Abstract
The program aims to provide localized Workforce Services to job seekers and employers by partnering with local municipalities. Additionally, collaboration with the Library system is established to increase access points for rural residents. The program also utilizes braided funding to support individuals on their journey toward self-sustainability. The shared staffing approach enables the program to localize objectives and deliver desired outcomes. Overall, the program aims to enhance the economic stability of the community by providing effective employment services and resources. Through this collaboration and funding approach, the program hopes to achieve long-term self-sufficiency for individuals and families.
Need Addressed by the Program
The need for the program was prompted by the unique workforce needs of different cities, towns, and neighborhoods. It was recognized that a one-size-fits-all approach to workforce services is not effective as each community has different needs and challenges. Additionally, fully funding a dedicated workforce position is not always feasible for municipalities, particularly those with limited budgets. This led to the development of a program that utilizes a shared staffing approach to provide localized workforce services. By partnering with local municipalities and libraries, the program aims to increase access to employment resources and support for job seekers and employers, particularly those in rural areas or with limited resources.
Program Description
The program's objective is to provide localized workforce services to job seekers and employers in the community. By partnering with six local municipalities and two other positions supported by the County Libraries, the program can effectively tailor its services to meet the unique needs of each community. The program provides individualized services such as resume building, job search assistance, and career counseling to job seekers. Workshops are also offered to assist job seekers in developing skills that are in high demand by employers. These skills include soft skills such as communication and teamwork, as well as technical skills such as computer proficiency and coding.
In addition to assisting job seekers, the program also provides support to employers in the community. The program can coordinate local hiring events and connect employers with job seekers who have the necessary skills and qualifications. By doing so, the program helps to bridge the gap between job seekers and employers, resulting in increased employment opportunities for members of the community.
One of the program's key strengths is its staff member's involvement in their respective city/town's local economic development committees. This ensures that the program remains well-informed about the needs of the community and can adjust its services accordingly. By staying up-to-date with economic trends and changes in the job market, the program can better serve the needs of its clientele.
The program serves as an access point to other County assistance programs. For example, the program can connect job seekers with training programs, financial assistance, and other resources that may help them overcome barriers to employment. By providing comprehensive support, the program increases the likelihood of job seekers successfully finding employment and achieving self-sustainability.
The program's time frame for development and implementation is ongoing, with no set end date. The program has already established partnerships with local municipalities and libraries and has been providing workforce services to the community for some time. The program's ongoing nature means that it can continue to adapt and evolve in response to changing community needs.
In terms of clientele, the program serves job seekers and employers in the community. The program's localized approach means that it can effectively serve a wide range of individuals, including those in rural areas or with limited resources. By providing access to employment services and resources, the program helps to promote economic stability and self-sustainability for individuals and families in the community.
The program's agreements with six local municipalities and two other positions supported by the County Libraries enable it to provide effective, localized workforce services to job seekers and employers in the community. By providing individualized services, coordinating local hiring events, and serving as access points to other County assistance programs, the program promotes economic stability and self-sustainability for members of the community. The program's ongoing nature means that it can continue to adapt and evolve in response to changing community needs, ensuring that it remains an important resource for years to come.
Responding to Economic Downturn
During an economic downturn, job loss and unemployment rates can rise, making it more challenging for individuals and families to make ends meet. The workforce services provided by the program can help mitigate the negative effects of an economic downturn by offering job seekers the support and resources needed to find employment.
The dual-funding model used by the program is more sustainable and provides a larger community impact. By partnering with local municipalities and the County Libraries, the program can provide more extensive services to a wider range of individuals, increasing the likelihood of successful employment outcomes. This model also ensures that the program has access to a more diverse pool of funding sources, making it less vulnerable to budget cuts during an economic downturn.
The program's staff members are also capable of operating independently and providing the services of an elevated staff member. This allows the program to function effectively even in times of economic uncertainty, as the staff members can adapt to changing circumstances and continue to provide high-quality services to job seekers and employers.
Shared funding also allows the program to offer competitive wages, ensuring that qualified candidates are available. During an economic downturn, individuals may be more likely to accept lower-paying jobs out of necessity. However, by offering competitive wages, the program can attract and retain highly qualified staff members, resulting in better outcomes for job seekers and employers in the community.
