WorkINdiana Newsletter

August 2016 Issue 15 Vol. 1

Occupational Spotlight:Construction Trades Helper

(Pre-apprenticeship Certificate Training)

Construction laborers and helpers work on almost all construction sites, performing a wide range of tasks from the very simple to the extremely complex and sometimes hazardous. Although many of the tasks they perform require training and experience, some tasks can be learned quickly. They operate hand and power tools of all types, as well as a variety of other equipment. Aside from working on a typical construction site, Trade Helpers also assist other craft workers, such as carpenters, electricians, plasterers, and masons as they continue to learn their trade through on-the-job training.Most laborers and helpers work full-time. They sometimes stop work because of bad weather but they often work overtime to meet deadlines. Laborers and helpers on highway and bridge projects may need to work overnight to avoid major disruptions to traffic. The next step on the career pathway is an apprenticeship training program.

INDIANA WAGE INFORMATION

Entry Median

Hourly Wage $10.33 $12.68

Long Term 18.2% (increase)

Short Term 3.7% (increase)

*Data collected from hoosierdata.in.gov

JOB OUTLOOK IN INDIANA

In this issue of WorkINdiana:

Occupational Spotlight 1WorkINdiana Success Story 2Q&A 3Spotlight - Success Story 4Comic Corner & Misc. 5Professional Spotlight: Krystal Levi 6Best Practice: LiveBinders 7Highlights on Austin Steelman 8Best Practice: CAT 9NCPN 2016 10

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WorkINdiana Success Story: Hanna McHenry - Success at LastSubmitted By Jessica Montgomery, Out-of-School Youth Career Advisor, Shelbyville WorkOne

Before I came to my local WorkOne I was not in the best of situations. When I was 14 I learned that I was pregnant, and after my son was born I realized that it was impossible for me to be both the mother my son needed and a full time high school student. I chose to be a mother and stopped going to school.

After I left school, I decided to move back to Indiana. I had been living in Fort Worth, Texas and worked part-time at McDonalds. The work was hard and unrewarding, and despite being a mother I was not mature enough to realize that I needed the job; so I quit.

Afterwards I found myself lost. I was spending so much time worrying about hanging out with friends and having a good time that I lost my perspective and totally stopped thinking about my future - that is until November 22nd, 2012.

On that day, the day before Thanksgiving, I was involved in a horrible car accident. I was literally a seatbelt away from being killed. What is worse, both my son and my mother were in the car with me! When I regained consciousness in the hospital I had no idea where I was or whether my son and my mom were okay. It was the worst experience of my life.

My son was okay, but after I recovered from the accident, I found out that I was

pregnant again. Since I still had no education and was now going to be the mother of two children, I realized I needed to become something more. I could no longer approach life like it was a game. That is when I decided it was time to look more into my future.

I started taking an HSE class at Blue River Career Center. That is where I met Heather. She came to an evening class to let people know what WorkOne could offer young adults. Heather’s presentation resonated with me and her help was much appreciated. She provided a helping hand through my whole educational and training process.

With Heather’s help, I enrolled in CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) training through WorkINdiana, which helped pay for the training. While working with Heather I was also introduced to another WorkOne employee - Jessica. Jessica told me about the incentives I was eligible for if I completed my CNA training and helped me get my HSE test paid for.

With Heather’s and Jessica’s help, I was able to complete my CNA training, work as a licensed CNA, and complete my HSE! For the first time in my life I had greater than a 7th grade education and was able to do rewarding work

that could support my family. Without WorkOne I do not

think I would have been able to accomplish the things that I have - and I am still looking forward. Today, I am a full-time student at Ivy Tech Community College where I will soon earn my Dental Assisting Certification, and hopefully I will be able to continue on so I can get my dream job as an ultrasound technician.

I cannot thank WorkOne enough for the hard work they put into me! I owe them so much, especially Jessica and Heather who were always there when I needed them the most. They support me, they encourage me, and they have hearts of gold. Thank you WorkOne for being the stepping stone I needed! Without you I could not have gotten this far, and I would not have had the courage to go even further.

Hanna McHenrywith her children

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Q&A by the EGR3 Adult Education Consortium

1. How are WorkINdiana training programs identified?

WorkINdiana training programs are identified by reviewing current local labor market information, much of which is presented at regional monthly Adult Education Consortium meetings. The consortium reviews specific occupational data and trends that tie directly to local employment opportunities and the workforce needs related to those opportunities.2. What effective methods are used to recruit students into WorkINdiana?

