Career Pathways WIOA provides an extraordinary opportunity to improve job and career options for North Dakota workers and job seekers through an integrated, job-driven, public workforce system that links diverse talent to businesses. It supports the development of strong, vibrant regional economies where businesses thrive and people want to live and work. The workforce system includes three focus areas: the needs of business and workers drive workforce solutions; American Job Centers provide customer service to jobseekers and employers and the workforce system supports strong economies and plays an active role in community and workforce development. (Page 54)
To ensure the WIOA requirements are implemented with fidelity and to the ‘spirit’ of the law, the state core partner agencies will work together to develop a professional development calendar. This calendar will cover such topics as labor market information (LMI), career pathways, motivational interviewing, agency roles and partnerships, and the new data interface system. Trainings will be regional or quadrant and will include all core program staff to ensure networking, common training understanding and implementation of exemplary practices. This training concept maximizes staff time, funding and participant outcomes. (Page 65)
The CRH and AHEC, in partnership with the ND Department of Commerce, and other stakeholders across the state, support students training for a health related careers. Career pathway efforts include Rural Collaborative Opportunities for Occupational Learning Health Scrubs Academy and Scrubs Camps and Health Occupations Students of America Future Health Professionals fostering excitement about healthcare careers. (Page 66)
The Workforce Leadership Team will establish a committee to specifically address career pathways and strategies to improve access to post-secondary credentials. The committee will consist of staff from Career and Technical Education, Higher Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, ND Office of Apprenticeship, Department of Commerce, Adult Education and Job Service North Dakota. The committee will set goals and metrics which will be tracked through the State Longitudinal Data System and the State Office of Apprenticeship. (Page 78)
The Workforce Leadership Team will establish a committee to specifically address career pathways and strategies to improve access to post-secondary credentials. The committee will consist of staff from Career and Technical Education, Higher Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, ND Office of Apprenticeship, Department of Commerce, Adult Education and Job Service ND. The committee will set goals and metrics which will be tracked through the State Longitudinal Data System and the State Office of Apprenticeship. This team will strengthen the partnership between the State Director and other WIOA partners.
Registered Apprenticeship will be incorporated into Job Service ND applicant services and business services within the WIOA core programs. Communication between the Registered Apprenticeship State Director and Job Service ND Workforce Development Director is scheduled on a regular basis. (Page 119)
All youth services will be accessible through the Job Service AJCs and services will be designed based on labor market information. All youth, including youth with disabilities, entering the service delivery process will receive an objective assessment. Assessment will follow the guidelines in WIOA, section 129, including a review of academic and occupational skills, interests and supportive service needs. Assessments will provide the needed information and data to complete employment plans that link employment, educational and career pathway goals with the service strategies necessary to reach the goals. (Page 126)
4. Comprehensive guidance and counseling: Through the comprehensive assessment process, a Youth Coordinator may identify that guidance and counseling services would be of benefit to a youth as the individual proceeds through the program. If so, referral to various providers would occur. Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling services may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Referrals to drug and alcohol counseling;
- Referrals to mental health counseling;
- Career counseling including information on career pathways and review of the RUReady.nd resource;
- Educational counseling; and
- Case management performed by a professional Social Worker or Vocational Rehabilitation counselor. Each of these services must be provided by an appropriately trained staff member, educational instructor, licensed counselor or social worker. (Page 127)
Under the WIOA (Section 203), adult education and literacy activities are defined as, “programs, activities, and services that include adult education, literacy, workplace adult education, and literacy activities, family literacy activities, English language acquisition activities, integrated English literacy and civics education, workforce preparation activities, or integrated education and training.” A wide variety of program strategies will continue or begin to be implemented to be responsive to the needs of adult learners, with a strong foundational emphasis on quality, intensity and duration of services which will result in real learning and related life changes, over placing emphasis on serving large numbers of students. These areas include the following: Reading, writing and numeracy for grades 0 – 12.9 English language – NRS levels 0 – 6 Civics education – includes individual education plan, career research, and employability skills Instruction to assist students in acquiring high school equivalency credentials and transition into post–secondary (career pathway focus) Integrated ABE and ELL with occupational instruction (Career Pathway Bridges) Digital literacy – computer literacy to meet workplace competency demands and transition to post–secondary education and training Financial literacy – courses and individualized work helping students understand issues including budgeting, debt, impact of student loans, unfair lending practices, etc. Workforce readiness training – individualized advising as part of individual education plan to include career research, employability skills, etc. (Page 156)
The NDDPI currently allocates federal and state funds to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) to provide adult education and literacy services at five state correctional facilities: State Penitentiary, Missouri River Correctional Center, James Valley Correctional Center, Dakota Women’s Rehabilitation and Correctional Center and the Youth Correctional Center. Current DOCR educational staff teach a comprehensive program which includes special education services, secondary high school diploma or GED, integrated education and training, career pathways, peer tutoring and re–entry transition. (Page 161)
The NDDPI currently allocates federal and state funds to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) to provide adult education and literacy services at five state correctional facilities: State Penitentiary, Missouri River Correctional Center, James Valley Correctional Center, Dakota Women’s Rehabilitation and Correctional Center and the Youth Correctional Center. This agency is the sole provider of corrections education statewide. DOCR educational staff teach a comprehensive program which includes special education services, secondary high school diploma or GED, EL services, integrated education and training, career pathways, peer tutoring and re-entry transition. Allocated funds for multi-year grants will be used to support education programs for these areas. (Page 162)