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Workforce Florida Weekly Update 10-31-07 |
CONTENTS The State & RegionsGovernor Crist Proclaims November Hire a Veteran Month - Florida Businesses Encouraged to Utilize Valuable Employment Resource. TALLAHASSEE, FL — Recognizing the tremendous value of those who have served our country, Florida Governor Charlie Crist has proclaimed November 2007 as Hire a Veteran Month. The Governor’s proclamation reaffirms our commitment to those who have served our nation in times of war and peace. Coordinated by the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI), the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs and our workforce partners, Workforce Florida, Inc. and the regional workforce boards, this initiative is designed to remind employers of the unmatched economic resource provided by our state’s veterans. “Florida is home to an estimated 1.8 million veterans and has the fastest growing veterans population in the nation,” said AWI Director Monesia T. Brown. "Our veterans possess valuable leadership, business and technical skills gained while serving their country. They are a versatile and well-trained resource for employers and Florida is fortunate to have ready access to such a highly-skilled workforce.” AWI is committed to meeting the needs of our heroic veterans and our employers through high quality programs and services. Such programs include employment and training initiatives such as the Veterans’ Employment & Training System, Hire a Vet, Citizen Soldier and the Military Families program. Last year Florida’s One Stop Career Centers served more than 74,000 veterans, with more than 12,000 recently separated from the Armed Forces. Florida’s veterans come to the workforce highly adept with new technology, and are skilled and trained in a variety of areas. The state is committed to bringing employers and veterans together using the full network of workforce partnerships and professionals across the state, along with the Employ Florida Marketplace, located online at http://www.employflorida.com/. “Demographics of veterans are shifting with the return of young troops who have served in the Global War On Terrorism,” said Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs Executive Director LeRoy Collins Jr. “FDVA is working with AWI to assist veterans looking for employment to include lifetime veterans’ preference for those seeking jobs with municipal, county and state government.” Veterans offer Florida’s businesses the benefits of high skills, education, leadership, maturity and dedication learned or enhanced during their service in the military. By bringing recognition to our veterans, we honor not only their military service but also the contributions they bring to the workforce. Join us in honoring their commitment and sacrifice to our country. Hire a veteran! Click here to read Governor Crist's proclamation. http://www.floridajobs.org/publications/news_rel/gov_vets_proclamation.pdf. Children and Youth Cabinet Convene Second Meeting ~ The 20-member Panel discuss details of Strategic Plan. TAMPA — Governor Charlie Crist yesterday announced the second meeting of the Children and Youth Cabinet at the University of South Florida. Chaired by Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, the 20 cabinet members worked on developing a strategic plan to promote collaboration, creativity, increased efficiency, information sharing and improved service delivery between and within state agencies and organizations that administer child welfare services. The meeting is the second of six public meetings held across the state to receive input from the public, media and government representatives. “I am confident that the expertise of each person on the cabinet will help us make great strides in improving the quality of life for Florida’s Children,” said Governor Crist. “The group has innovative ideas and a willingness to address the challenges facing children today.” On July 11, 2007, Governor Crist signed legislation creating the Children and Youth Cabinet. The Children and Youth Cabinet consists of 20 members, including Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp who serves as chairman, and the secretaries of the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Agency for Health Care Administration. Other members include the directors of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and the Agency for Workforce Innovation, the State Surgeon General, the Commissioner of Education, the director of the Guardian ad Litem Office and the Chief Child Advocate. Additionally, the Governor appointed five members from around the state who are representatives of children and youth advocacy organizations, but who are not service providers. Rounding out the 20 are the five ex-officio members named in statute, or their designees, including Representative Loranne Ausley and Senator Nan Rich, sponsors of the legislation. The Cabinet will develop a shared vision and strategic plan no later then December 31, 2007, as directed by Florida Statute. The goal of the vision and strategic plan is to design and implement measurable outcomes and actions that promote collaboration and information sharing. Their findings and recommendations will be presented in an annual report to the Governor, the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives by February 1, 2008. The Cabinet encourages all Floridians to visit the Children and Youth Cabinet Web site at http://www.flgov.com/youth_cabinet. The Web site provides information about the Cabinet and future meetings. The NationUSDOL Announces State PY 2006 WIA Annual Reports Are Available Online. The majority of the State Program Year Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Annual Reports (narratives and statistical tables) are now available for on-line access and review. Additional State Reports will be added in the coming weeks. http://www.doleta.gov/performance/results/AnnualReports/annual-report-06.cfm. Headlines from NASWA’s Workforce Bulletin – October 26, 2007:
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. November 1, 2007 November 7, 2007 November 8, 2007 Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
November 15-17, 2007 Dec. 1-4, 2007 Jan. 15-18, 2008 January 22-25, 2008 May 18-20, 2008 Odds and EndsNGA Center for Best Practices Releases Backgrounder: State Programs to Facilitate the Reintegration of National Guard Troops Returning from Deployment. Since the onset of the current military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, many of the country’s National Guard units have been activated and deployed, often in combat zones far from home. During that time, more than 160,000 members of National Guard and Reserve units have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, with close to 100,000 yet to return. This marks the largest deployment of National Guard troops in the past half century. As such, it presents major challenges for families, employers and communities as they struggle both to cope with the absence of these men and women and to facilitate their reintegration following deactivation. National Guard deployments are especially problematic because these military units are largely comprised of employed and married civilians for whom military service typically involves only one weekend a month of their time and two weeks a summer. During normal times, these men and women fill vital roles as breadwinners, skilled workers, parents, volunteers and civic leaders. Lengthy tours overseas therefore tend to place a severe strain on families, employers and communities as well as on the guard members themselves. At the same time, the return home of guard units, especially from combat zones, can create equally great challenges of reintegration back into families and jobs. This NGA Center Backgrounder provides information on what governors are doing to meet these challenges and to facilitate the reintegration of National Guard and other armed services personnel returning from overseas. Download the complete Backgrounder at: http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0710NATLGUARDBACKGROUNDER.PDF. The Governor’s Office of Open Government Offers Sunshine Law Training Resources. One of the Governor’s Office of Open Government’s primary functions is to provide open government training resources. To view all of the training resources please visit: http://www.flgov.com/og_training. Below are some of the online resources available associated with Florida’s Sunshine and Public Records Law:
How To Green Up Your Small Business (By Mindy Charski, Entrepreneurial Connection). Here’s a convenient truth: Being good to the Earth can also be good for business. Among those who have grasped that insight is Wal-Mart’s president and chief executive officer, H. Lee Scott, who told his employees in 2005, “I believe, in fact, that being a good steward of the environment and in our communities, and being an efficient and profitable business, are not mutually exclusive. In fact they are one in the same.” Companies of all sizes are finding that greening up can have great advantages to society and the bottom line. In fact, 76 percent of micro-business owners who responded to a May 2007 survey by the National Association for the Self-Employed said protecting the environment was either very or somewhat important to them and their businesses. Learn the benefits of running a more eco-friendly company, the ways to get started, and the pitfalls to avoid. Topics include:
Quote for the Week: “When
One Tugs at a Single Thing in Nature, John Muir (1838-1914) |