Having a regional Adult Education Consortium, consisting of adult education service providers, as well as, partner agencies that work

with the service population, has been a critical component. Ensuring that there is a strong connectivity among the partners and specifically the staff in the WorkOne Northeast career centers and having direct contact with potential participants has proven successful. Locally, WorkOne staff conduct presentations during adult education provider orientations and have access to follow-up with interested individuals either onsite or at a convenient time and place for the potential participant. Also, providers have integrated career pathway discussions and awareness into their lesson plans and daily discussions with students. 3. What does EGR3 do to ensure collaboration between all local Adult

Education providers and area stakeholders?

The most identifiable activity is the open communication and relationships that have developed as a result of the ongoing regional consortium meetings. The team has discussions about programming, funding and alignment of goals; what is really going on in the work of adult education participants and WIOA out-of-school youth; and what has been successful and what hasn’t. We all continue to put the students first and ensure that everything that is done works towards their betterment.

Not pictured: partners from the Impact Institute, East Wayne Street Center, Ivy Tech Community College, Vocational Rehabilitation and Freedom Academy

Pictured: Partners from Indiana Department of Development, The Learn More Center, The Literacy Alliance, Northeast Indiana Works, SCAN Inc, Marion Community Schools and the Career Center at Anthis of Fort Wayne Community Schools.

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Spotlight: Darlene Burns - WorkINdiana Success Story in Region 10

The Region 10 Adult Education instructors post WorkINdiana materials, such as the WorkINdiana Summary, Occupational flyers and Promotional flyers in their classrooms for their students to see. The instructors keep on hand the WorkINdiana Framework, the WorkINdiana policy, and the Learning Outcomes. These help to explain to students the opportunities and importance of transitioning from the high school equivalency diploma (HSE) to a career pathway that will lead to certification training and self-sustaining employment. Additionally, the Region 10 Adult Education Director and staff use a variety of outreach efforts to inform the community that people who already have a high school diploma can enroll in an Adult Education class to receive college and career-readiness skills to help them move forward with training and employment opportunities.

Adult Education students begin with an orientation to receive information about the total Adult Education program, including WorkINdiana. All students take the Indiana Career Explorer within the first 12 hours of class so they can begin thinking about what their next steps could be. Instructors integrate career awareness in their classrooms on a regular basis, weaving workplace readiness skills

directly into the curriculum. A Transition Specialist meets with students in small groups and/or individually, working with them on their career goals and their personal plans to reach those goals.

Darlene Burns was an Adult Education student at the Scott County Life Long Learning Center in Scottsburg, IN. Her instructor, Dennis Thomas, learned she had some past employment history in manufacturing, so he explained the MSSC certification, one of the two WorkINdiana certifications that the Region 10 Workforce Development Board and WorkOne staff had been focusing on. Since Darlene had some previous knowledge and experience in manufacturing, she thought the MSSC certification program would be a good choice for her. As Darlene was getting close to taking the HSE exam,

Transition Specialist, Wendy McDaniel, sent a WorkINdiana referral form to the Academic Career Counselor at WorkOne to get the WorkINdiana process started for Darlene.

Like many Adult Education students, Darlene said, “I overcame many barriers--more than I can list--to obtain my HSE Diploma.” Darlene

Region 10 students meet with their instructor, Mike Webb, and transition specialist, Wendy McDaniel, to learn more about

WorkINdiana.

Darlene Burns WorkINdiana Student

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persisted, took the Readiness Exam, and then took the HSE exam. Shortly after taking the HSE exam, she entered the MSSC program at the Region 10 WorkOne in New Albany, IN. She happily learned she passed the HSE exam, one day, while she was in the MSSC class.

Darlene says her 13-year-old son, her boyfriend, and a friend all helped her with math, since math was not her strongest subject. But, she gives most of the credit for her success to her Adult Education instructor, Dennis Thomas. Darlene said, “He is a wonderful man.”

Darlene’s past employment included some manufacturing experience, but most of her work was as a minimum wage cashier. Now she is employed with a local manufacturer and wants to move ahead in her career field. Darlene is now planning to take the 180 Skills for Advanced Manufacturing Technician test. She is also interested in business management and might go to Ivy Tech Community College in the future.

