Foundational knowledge of how the workforce system operates is essential to Apprenticeship Training Representative (ATR) work. In this first session for ATRs, attendees learned how Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) make decisions on policies and funding for employers, job seekers and how it relates to registered apprenticeships.

This session also demonstrates the Business Services Representative (BSR) role and the steps program sponsors and employers need to take to access Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and non-WIOA funding and support. ATRs are provided with detailed information and tools to help them move from understanding policy alignment to practical implementation with workforce system partners, especially BSRs.
 

Link to Webinar

Link to PPT

The Missouri Association for Workforce Development held a pre-conference hosted by the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development, Office of Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning on April 23-24. The Centers subject matter experts, Melissa Aguilar-Southard, Haylie Schuster, and Angela Baker delivered three presentations on understanding registered apprenticeship as a business services opportunity which can be accessed below.

Link to Apprenticeship 101

Link to Apprenticeship 201

Link to Business Services Representatives Workshop

The National Associations of Workforce Development Professionals’s 40th Annual Conference held enriching experiences filled with invaluable insights, cutting-edge strategies, and collaborative opportunities. This event brought together thought leaders, professionals and enthusiasts in the field, providing a unique platform to share knowledge, explore emerging trends, and celebrate our collective achievements.

Center Subject Matter Expert, Alan Dodkowitz, and Philadelphia Works' Director of Training and Apprenticeship, Rebecca Ambrose, presented "Creating and Sustaining Momentum Through Registered Apprenticeship Networks" providing information on strategies for expanding apprenticeship opportunities, survey findings on apprenticeship networks, lessons from the field and starting an apprenticeship network action plan.

Link to PPT

This training session is designed for Business Service Representatives (BSRs), Veterans’ Representatives, and other workforce professionals that engage directly with employers.

This webinar is the first session in a BSR Training Series featuring how Registered Apprenticeship is structured and works in concert with the workforce system, recent initiatives, funding opportunities, partners, and how to speak to employers about Registered Apprenticeship.

Registered Apprenticeship is an ideal solution for many employers that are partners with workforce boards and American Job Centers. This online training opportunity explores innovative ways that apprenticeship ties in with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) business services. It also equips you to connect with and leverage the support of the apprenticeship system on behalf of employers.

Link to Webinar

Link To PPT

Multi-State American Job Center Registered Apprenticeship (RA) Summit: 2 Global Services, an American Jobs Center contractor in Florida, Texas, and Nevada, held a RA Summit for their frontline staff and managers. As part of our collaboration with the CareerSource Florida Network, the Center was invited to deliver a virtual presentation on aligning WIOA with RA. Alan Dodkowitz, Subject Matter Expert, and Project Manager, Judy Blanchard, provided an overview of the Center and presented, Putting Your WIOA Plan for Apprenticeship to Work.

Link to PPT

The Center created a draft tool designed primarily to provide local workforce boards with a gauge of potential “levels” of workforce and apprenticeship system alignment. This session is a continuation of walking through the individual levels, with a focus on how local boards have taken next steps to further incorporate Registered Apprenticeship as a workforce solution for local jobseekers and employers.

Link to Webinar

Link to PPT

Properly implemented supportive services can ensure higher retention rates for apprentices in skilled, nontraditional occupations. However, most Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs don’t have a framework for working with state or federal grant programs or their local workforce development board (LWDB) to access Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and non-WIOA funded supportive services for their youth or adult apprentices. Learn how one CTE Center works with its LWDB and braids state and federal apprenticeship grant funding to provide critically-needed supportive services to apprentices.

As a Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor, the Special School District of St. Louis County’s Adult CTE Department has implemented a promising programmatic model and support service delivery practice for its multi-occupation adult apprenticeship programs, including Certified Nurse Assistant, Certified Medication Technician and Level One Medication Aide, as well as its “Healthcare S.T.A.R.S.” Pre-Apprenticeship program. These practices range from mentoring, case management, and linkages with community services partners to providing financial assistance with childcare, transportation, housing, and utility costs.

This presentation was given during the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) CareerTech Vision 2023 workshop.

