CTWS Integrated Plan FY2000-2004

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SERVICES TO JOB SEEKERS

FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION QUESTIONS 20 - 47

Services to Job Seekers-Support Services

Guidelines Pages 64-66

44. Discuss collaborative efforts between Center partners and faith-based organizations to expand resources in the local area. If no such coordination efforts exist at this time, what plans does the Board have for initiating such relationships?

Central Texas Workforce System collaborates and coordinates with faith-based organizations using the Killeen Workforce Center co-located partner Pathfinders to facilitate local efforts. The local Pathfinders program promotes assistance to families in need of additional assistance with assistance provided in the form of faith-based "adopt a family" efforts.
Question #20 describes Central Texas community and faith-based coordination efforts. Specifically, potential Welfare to Work and low income customers are also identified through referral by Workforce System partners who provide services to common customer groups - for example, the local county human service agency, the H.E.L.P. Center provides emergency assistance, indigent health care, etc. In support of the Workforce System, the H.E.L.P. Center provides the immediate service needs of their customers and then formally refers their customers to the Central Texas Workforce Centers to begin addressing their employment needs. The needs assessment and referral system is supported by the Internet-based local information and referral system, PALADIN. Referral of potential Central Texas Workforce System customers is also promoted through monthly multi-agency Health and Human Service network meetings. The Network meetings are held in both Killeen and Temple with membership from over 65 local faith-based, community-based, and local/state program representatives attending.

Services to Job Seekers-Support Services

Guidelines Pages 64 - 66 45. Describe how child care services are integrated with other Center services. Include in your discussion:
a. How Center partners perform needs analyses to determine which participants require child care assistance.
b. How Center partners educate and inform participants and customers about the child care services available to them in the local area, and how they assist these individuals and families in choosing a child care provider.
c. How Center staff facilitates the linkage between participants and customers and needed child care services.
d. How child care services are made available to rural populations in need of such support.
e. How the Board leverages area resources (including fundraising activities and collaboration with employers) to expand services and improve the quality of child care.

Child care assistance is facilitated through the local needs assessment process with direct referral made to CCMS Contractor staff who are located in Central Texas Centers. The direct referral process provides immediate and direct access to child care assistance for Workforce System customers. Additionally, toll-free telephone numbers further promote ease of customer access. The direct access approach is used for customers who are already in the Central Texas Workforce Centers and who are identified to be in need of child care assistance. Customers who are accessing Workforce System assistance from an alternate access point can use toll-free telephone numbers so that Child Care assistance is provided with the least possible imposition on customers.
The Central Texas Workforce Board and staff as well as the CCMS Contractor will be responsible for pursuing and promoting local donations/matching funds within the constraints of federal and state law. Expansion of quality Child Care in Central Texas is promoted through the Central Texas Quality Initiatives Child Care Plan. The Plan ensures that a minimum of 4% and a maximum of 10% of the Child Care budget is spent on the Quality Initiatives program (previously the Early Childhood Development Resources and the Child Care Training programs).
Quality Initiatives activities may include:
- an increase in the rates paid to Designated Vendors,
- scholarships for college students pursuing education in the field of child development,
- televised classroom CDA training tract for all providers,
- bonuses for providers who are able to move from licensing plan 2 to licensing plan 3 and maintain that status for a specified length of time,
- technical assistance, including equipment, for all provides who have an agreement with CCMS,
- additional staff to provide child development assistance in the areas of infant/toddler care,
- training for parents in the areas of child development, and/or
- training for new provider staff.

Services to Job Seekers-Support Services

Guidelines Pages 64 - 66 46. Describe how transportation services are provided in the local area. Include in your discussion:
a. The collaborative relationships that have been established between the local workforce development network and local transportation providers. If none exists, what plans does the Board have for establishing these links?
b. The resources that have been identified in the local area to provide transportation services to participants. If none exists, what plans does the Board have for identifying local resources for transportation?
c. How Center partners perform needs analyses to determine which participants require transportation assistance.
d. How transportation services are provided to rural participants. If these services are not currently available to rural participants, how will the Board address this issue?