When Darlene was asked what advice she would give to a new Adult Education student or a new WorkINdiana student, she replied, “Hang in there, it’s worth it. The feeling of pride is overwhelming. People may help you along the way, but it is you who accomplished your goal.”

Comic Corner

Coming Soon!

Watch for the new WorkINdiana awareness videos! These two to three minute videos are designed to help our partners and clients understand the WorkINdiana enrollment process better and hear first-hand from employers and WorkINdiana students about selected occupations.

Keep the Classroom Awake: Weird but True

Did you know? Some of the first soles on Nike shoes were made by pouring rubber into a waffle iron. (Source: National Geographic)

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Professional Spotlight: Krystal Levi, Region 2

Most people don’t know how I got started with the WorkOne system. My degree is in music education, but I always used my degree for church music and private studio lessons. I also had a knack for business and worked with Jenny Craig in management for several years. Mostly, I had worked with my husband to build his graphic arts studio to a six-figure business with diversified interests, so we could minimize the effects of economic dips and trend changes. He was well-positioned to really grow his business into more than a sole-proprietorship, when he just one day up and left! My three children and I struggled for a few months, because when you are self-employed, it looks like you haven’t really worked!

After convincing the lady at WorkOne to take my application and having a friend who worked as an Administrative Law Judge, as a reference, I

was called in for an interview and a job as an intermittent hourly! Shortly after coming on board in October 2003, I heard about the WorkOne system. I was smitten! This amazing concept of all services being offered under one umbrella excited me! Oh, what this

system could be for someone coming through circumstances similar to my own! I worked on a couple of grants, which allowed me to work throughout the system in all areas – TAA

(Trade Adjustment Assistant), Employment Services, and even services for veterans! I was able to get an incredibly well-rounded idea of this amazing system. Through a series of openings available, I worked my way into a service provider as a case manager, then manager of several offices overseeing IMPACT programs, Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth programs. I moved onto the Region 1 Leadership Team and the new case management system came into play and we moved into the new work flow that involved enrolling everyone who walked through the door. I was able to then move into a role with the Regional Operator in Region 1 and assumed my role as VP of Operations in June 2011 in Region 2.

I have loved every role I have had in this system and I still get excited when new challenges, changes, and opportunities arise to learn more and more and more about how we can get these services, that are still a secret to many, out to the people who really need them. With the coming of the new WIOA legislation and the partnerships being mandated by Congress, I am thrilled to be in a role where we can really affect change. It still excites me almost 13 years later and I can’t imagine ever doing anything other than this! Am I crazy? Well, maybe, but I love it!!

Crystal Levi Vice President of Operations,

Region 2

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Best Practice: Region 9 WorkINdiana LiveBinders

Region 9 Adult Education staff was introduced to the LiveBinders tool at the 2015 Summer Institute hosted by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. As staff investigated this tool, we discovered that we could create up to 10 binders at no cost. We experimented with the tool as a way to organize our WorkINdiana program materials for easy access by Adult Education and WorkOne staff.

Prior to the creation of LiveBinders, staff would receive WorkINdiana flyers as an email attachment. Some weeks staff would receive three or more separate emails advertising upcoming programs. Also, in some cases training dates would change, requiring a revised flyer to be created and emailed to staff. The whole system was a bit

cumbersome and confusing. In addition, our WorkINdiana

committee continued to struggle to meet requirements set by our training providers. In our 10-county region, it was difficult for the committee to keep track of how many students from each county were interested in our available programs.

WorkINdiana now uses LiveBinders as a central location where staff can access the most current information about Region 9’s WorkINdiana program, as well as housing the most current WorkINdiana flyers for Region 9. We have also included WorkINdiana brochures and flyers from surrounding regions, as our clients and students are often willing to travel to enroll in programs not yet offered in Region 9.

The binder also has a link to a private Google document that can only be accessed by Region 9 WorkOne and Adult Education staff. Staff use this information to document the “waiting list” for each WorkINdiana program. Our WorkINdiana Coordinators, Lissa Griffin and Michelle Houze, regularly access this document to decide when the Region has met the cohort requirements for a particular training and when it should be offered. The Google and binder administrator controls what can or cannot be edited by others.

Since its creation in July of 2015, the WorkINdiana Flyers binder on LiveBinders has been viewed 555 times. Staff feedback has been very positive.

Learn more about LiveBinders at www.livebinders.com

Visit the Region 9 Live Binder at www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1765468 access key RVR.

