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Workforce Florida Weekly Update 11-21-07 |
CONTENTS The State & RegionsGovernor Crist Launches Government Scorecard Web Site To Measure Areas That Affect Quality Of Life. TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today unveiled the Florida Performs Web site to provide the people of Florida a new way to measure how well state government is doing. The Web site provides scorecards of state government’s performance in a variety of measures that affect the quality of life of Florida’s residents and visitors. Citizens can also access each state agency’s performance measures. “Each year, the Florida Legislature fulfills their constitutional duty to pass a budget that designates billions of dollars of the people’s money to state government, and I have the responsibility of signing that budget and managing the state agencies responsible for being good stewards of the people’s money,” Governor Crist said. “The money government spends should make a difference, and this a new Web site will help our bosses – the people of Florida –measure how well we are doing. Florida Performs tracks trends in six broad categories: public safety, health and family, transportation, education, economy and taxes, and environment and conservation. Arrows indicate trends with key indicators within each category. For example, the environmental and conservation key indicators are air quality, energy, water quality and supply, beach preservation and restoration, waste management, Everglades restoration and land conservation. Detailed information about each key indicator includes its importance, Florida’s performance, influencing factors and state government’s role in addressing the issue. Each indicator is assigned an arrow based upon current results. Arrow directions indicate improved, maintained or declining performance and are determined by the previous year’s performance, or by a clear trend. Within each indicator are measures, or series of measures, that provide more detailed information. For instance, in the area of access to health care and rehabilitative services, details are available regarding five specific subjects: uninsured individuals, Medicaid enrollees, Medicaid births, emergency room visits for low or moderate health problems, and those who are receiving or waiting to receive assistance with developmental disabilities. Each measure also includes a definition of what is being measured, the measure’s reliability and graphs with data tables which provide current data along with results from prior years. For more information, please visit www.FloridaPerforms.com. For information specific to the Employment measure go to: http://www.floridaperforms.com/Indicators.aspx?si=SI_018. AWI Announces Florida’s Job Growth Rate Remains Above National Rate. TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased in October 2007 by 0.2 percentage point from last month, to 4.2 percent, representing 393,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,273,000. The national unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in October 2007, which was 0.5 percentage point higher than Florida’s current rate. Florida continues to have the lowest unemployment rate of the ten most populous states, based on the latest nationwide data, and has been below the national average since mid-2002. Florida’s nonagricultural employment growth rate was 1.4 percent in October, representing 111,000 new jobs over the year, which was higher than the national job growth rate of 1.2 percent for October. Nonagricultural employment in October increased to a total of 8,147,000 jobs from the September total of 8,137,300. Based on the latest nationwide data, Florida ranked third in job growth among the ten most populous states, behind only Texas and California. “Florida remains the fourth most populous state in the nation and continues to rank third highest in job growth nationally, relative to our population,” said Monesia T. Brown, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. “Based on the November 2007 Site Selection Magazine, Florida’s business climate is among the top 10 in the nation.” For the full release go to: http://www.labormarketinfo.com/library/press/release.pdf. Florida’s Big Bend Area To Benefit from FCC Initiative To Increase Access To Health Care In Rural America Through Broadband Telehealth Services. Washington, D.C. – To significantly increase access to acute, primary and preventive health care in rural America, the Federal Communications Commission this week dedicated over $417 million for the construction of 69 statewide or regional broadband telehealth networks in 42 states and three U.S. territories under the Rural Health Care Pilot Program (RHCPP). Florida’s Big Bend Regional Healthcare Information Organization will receive up to $9,623,019 in support for a new 1 Gbps fiber optic network that will link approximately 9 rural hospitals in 8 counties to the existing Florida LambdaRail backbone, and will extend to community health centers and clinics through broadband wireless, improving patient care through disease monitoring and access to specialists, and enabling access to distance education and other existing networks. Broadband deployment is one of the Commission’s top priorities – particularly in rural America. And nowhere is the need for broadband greater than in rural healthcare, where isolated clinics can save lives by using advanced