Supportive service policies and activities, including transportation assistance, are described in detail in Question #42.
Current, collaborative relationships established between Regional Planning/transportation and the Central Texas Workforce Board include:
- Participation and support of the Central Texas Transportation Summit that resulted in funding to support the Killeen Temple Urban Transportation Study,
- Joint application and support of a Reverse Commute proposal submitted to and awarded by the Department of Transportation,
- Promotion of the newly implemented fixed route bus system, the Hop, in Killeen, and
- Active participation and support of the Temple transportation project.
Innovative approaches to transportation assistance include the local Wheels-to-Work program. The program design and policies assist Workforce staff in identifying appropriate candidates for car donations, local car dealers with cars for donation, and opportunities to promote the program through local media coverage. However, the Central Texas Workforce Board recognizes that transportation assistance continues to be a problem, especially for customers in rural areas, and innovative approaches will continue to be promoted and pursued by the Central Texas Workforce System.

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Services to Job Seekers-Support Services
Guidelines Pages 64 - 66	45. Describe how child care services are integrated with other Center services. Include in your discussion: a. How Center partners perform needs analyses to determine which participants require child care assistance. b. How Center partners educate and inform participants and customers about the child care services available to them in the local area, and how they assist these individuals and families in choosing a child care provider. c. How Center staff facilitates the linkage between participants and customers and needed child care services. d. How child care services are made available to rural populations in need of such support. e. How the Board leverages area resources (including fundraising activities and collaboration with employers) to expand services and improve the quality of child care.
Child care assistance is facilitated through the local needs assessment process with direct referral made to CCMS Contractor staff who are located in Central Texas Centers. The direct referral process provides immediate and direct access to child care assistance for Workforce System customers. Additionally, toll-free telephone numbers further promote ease of customer access. The direct access approach is used for customers who are already in the Central Texas Workforce Centers and who are identified to be in need of child care assistance. Customers who are accessing Workforce System assistance from an alternate access point can use toll-free telephone numbers so that Child Care assistance is provided with the least possible imposition on customers. The Central Texas Workforce Board and staff as well as the CCMS Contractor will be responsible for pursuing and promoting local donations/matching funds within the constraints of federal and state law. Expansion of quality Child Care in Central Texas is promoted through the Central Texas Quality Initiatives Child Care Plan. The Plan ensures that a minimum of 4% and a maximum of 10% of the Child Care budget is spent on the Quality Initiatives program (previously the Early Childhood Development Resources and the Child Care Training programs). Quality Initiatives activities may include: - an increase in the rates paid to Designated Vendors, - scholarships for college students pursuing education in the field of child development, - televised classroom CDA training tract for all providers, - bonuses for providers who are able to move from licensing plan 2 to licensing plan 3 and maintain that status for a specified length of time, - technical assistance, including equipment, for all provides who have an agreement with CCMS, - additional staff to provide child development assistance in the areas of infant/toddler care, - training for parents in the areas of child development, and/or - training for new provider staff.

Services to Job Seekers-Support Services
Guidelines Pages 64 - 66	46. Describe how transportation services are provided in the local area. Include in your discussion: a. The collaborative relationships that have been established between the local workforce development network and local transportation providers. If none exists, what plans does the Board have for establishing these links? b. The resources that have been identified in the local area to provide transportation services to participants. If none exists, what plans does the Board have for identifying local resources for transportation? c. How Center partners perform needs analyses to determine which participants require transportation assistance. d. How transportation services are provided to rural participants. If these services are not currently available to rural participants, how will the Board address this issue?
Supportive service policies and activities, including transportation assistance, are described in detail in Question #42. Current, collaborative relationships established between Regional Planning/transportation and the Central Texas Workforce Board include: - Participation and support of the Central Texas Transportation Summit that resulted in funding to support the Killeen Temple Urban Transportation Study, - Joint application and support of a Reverse Commute proposal submitted to and awarded by the Department of Transportation, - Promotion of the newly implemented fixed route bus system, the Hop, in Killeen, and - Active participation and support of the Temple transportation project. Innovative approaches to transportation assistance include the local Wheels-to-Work program. The program design and policies assist Workforce staff in identifying appropriate candidates for car donations, local car dealers with cars for donation, and opportunities to promote the program through local media coverage. However, the Central Texas Workforce Board recognizes that transportation assistance continues to be a problem, especially for customers in rural areas, and innovative approaches will continue to be promoted and pursued by the Central Texas Workforce System.