factored into the formula, small changes can have a dramatic impact on allocations for certain school districts. Even after the final tables are issued, states must adjust for charter schools and deduct mandated administrative and school improvement costs. State Title I coordinators will ultimately inform districts of their final, definitive allocations. To view the tables on the preliminary allocations, go to www.nclbonline.com. Click on the "Funding Information" link under "Free Resources." U.S. Department of Labor to award nearly $14.2 million for Disability Program Navigators in 15 additional states and Puerto Rico. WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor announced last week nearly $14.2 million in grants to fund Disability Program Navigators (DPNs) in 15 additional states and Puerto Rico. The DPN initiative aims to assist individuals with disabilities in accessing employment through services offered by One-Stop Career Centers. "We all have a responsibility to help people with disabilities access job opportunities in our growing economy. Disability Program Navigators is a special program to help disabled workers access the public workforce investment system more effectively," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "The $14.2 million in grants will help workers with disabilities access career opportunities generated by America's growing economy." The DPN initiative grew out of a joint venture between the Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration to fund, implement and evaluate DPNs within the One-Stop Career Center system. Begun in 2003, the primary objective of the DPN initiative has been to increase the One-Stop Career Center system's ability to enhance the employability of job seekers with disabilities and to add to the number of career advancement opportunities available to them. To date, local workforce areas with DPNs are serving more customers with disabilities, and these customers are faring better in gaining employment than their counterparts in places that have yet to establish DPNs. "This most recent phase of Disability Program Navigators funding will assist more states in reaching out to and helping workers with disabilities find employment," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "These grants will help an additional 15 states and Puerto Rico streamline access to employment programs and services for persons with disabilities." DPN awards currently support approximately 400 navigators throughout the country. With this year's grants, the program will effectively have national reach, as just five states and one territory have declined to participate. DPN grants previously awarded to 30 states and the District of Columbia will maintain their funding levels to continue their programs. For more information on the Department of Labor's DPN initiative, please visit www.doleta.gov/disability/eta_default.cfm. ETA Announces Grant Funding Opportunity to Provide Alternative Education, Training and Apprenticeships to Youthful Offenders. The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has announced a competition for approximately $20 million in funding for grants to provide alternative education, training and apprenticeships to youthful offenders. Through Youthful Offender Grants, apprenticeship programs will prepare workers for in-demand industries including construction, health care, information technology and biotechnology. Alternative educational opportunities will include the creation of alternative and charter schools to help young offenders earn high school diplomas and connect with employers. Organizations with proven youth offender education programs may also apply for funding. This Solicitation for Grant Applications appears in the May 2 FEDERAL REGISTER at http://www.workforceatm.org/sections/pdf/2007/E7-8345.pdf. The competition is open to organizations including workforce investment boards, faith-based and community groups, state correctional facilities and Indian tribes. The competition closes May 31, 2007. Grants may be used for a number of services including GED instruction, occupational skills training, paid and unpaid work experiences and job placement. Award-winning projects will help youthful offenders return to their communities prepared to compete in today's job market, where 90 percent of the fastest growing jobs require post-secondary education. NASWA Workforce Bulletin - May 4, 2007 Headlines:
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and NoticesFor current information, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.Featured Opportunity:(none) Upcoming Meetings, Conferences and
Events
Workforce Florida Board and Related Meetings Schedule:For up-to-date WFI board meeting info please check the calendar at the WFI website. May 16, 2007 WFI Chair Meeting with Regional Board Chairs May 17, 2007 Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
May 8 – 11, 2007 May 14-15, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 20-23, 2007 May 21-22, 2007 May 29-30, 2007 May 30, 31 & June 1, 2007 June 4 - 5th, 2007 June 4-7, 2007 June 12-15, 2007 June 13-15, 2007 June 23-26, 2007 July 17-19, 2007 Odds and EndseFloridaVetsNews - May 4, 2007 online. The Internet link below will display the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA) eFloridaVetsNews weekly newsletter. This informative newsletter is distributed to more than 5,000 subscribers. To subscribe visit www.floridavets.org. To access the May newsletter go to: http://www.floridavets.org/news/Onlinenews/2007/May04_07.pdf. New Report Tracks Trends in Low-Wage Immigrant Labor Force. The Urban Institute’s March 2007 brief, Trends in the Low-Wage Immigrant Labor Force, documents the legal status, education level, and occupational choices of America’s foreign-born workers. Nationally, the number of native-born low-wage workers is declining and immigrants, particularly immigrant women help offset this decline. Immigrants also play a large role in adding younger workers to the American economy. While the number of native-born workers only increased by 4 percent between 2000 and 2005, the number of non-native born workers increased by 16 percent. For more information visit: http://urban.org/UploadedPDF/411426_Low-Wage_Immigrant_Labor.pdf. New EPI Study: Costly Trade With China. http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=338965463&url_num=3 Issue Paper: Young Adults with Disabilities Aging Out of Medicaid. This Kaiser Family Foundation Issue Paper examines what happens when children with disabilities age out of Medicaid. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) coverage is currently offered for low-income children with disabilities through the federal Medicaid program. When recipients of EPSDT coverage age out of eligibility at 18 or 21, youth with disabilities may find they do not meet the more stringent eligibility requirements for adult SSI recipients, or that the services available to them as adults is much more limited than what they received under EPSDT. For young adults with disabilities, these limits have important implications. Young people who loose SSI eligibility are at risk of going uninsured. In addition, young people with severe physical and mental disabilities who had previously relied on personal care services or other similar services to continue living at home or in a community-based setting may find that these services are no longer available to them. For these youth, the greatest risk in becoming an adult is the threat of institutionalization or of having basic health and daily living needs go unmet if they remain in the community. Although states have expanded the availability of home and community-based services through federal Medicaid waivers, many states have waiting lists for these services, some of which are years long. For more information go to http://www.kff.org/medicaid/upload/7491.pdf. Crack a Smile – it’s Healthy! LOS ANGELES, May 8 -- Animals announce the launch of their new social networking site, Ever wonder where fish stand on global warming? ... whether crocodiles get upset when they are mistaken for alligators? ... what the chicken who crossed the road was really thinking? Animal-Internet presents the answers to these and other questions. Animal-Internet's mission is to give all animals, both domestic and wild, a virtual soapbox to express their opinions. Visitors will find members of every species discussing world events, participating in polls, sharing photos, and leaving comments on the animatorial postings. There are only a few rules - no humans are allowed to join the community, members must refrain from eating one another and absolutely no use of the P-E-T word. http://www.animal-internet.com. Quote for the Week:“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” Alan Kay |
