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FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE - Special Meeting

Meeting Date:	04/22/2019
Subject: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Follow Up Report)
Submitted For:	Kathy Gallagher
Department:	Employment & Human Services
Referral No.:	FHS #109
Referral Name:	Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Follow Up Report)
Presenter:	Donna Van Wert, Workforce Development Board- Executive Director	Contact:	Tish Gallegos (925) 608-4808

Information

Referral History:

On January 6, 2015 the Board of Supervisors referred oversight and receipt of updates on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to the Family and Human Services Committee (FHS).

WIOA was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Congress passed the Act by a wide bipartisan majority; it is the first legislative reform in 15 years of the public workforce system. WIOA was expected to significantly impact the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) and the way the Workforce Development Board does its work. Therefore, updates on the impacts and changes was referred to FHS.

The most recent status update was provided to the FHS Committee on September 24, 2018, at which Workforce Development Board Executive Director Donna Van Wert highlighted the number of people serviced and the specialized programs and business partners. She advised that significant State funding would soon become available and that the WDB was updating the regional and local plans, due in March 2019.

WDB Chair Bhupen Amin commented that the new WDB was active and working cohesively. WDB Vice Chair Yolanda Vega thanked the board of supervisors for approving the Rubicon Program collaboration. The Workforce Collaborative through Rubicon was implemented because of a decrease in funding. The Collaborative has streamlined services and made all assistance available in each location. Four sites have grown to ten, and are being well-received by patrons and the press.

Donna advised that the budget decreased by a few hundred thousand from the prior year but by 30%-40% over four years. She also advised that the program typically places 70-80% of participants.

Referral Update:

Please see the attached report for an update on the Workforce Development Board and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

ACCEPT the report from the Employment and Human Services Department on the Workforce Development Board and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act updates and DIRECT staff to forward it to the Board of Supervisors for their information.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

None. This is an informational report.

Attachments
EHSD WDB April 22, 2019 Report