communications technology to tap the expertise of modern urban medical centers. The Commission’s RHCPP will support the connection of more than 6,000 public and non-profit health care providers nationwide to broadband telehealth networks. The health care facilities participating in the Pilot Program include: hospitals, clinics, universities and research centers, behavioral health sites, correctional facility clinics, and community health centers. Telehealth and telemedicine services provide patients in rural areas with access to critically needed medical specialists in a variety of practices, including cardiology, pediatrics, and radiology, in some instances without leaving their homes or communities. Intensive care doctors and nurses can monitor critically-ill patients around the clock and video conferencing allows specialists and mental health professionals to care for patients in different rural locations, often hundreds of miles away. To view the complete press release go to: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/rural/rhcp.html#orders. To view the full list of organizations qualifying for support in the pilot program go to: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-278260A2.doc. The NationSenator Kennedy Holds Hearing On Veterans' Employment Issues - Releases Department of Defense Data Previously Withheld From The Public. WASHINGTON, DC—On November 8, 2007, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing to address employment challenges that service members face when returning from a tour of duty. The hearing focused on the enforcement of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) which requires employers to continue to employ members of the Guard and Reserve upon their return from duty. There are four federal agencies that are responsible for the oversight and implementation of veterans' employment rights: the Departments of Labor, Department of Defense, Defense and Justice, as well as the Office of Special Counsel. Data previously withheld from the public were released the hearing. The data demonstrates serious inadequacies in the performance of the four federal agencies responsible for protecting returning veterans' reemployment rights. Chairman Kennedy pressed the Department of Defense to release this information. Highlights of the data include:
HUD Secretary Jackson Announces Reduction in Chronic Homelessness. On Wednesday, November 7, 2007, HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson held a press conference announcing an 11.5% reduction in the number of persons reported as chronically homeless by Continuums of Care (CoCs) during a one-day count. Over 1,500 cities and counties reported a combined decrease of over 20,000 fewer chronically homeless persons between 2005 and 2006. Chronic homelessness is defined as an unaccompanied adult with a disability from substance abuse, severe mental illness, HIV/AIDS, or who has a physical disability, who has been on the street or in an emergency shelter for at least 365 consecutive days or at least 4 different times in the past 3 years. What factors may have contributed to the decrease in the number of chronically homeless persons reported? The reported decrease in chronic homelessness is hopefully an indication of a trend that will be evident in years to come. This indication could be due to the following factors:
For more information: Headlines from NASWA’s Workforce Bulletin – November 20, 2007:
Grant and Competitive Award Opportunities and NoticesFor current information, visit the External Grant Opportunities page.Featured Opportunity:Grant Funds Available To Provide Job Assistance To Veterans With Disabilities. The Able Trust to award up to $60,000 to boost employment opportunities for Florida veterans with disabilities. In 2006 the national employment rate for returning veterans was 3.8 percent. With a growing number of veterans returning from service, it is imperative that organizations and communities establish a greater number of employment opportunities for returning veterans, especially veterans with disabilities. This Veterans Day, The Able Trust is doing just that. The Able Trust, a non-profit public-private partnership foundation serving individuals with disabilities, is joining the cause to create better employment opportunities for veterans with disabilities. The Able Trust is also known as the Florida Governor’s Alliance for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities. The Able Trust has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP #08-5) aimed at existing Florida not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organizations, associations and agencies that provide Florida Citizens with Disabilities with employment related services. The purpose of the RFP is to provide funding for a project(s) to create employment opportunities for Florida residents that are veterans of a branch of the United States Military Service and have a disability in gaining competitive employment in the community. Established Florida not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organizations are eligible to submit a proposal which outlines a project that will lead to competitive employment for veterans with disabilities. The Able Trust will award up to $60,000 to one or two not-for-profit agencies throughout Florida. It is anticipated that one or two projects will be funded for a one-or-two-year grant period. Projects should serve a minimum of 