The program's dual-funding model, highly qualified staff members, and competitive wages help to respond to a downturn in the economy by providing sustainable workforce services that are adaptable to changing circumstances. By assisting job seekers and employers, the program helps to promote economic stability and self-sustainability for individuals and families in the community, even during challenging economic times.
Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The program's focus on hiring staff members who are reflective of the communities they serve is a key way in which the program advances DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). By recruiting qualified candidates who are familiar with the area, businesses, and job seekers they would be supporting, the program ensures that its staff members are better equipped to understand the unique challenges and needs of the community. This, in turn, allows the program to provide more effective and culturally responsive services to job seekers and employers.
In addition to prioritizing local hiring, Maricopa County’s hiring policy encourages the consideration of employment preference points for veterans, disabled veterans, or a veteran's spouse or surviving spouse. This policy helps to support individuals who may face additional barriers to employment and promotes DEI by ensuring that all individuals have equal access to employment opportunities.
Furthermore, all County staff members are required to complete the Evidence-Based Learning Academy, which teaches the importance of DEI while highlighting best practices for serving marginalized populations. This training helps to ensure that staff members are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to provide culturally responsive services to all members of the community, including those from marginalized or underrepresented populations.
Overall, the program's emphasis on hiring staff members who reflect the communities they serve, Maricopa County’s hiring policy, and the requirement for all County staff to complete DEI training help to advance DEI in the community. By promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, the program is better able to serve the needs of all job seekers and employers in the community, and help promote economic stability and self-sustainability for all individuals and families, regardless of their background.
Program Cost
These highly sought-after positions offer a competitive starting annual salary of approximately $52,000, providing an excellent compensation package for qualified candidates. What's more, the program utilizes an innovative IGA funding model that splits base salary, merit increases, and indirect costs 50/50, resulting in significant cost savings. Traditionally, an agency would have to allocate roughly $95,000 per position, but this program achieves the same results for less than half the cost - less than $50,000 for both the County and the local municipality combined. This cost-effective and sustainable funding model ensures that the program can continue to provide exceptional workforce services to its clientele, even during times of economic uncertainty.
Results/Success of the Program
The success of this program is evident through its tangible outcomes, which demonstrate the program's efficacy in delivering targeted workforce services to its clientele. Each of the program's dedicated staff members plans and conducts quarterly career hiring events within their respective local communities. These events provide job seekers with the opportunity to network with local employers, learn about job openings, and apply for positions. These events have been highly successful in connecting job seekers with employment opportunities, and hundreds of individuals have found jobs through these events each year.
The program also offers job search and placement services to job seekers in the community. Staff members work with individuals to identify their skills and experience, match them with appropriate job openings, and provide support throughout the job search process. Through these efforts, the program has assisted hundreds of job seekers in finding employment, enabling them to support themselves and their families.
In addition, the program leads multiple workshops throughout the year, providing valuable employment skills to job seekers. Workshops cover topics such as resume writing, interview skills, and job search strategies. These workshops provide participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully navigate the job market, ultimately increasing their employability and job prospects. Through these workshops, the program has helped many individuals to refine their job search strategies, polish their resumes, and excel in interviews, leading to successful job placements.
The program's success is attributable to its localized approach, which allows staff members to deliver tailored services to job seekers and employers in their communities. Through partnerships with local municipalities and libraries, the program can increase access to workforce services in rural areas, where they are often most needed. By providing targeted services and support to job seekers and employers, the program is making a significant impact on the local economy, helping individuals to find jobs and contribute to their communities.
Outcome
The program takes an innovative and targeted approach to addressing workforce needs in local communities. By partnering with six local municipalities and two County Library positions, the program provides individualized services, workshops, and coordinates local hiring events, which assist job seekers and employers in the community. This targeted approach ensures that the program can address the unique workforce needs of each city/town, strengthening both the County and city/town's efforts around creating a highly skilled and talented workforce.
Moreover, the program's funding model ensures that it is more sustainable and has a larger community impact. By sharing staffing and funding, the program can offer competitive wages, attract qualified candidates, and provide the services of an elevated staff member capable of operating independently. This has enabled the program to respond effectively to downturns in the economy, as evidenced by its success in helping job seekers overcome barriers to employment.
The program's success in providing job search/placement services to hundreds of job seekers annually, conducting quarterly career hiring events, and leading multiple workshops throughout the year providing valuable employment skills such as resume writing and interview skills, is a testament to its effectiveness in addressing workforce needs in local communities.
Supplemental Materials