Coordination of planning for employment services in the area
Parallel to these changes in the workforce system, substantial changes in the welfare system have been made. At the heart of the reformed welfare system is the belief that jobs will help families leave poverty. Under Achieving Change for Texans (ACT) the following changes were legislated:
- Time limits for receipt of cash assistance were set ranging from 12 to 36 months over one's lifetime;
- Finding and maintaining employment became an immediate priority for low-income families applying for or receiving TANF aid; non-exempt clients must work or participate in welfare-to-work activities that can help them find a job; and
- Joint administration of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) by the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) was established (Bost, 1998).
Subsequent changes have further strengthened "work first" as a condition of public assistance.
Workforce Investment Act. In July 1999, Texas will become an early implementation state for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. The WIA provides the framework for a national workforce preparation and employment system designed to meet both the needs of the nation's businesses and the needs of job seekers and those who want to further their careers. Earlier changes required by HB 1863 have given Texas a head start toward compliance with WIA directives.
State workforce investment boards will be established and will develop state five-year strategic plans. Governors will designate local "workforce investment areas" and oversee local workforce investment boards. New youth councils will be established as a subgroup of each local board to guide the development and operation of programs for youth. The Capital Area Workforce Development Board will serve as the Local Workforce Investment Board and oversee the formation of the new youth council.
Customers will benefit from a "One-Stop" delivery system, with career centers in their neighborhoods where they can access core employment services and be referred directly to job training, education, or other services (U.S. Dept. of Labor/ETA, 1998). Three such one-stop centers are open in Travis County, with a fourth set to open in Fall, 1999. The local Welfare-to-Work Coalition has incorporated "one-stop" centers into its strategic plan, which is currently being implemented within the community (Welfare-to-Work, 1999).
Both the City of Austin and Travis County participate in the WIA-directed system through appointments to the Board, coordination of planning, funding of programs, and some direct programs.
School-to-Career: School-to-Career programming is a significant part of the workforce system. It is estimated that approximately 5000 students in the Austin area drop out every year, illustrating the need to intervene early with this segment of the emerging workforce before their full potential is diminished or lost. One of the most successful means to promote school retention and success is by clearly connecting school to future career opportunities for all students. Our community has a burgeoning school-to-career system fostered jointly by both the CAWDB, City of Austin, Travis County, local school districts, institutions of higher education, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and numerous non-profit and community groups. Together, these entities are working to implement the following core strategies: career awareness in all grades (K-12), individual academic and career plans starting in 7th grade, career pathways for high school and college students, and work based learning opportunities starting in 8th grade, leading to entry into the workforce.
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