Information Exchange Meeting

1. Information Exchange Meeting Welcome to HempsteadWorks!

2. Purpose of the Meeting • To introduce our organization and describe the services we provide • To describe how you may qualify for and access our services • To answer your questions • You should have been provided with an “Information Exchange Booklet” and “Customer Satisfaction Survey Form”

3. After the Meeting • Immediately following this meeting you will complete an application form with one of our career counselors • As part of the process of qualifying for our services, a math and a reading test may be administered at some point in the future • These tests are administered to identify individuals who can benefit from remedial services and to assess proficiency levels • In addition to our testing services, one of our counselors will interview you individually to determine how we can best serve you

4. Town of Hempstead Department of Occupational Resources (DOOR) • DOOR is a municipal department of the Town of Hempstead. • DOOR administers federally funded grants that benefit employers and jobseekers. • These grants are administered under the auspices of the U.S. and New York State Departments of Labor

5. HempsteadWorks • Working in partnership with several organizations, the Town of Hempstead has created a single system through which customers can access a variety of services • This “One-Stop System” is called “HempsteadWorks” • It includes a full service career center within the Hempstead Executive Plaza, along with centers in other locations which are linked through our computer network

6. HempsteadWorks (continued) • Several state and national awards have been presented to the Town of Hempstead for its work in creating an “integrated workforce investment system” A list of the participating organizations within HempsteadWorks, along with the services they provide is included in the Information Exchange Booklet • More information is available through our Web site, which is located at: www.hempsteadworks.com • Internet access is available within our resource rooms

7. Mission Statement • Ensure that skilled workers are available to employers • Help jobseekers to find work • Foster economic development

8. Service Options • HempsteadWorks offers services under two options • The following is an explanation of how to qualify for each option, along with the services available

9. Option One Requirements • To be considered for Option One, individuals must be age 18 and over and document their citizenship or resident alien status • Option One services are provided by all of the One-Stop partner organizations of our system by “sharing” their resources

10. Option One Services • Initial Assessment • Career Counseling • Labor market information • Job listings •  Career Workshop Series •  Job Placement Assistance •  Consumer reports on training vendors •  Reports on the performance of the One-Stop system •  Information regarding Unemployment Insurance Benefits, including the process for filing claims and answers to inquiries regarding existing claims

11. Option One Services (continued) • Information regarding education, training, employment and tax credit programs •  Referral to local supportive services • Use of a “Resource Room,” that includes personal computers, job banks, a career library, photocopier, fax machine, telephone banks, etc.

12. Option Two Requirements • To be considered for Option Two, individuals must be age 18 over and meet the requirements the WIA category of service they are applying for (see categories below) and provide the following documentation:

13. Option Two Documentation • Social Security Card • Proof of Citizenship or Resident Alien Status • Selective Service Registration for Males Born on or after 1/1/60

14. Option Two Dislocated Worker Documentation • Proof of dislocated worker status • Proof of Unemployment Insurance Benefits eligibility, if applicable

15. Option Two Services • Information regarding education, training, employment and tax credit programs • Referral to local supportive services • Use of a “Resource Room,” that includes personal computers, job banks, a career library, photocopier, fax machine, telephone banks, etc. • In order to participate in our Expanded Career Workshop Series (CWS) or to apply for Training Vouchers, individuals must participate in Option Two

16. Option Two Adults Self-Sufficiency Requirements • Proof of address • Proof of Family Size and Income • Public Assistance Award Letter, if applicable

17. Option Two Services • WIA Core Services • WIA Intensive Services • WIA Training Services • WIA Youth Services

18. Intensive Services • Assessment of skill levels and service needs through diagnostic testing and in-depth interviews • Development of an Individual Employment Plan • Expanded Career Workshop Series to develop pre-vocational skills

19. Intensive Services Requirements • Individuals who are age 18 and over, who can document their citizenship or resident alien status, along with their Selective Service Registration (males born after January 1, 1960 only), may be selected for WIA Intensive Services if they meet the following criteria:

20. Intensive Services Criteria • Unemployed and are unable to obtain employment through WIA Core Services; and • Determined by DOOR to be in need of WIA Intensive Services in order to obtain employment; or • Employed, but determined by DOOR to be in need of WIA Intensive Services in order to obtain or retain employment that allows for “self-sufficiency.”