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Highlights on Austin Steelman - DWD JAG Intern, Adult Education

Austin Steelman has a unique honor amongst JAG students. He is the first JAG student to have earned an internship at the Department of Workforce Development!

Before he graduated in 2016 from Martinsville High School, Austin learned quite a bit from his time in JAG. Not only did he acquire exemplary professional skills, but he also picked up a talent for public speaking and a passion to help others. While Austin plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at IUPUI this fall, he is also trying, whenever he can, to give back the things that JAG has given him. What have the first few weeks here been like for you?

“It’s been quite enjoyable. It was a lot to get used to, at first. Going from the really fast paced environment of my old jobs in the fast food industry to… ‘Here I’ll give you a project, see you in a week.’

“At first, I thought I was getting a lot of menial tasks, but… after sitting down and thinking about it I realized that, even though I am an intern, they are giving me important tasks to deal with… it makes me feel appreciated.”

“So overall, I’m really glad that I got to spend my first few weeks here [at DWD]… I hope that I have a lot more to come.”What has been the biggest transition for you this summer?

Well, literally, the biggest transition would have to be coming all the way from home to work. It is an hour and a half commute and

that alone is pretty big.What has been the most challenging part of the internship so far?

Learning the way things work around here. I’m used to being able to do everything myself, and that cannot always to be done here [at DWD].

“So you have to learn how to rely on other people, which is something I haven’t really had to do before.”

What has been the most exciting or eye opening part of the internship thus far?

“The most eye-opening part has had to be just walking through downtown Indy. I am from a really small town and I never get out much. So just walking through town and seeing how different it is here compared to home was kind of a wow experience; there is more out there than just small town Indiana.”What part did JAG play in helping you prepare for this job?

“My Specialist and Coordinator set me up with the work experience, and they scheduled me for the interview for the internship. But there are also a lot of little things that they helped with, such as professional skills, how to respond to someone in a professional manner, how to type out a professional e-mail, and how to dress in a business environment.”

Just a lot of little things that most people wouldn’t think about.”What originally attracted you to JAG?

“Well, at first, nothing. My counselor just put me in this class and I did not see why I was in there and I didn’t think I was going to get anything from it. But after about four to six weeks in the class, I realized that JAG is like a family community and that is something that I had been needing for a long time. So that is what kept me in JAG.” What is a skill that you’ve learned from JAG that you have valued the most?

“I have learned to help others. JAG helped me when I needed it the most. They stuck with me through all the growing pains and kicking and screaming. And, I have come to appreciate that. And that is one thing that I want to continue doing; giving back the way they gave to me.”

“Last Thursday, when the food trucks came to the State Museum, I bought a homeless couple lunch, just because it is the little things like that I can do to give back.”

Austin Steelman JAG Grad and DWD Intern

By Laura Hannum, DWD Governor’s Intern, Youth Department

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Best Practice: Career Awareness Team

By Emily Kowalik, DWD Summer Intern

We recently sat down for an interview with Suzi Fenton, an Adult Education teacher, who teaches English As a Second Language (ESL) and High School Equivalency (HSE) prep classes at Central Nine Career Center in Greenwood, Indiana. Suzi has a background in education, communication and theatre and has been working with adult students for three years. When not teaching, Suzi also works as a career awareness presenter, designing and presenting workshops on ways to better prepare adult learners for college and careers.

A highlight of Suzi’s work in Adult Education has been her efforts to launch the Career Awareness Team (CAT), which started in January of this year. Working with Jill Jongeling and Nicole Corn - two of Central Nine’s Life coaches - Suzie designed the CAT team to create a strategic plan for career awareness integration at Central Nine’s Adult Education sites.

Together, Suzi, Nicole and Jill developed a program of presentations and in-class activities to cover five main employability skills that adult students should focus on in order to set themselves on a better career path. These skills include learning how to act professionally, knowing what kinds of positions are available, and learning what kinds of skills are needed to make students both employable and marketable.

The CAT team would like to see that everyone on Central Nine’s Adult Education team are actively involved in the career awareness process. For this reason, the CAT team travels throughout Central Nine’s program locations and works to ensure total school involvement by implementing their career awareness lessons and activities directly into their Adult Education and ESL curriculum.

