GED + NWRC + WE = EMPLOYMENT

1. GED + NWRC + WE = EMPLOYMENT Presented by… Mark Cole Mary Hill Regina Papa FMS Workforce Solutions System

2. The National Work Readiness CredentialA New Customer Service Indicator Requirement of Out of School Youth Participants: • 30% or more will take the NWRC exam • The LWIA will achieve a pass-rate of 50%

3. The Carrot and the Stick The Carrot: $$$ Incentive Eligibility Standard if the LWIA achieves 100% or greater of their goal. The Stick: Unsatisfactory Performance if the LWIA does not achieve at least 80% of their goal. No financial penalty, only a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)

4. Why FMS Chose the Carrot • $$$ is a great incentive for us • Pride in what we do, desire to be a role model, develop a best practice • Some programming was already in place

5. Already in Place • GED Program in All Three Centers • Local Work Readiness Certificate Program

6. Incorporating the NWRC • Become a Licensed Site • Three Centers, three sites • Train and Certify Proctors • Three Centers

7. Our Personal Game Plan • Purchased Curriculum • Determined Time Frame – free vouchers came with a time limited offer! • Developed a Schedule - across all three Workforce Solutions Centers

8. Our First Success with NWRC • 94% of those youth we initially tested passed the first time • 100% had passed after the second try • We exceeded our LWIA goal • Our first customer success story

9. Renata’s Story My name is Renata, I am a mother of twin boys . I am a student at the Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties Workforce Solutions Center to get my GED & I recently participated in the National Work Readiness Program (NWRC). I took the exam & passed, it made me feel successful. I felt very unconfident at first & then I found out my scores & I couldn’t believe my eyes. I also recently applied to Dollar General and I had to take an assessment that was required for the job & it was very similar to the NWRC I took recently. This benefited me and I did very well and I had passed that too. Thanks to the Work Readiness Credential I got the job! I felt so excited (still am) & I can’t wait to start my new job and start supporting my twins and I can have a fresh start in the work world.

10. Our Formula for Success • Pre-testing of candidates • Providing targeted instruction to those who did not pass the pre-test • Lessons learned from our first youth experience

11. What’s Next for Our Youth Program Incorporating into our SYEP program

12. What’s Next for Our Youth Program Implementing a pilot program that incorporates the NWRC into our already existing work experience program with our local businesses to compare workplace success of: • those youth who had all three components of our youth program with… • those youth who have not had these components

13. Expanding the Program to Include Adults and Dislocated Workers Why? • Customer demand • Some local businesses are now using this as a screening tool

14. Expanding the Program to Include Adults and Dislocated Workers How? • Same basic recipe, but incorporating lessons learned • Offering at the end of the day, after hours • Utilizing previously trained and certified Youth staff but with DW and Adult $$ • Additional lessons we learned

15. Next Step for NWRC: Increasing our Business’ Awareness Why? • It is a nationally-recognized credential • It is portable from • Business to business • Area to area • State to state

16. Next Step for NWRC: Increasing our Business’ Awareness How? • Business Services Representatives • Chamber Newsletters • Programs with Service Organizations

17. How Can this Formula Work for You? Questions and Answers