25 individuals and result in an 80 percent community employment outcome. A complete copy of RFP #08-5 can be found on The Able Trust website at www.abletrust.org or by calling toll-free 888-838-2253 Voice/TDD. The deadline to submit proposals is March 4, 2008. Since 1992, The Able Trust has awarded more than $21 million in grant funding to individuals and not-for-profits organizations throughout Florida for employment-related purposes, enabling more than 2,000 Florida citizens with disabilities to enter the workforce each year. The Able Trust awards grants to nonprofit agencies that provide direct employment support to persons with disabilities and to individuals with disabilities for on-the-job accommodations or assistance to gain, retain or receive a promotion in employment. Grants are awarded throughout the year on a quarterly basis. For more information about The Able Trust Grants Program, visit www.abletrust.org. The Able Trust, also known as the Florida Governor’s Alliance for the Employment of Citizens with Disabilities, is a 501(c)(3) public-private partnership foundation established by the Florida Legislature in 1990. Its mission is to be the leader in providing Floridians with disabilities fair employment opportunities through fundraising, grant programs, public awareness and education. Since its establishment, The Able Trust has awarded over $21 million to individuals with disabilities and nonprofit agencies throughout Florida for employment-related purposes, enabling over 2,000 Florida citizens with disabilities to enter the workforce each year. The Able Trust youth programs provide career development and transition to almost 2,000 students with disabilities annually, helping to reduce the dropout rate and prepare young adults for life beyond high school. For more information about The Able Trust, visit www.abletrust.org. 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. December 19, 2007 Other Meetings/Conferences/Events:
Dec. 1-4, 2007 Jan. 15-18, 2008 January 22-25, 2008 March 18-20, 2008 May 18-20, 2008 July 15-17, 2008 Odds and EndsCalifornia One-Stop System Cost Study Report. This study
of California's One-Stop System is a landmark research effort
and the first study to look at in-kind and financial resources
supporting operation of and service delivery in a group of
One-Stop Centers. It is also the first study to quantify
the consolidated costs and the consolidated services across
the full range of on-site partners in a group of One-Stop
Centers. The study was based on the Activity-Based Cost (ABC)
accounting model, the purpose of which is to better understand
the real costs of producing a product or service. We believe
this understanding is the first step toward improved, more
efficient operations of the One-Stops in California. This
study is not an evaluation of the One-Stop system. It is
not an attempt to make judgments about what services should
be provided, what costs are appropriate or what activities
are most efficient; rather, we endeavor to describe as clearly
as possible what we observed. This study is restricted to
services provided by personnel who were based "under
the roof" of the One-Stop at the time the services were
provided. The value of the study is to enable people to better
manage One-Stop operations, see how One-Stop processes cost
out, understand some of the ways partners in the One-Stop
Centers influence costs, assess where they are effective
and where they can improve operations under their control.
The CWIB is interested in working with local partners to
understand where opportunities for continued improvement
in the One-Stop Center delivery model can be identified.
The Board is establishing a workgroup comprised of One-Stop
managers, partner representatives, Board members, staff Local
Workforce Board representatives and representatives from
the California Workforce Association to begin identifying
how the information it contains should be used to improve
the One-Stop delivery model and advance it as a key component
of a comprehensive workforce development system. Access the
Executive Summary at: http://www.calwia.org/doc_files/California%20One-Stop%20System%20Cost%20Study%20Report_ IRS Has $110 Million in Refund Checks Looking for
a Home. WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is looking
for 115,478 taxpayers who are due refund checks worth about
$110 million after the checks were returned as undeliverable.
The refund checks, averaging about $953, can be claimed as
soon as taxpayers update their addresses with the IRS. Some
taxpayers have more than one check waiting. “Taxpayers
should not miss out on getting their money back,” said
Richard Morgante, commissioner of the IRS Wage and Investment
Division. ”The IRS makes it as easy as possible for
taxpayers to update their addresses and claim their refunds.” The “Where’s
My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov, at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html,
enables taxpayers to check the status of their refunds. A
taxpayer must submit his or her social security number, filing
status and amount of refund shown on their 2006 return. The
tool will provide the status of their refund and in some
cases provide instructions on how to resolve delivery problems.
Taxpayers can access a telephone version of “Where’s
My Refund?” by calling 1-800-829-1954. Quote for the Week: "Thanksgiving
Day comes, by statute, once a year; Edward Sandford Martin |