Suzi’s inspiration for the CAT team came when she took the Integrating Career Awareness (ICA) online course through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). While taking the course, Suzi felt that a better method could be developed which would take a more holistic approach to teaching employability skills. In the end, Suzi and the CAT team added what they learned during ICA training to their own research, creating the CAT team’s five-part employability skills program.

Suzi and the CAT team hope their efforts will lead to more

success stories like one of Suzi’s former students who had moved to the United States from Myanmar. When this student enrolled at Central Nine, he couldn’t speak English and did not believe he could get a high school degree. He was with Central Nine for a number of years, and through hard work and determination, he now speaks English, has developed his employability skills, has earned his HSE, and found employment.

Though the CAT team is still in its infancy, there are signs that CAT has been successful in creating a shift in the school culture to one which sees career awareness as a focus of adult education. Suzi reports that the team has stirred up a great deal of excitement because of its novelty and goals. The team looks forward to presenting their work to others and hopes to take positive steps towards improving the field of adult education.

Gin Muan Mung (left) and Cung Thang practice interviewing in Suzi’s

Transitions class

Suzi Fenton presents with the CAT Team to a large group of students

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About WorkINdiana The WorkINdiana program offers short-term occupational training to Adult Education students spanning seven business sectors and 30 industry-recognized certifications. To find out more, visit www.in.gov/dwd/adulted_workin.htm

The WorkINdiana Program and Adult Education are supported by WorkOne Centers. Please let us know how we are doing including: questions, topics of interest, or articles you’d like to submit. Send your comments to bjohnson@dwd.in.gov.

Look for our October edition in two months! For past WorkINdiana Newsletters and Adult Education Newsletters, please visit www.in.gov/dwd/2904.htm

AND ITS CENTERS

Register now for the NCPN Annual Conference!

Dear Colleague:Most of us work from a specific subset of a Career Pathways system … either an entrance point (Adult Career Pathways vs traditional high school students transitioning to postsecondary education/training) or perhaps a component (career counseling versus teaching in the classroom). This year’s conference theme—Building Your Career Pathways SYSTEM—focuses on recognizing and understanding all the parts that form the complex system for Career Pathways.The conference will be held in the beautiful JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. All sessions will be held in the hotel. The main conference will take place Thursday and Friday, October 6–7. The main conference sessions will be based on the OCTAE Ten Components and DOLETA Six Key Elements.Preconference workshops (Wednesday, October 5) will address topics such as Career Pathways Leadership Certification, WIOA Guidance and Guidelines, Employer-Education Partnerships, and Adult Career Pathways.The conference will focus on Career Pathways implementation at the state and local levels. The conference’s 1200+ attendees will consist of a broad cross-section of stakeholders comprising secondary and postsecondary educators, workforce development professionals, and employers.We are excited to be hosting the conference in Indianapolis for the first time. Indy is a great city with much to offer! From world-class arts and culture to premier chefs, incredible sports to endless shopping, the 12th largest city in the nation offers something for every one of its 26 million annual visitors.The NCPN conference is one of the best professional development opportunities in the country, offering 130+ breakouts, a variety of preconference workshops, keynote speakers, networking opportunities, and an exhibit hall showcasing the latest products and services.Join us—and bring your family to enjoy the city’s many attractions.If you have questions, contact me (dmills@cord.org) or Sheila Wilson (swilson@cord.org).

Debbie MillsDirector, NCPN

To register, visit http://ncpn.info/hotel-information.php

Occupational Spotlight:Construction Trades Helper (Pre-apprenticeship Certificate Training)

Construction laborers and helpers work on almost all construction sites, performing a wide range of tasks from the very simple to the extremely complex and sometimes hazardous. Although many of the tasks they perform require training and experience, some tasks can be learned quickly. They operate hand and power tools of all types, as well as a variety of other equipment. Aside from working on a typical construction site, Trade Helpers also assist other craft workers, such as carpenters, electricians, plasterers, and masons as they continue to learn their trade through on-the-job training.Most laborers and helpers work full-time. They sometimes stop work because of bad weather but they often work overtime to meet deadlines. Laborers and helpers on highway and bridge projects may need to work overnight to avoid major disruptions to traffic. The next step on the career pathway is an apprenticeship training program.

JOB OUTLOOK IN INDIANA

INDIANA WAGE INFORMATION

Entry Median

Hourly Wage $10.33 $12.68

Long Term 18.2% (increase)

Short Term 3.7% (increase)

*Data collected from hoosierdata.in.gov