Link to PPT

The U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance (RA TA) Center of Excellence on Strategic Partnerships and System Alignment created this draft tool and is seeking feedback. The tool is designed primarily to provide local workforce boards with a gauge of potential “levels” of workforce/apprenticeship system alignment, including indicators and next steps to further incorporate Registered Apprenticeship as a workforce solution for local jobseekers and employers.

Link to PDF

This Center of Excellence webinar, Gauging Registered Apprenticeship Alignment for Workforce Boards, focuses on how Workforce Boards can take steps to align and level up their Registered Apprenticeship activities. The Center created a draft tool designed primarily to provide local workforce boards with a gauge of potential “levels” of workforce and apprenticeship system alignment. This special session walks through the individual levels with a focus on how local boards have taken next steps to further incorporate registered apprenticeship as a workforce solution for local jobseekers and employers.

Link to Webinar

Link to PPT

Is your workforce board considering how to get started in adopting registered apprenticeship (RA) or supporting RA programs in your area? Have you taken a few first steps but wondering what a higher level of workforce/RA system alignment could look like? The Center has created a draft tool designed to help boards visualize "levels" of RA alignment and self-assess their current alignment status. This special interactive session shares the draft tool and walks through the proposed "levels" of alignment, including indicators and next steps.

Link to Webinar

Link to PPT

This webinar provides technical assistance for leaders in state apprenticeship efforts to hear promising practices on expanding apprenticeship found in the Center’s recent review of 2020 state plans. Part Three focuses on two key indicators: the inclusion of apprenticeship-specific strategies to meet state objectives and the establishment of apprenticeship-specific metrics to meet workforce needs. 

Link to PPT

Link to Webinar

This webinar is Part Two of the Demonstrated State Apprenticeship Leadership in 2020 Unified/Combined Plans webinar series: Co-locating Registered Apprenticeship Expertise in American Job Centers (AJCs).

This Center of Excellence webinar will provide technical assistance for leaders in state apprenticeship efforts to hear promising practices on expanding apprenticeship found in the Center’s recent review of 2020 state plans.

Part Two focuses on the establishment of the apprenticeship expertise in the AJCs. States that make this investment recognize that having apprenticeship expertise available to both businesses and job seekers directly through their services make a stronger investment toward the inclusion of apprenticeship as a strategy that is relevant to their skill pipeline efforts.

Link to Webinar

Link to PTT

This Center of Excellence webinar provides technical assistance for leaders in state apprenticeship efforts to hear promising practices on expanding apprenticeship found in the Center’s recent review of 2020 state plans.

During this three-part webinar series, you will hear about four leadership indicators. Part-One will focus on the establishment of a collaborative state level work group or a committee to the State Workforce Development Board (SWDB) with a focus on apprenticeship expansion. Establishing these groups or committees to the SWDB may indicate a deliberate effort to establish stronger statewide efforts to increase apprenticeship strategies and opportunities that are collaborative and integrated into business and job seeker services within the workforce system.

Link to Webinar

Link to PPT

The Center of Excellence shows promising practices for rural areas to sponsor registered apprenticeship. Participants hear steps to take in order to align the workforce system, education entities, and local employers in rural areas when considering related instruction, on-the-job learning, mentorship, employing apprentices, and return on investment when sponsoring a registered apprenticeship.

Subject matter experts from the Urban Institute speak about how rural workforce development boards at the state and local level can help a business start a registered apprenticeship and become a sponsor. Also, rural health care and agriculture grantees speak about their experience with program development, challenges faced and gathering stakeholders support for registered apprenticeship in their areas.

Link to Webinar

Link to PPT

This webinar provides technical assistance for workforce development boards regarding becoming a Registered Apprenticeship (RA) sponsor.

Safal Partners and FASTPORT subject matter experts speak about how workforce development boards can help a business start a registered apprenticeship and become a sponsor. Additionally, current sponsors from workforce development share their expertise in becoming a sponsor.

Hear how organizations made the decision to become an RA sponsor, best practices for engaging all stakeholders in the process, and hear about the pros and cons of becoming an RA sponsor.

Link to Webinar