21. Training Services Requirements • WIA Training Services may be provided by DOOR, based upon the availability of funding, to Town of Hempstead/City of Long Beach residents, age 18 and over, who both qualify for and require assistance beyond WIA Core and Intensive Services and who meet federal and state guidelines for the categories described below:

22. Training Services Requirements • Adult needing to obtain self-sufficiency • Dislocated Worker

23. Training services • Occupational Skills Training •  On-The-Job Training •  Workplace Training/Cooperative Education •  Skill Upgrading and Retraining •  Entrepreneurial Training •  Non-Traditional Training •  Job Readiness Training •  Adult Education and Literacy (combined with the above training services); and •  Customized Training

24. Youth Services • Objective assessment •  Development of an individual service strategy •  Tutoring •  Study skills training •  Alternative school •  Summer employment linked to academic and occupational learning •  Work experience •  Internship

25. Youth Services (continued) • Occupational skill training •  Leadership development activities •  Community service •  Peer centered activities •  Supportive services •  Adult mentoring •  Follow-up services •  Guidance and counseling •  Drug and alcohol abuse counseling; and •  Referral

26. Unemployment Insurance Benefits • All inquiries related to Unemployment Insurance Benefits, extended benefits and enrollment under what is called “Section 599” of the Labor Law, must be directed to the New York State Department of Labor, Division of Employment Services. • Inquiries can be made to Division of Employment Services staff within our center • There is no guarantee of Unemployment Insurance or 599 extensions based upon participation in education and training services; however, we can assist you in the process of applying for these benefits

27. Selection Process • The federal guidelines that fund the services we provide require us to follow a specific process • This process includes documentation of eligibility, the reading and math tests mentioned earlier and assessment • Based on this process we select individuals for participation in our programs

28. Selection Process (continued) • In some cases, individuals perceive that they will automatically be enrolled in programs or issued vouchers for training based upon information they have received from referring agencies • You should understand that there are no automatic enrollments and there is no guarantee that vouchers will be issued • Instead, we are required to make enrollments and issue vouchers based upon federal eligibility guidelines, assessment results, your education, experience and skills, as they relate to recent labor market information

29. The Modern Labor Market • In order to truly understand the process of our system, it is necessary to understand the modern labor market. The following quote comes from the U.S. Department of Labor: "The labor market is being affected by new technology and cultural changes in the workplace. For the most part, employers are more interested in a job applicant’s skills than in their education, experience or accomplishments. Skills include:

30. The Modern Labor Market • Basic skills, such as reading and math • Ability to communicate well, both verbally and in writing • Leadership qualities • Temperament for working in teams

31. The Modern Labor (continued) • Ability to make critical decisions • Word processing, basic computer software and office machine technology • Customer satisfaction."

32. The Modern Workplace (continued) • Many employers measure these skills early on in the screening process • They are aware of a mismatch which exists in the labor market where the number of high skilled jobs exceeds the number of individuals with the knowledge and skills to fill those jobs • The high tech workplace is combining with the global economy to create increased competition for the relatively small number of lower and unskilled openings • The best prepared applicants will land jobs and move up career ladders

33. The Modern Workplace (continued) • In order to prepare the customers we serve to succeed in this competitive environment, it is necessary to accurately identify their strengths and weaknesses • We must then build upon their strengths and address areas where they need to be better prepared • Our assessment produces results which are as different and unique as each individual is

34. The Modern Workplace (continued) • This is why one customer might require training to achieve a goal, while another might immediately begin a job search campaign, without additional training • In order to properly assess which course of action is most appropriate, as well as the proper sequence of services, it is essential that we conduct reading and math tests, as well as assessment of occupational skills • All assessment results are analyzed in the context of labor market information. This information is derived primarily from our job banks, along with information published by the U.S. and New York State Labor Department

35. Commitment to Quality • HempsteadWorks is committed to quality services, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement • For this reason, we will call upon you from time to time to respond to our surveys and provide us with feedback • We take your feedback very seriously and will utilize it to improve our services to you • You will notice that we have suggestion boxes available for this purpose as well

36. Commitment to Quality (continued) • Each of you will have a career counselor assigned to assist you individually on an on-going basis. Each counselor works within a team and reports to a Team Coordinator. The Team Coordinator is available to assist you, along with your career counselor • It should be clear from what we have discussed today that the extent to which you benefit from our services has a great deal to do with your commitment

37. Labor Market Information • In your packet, we have provided information about our local labor market for your reference • Additional labor market information will be provided in one-on-one sessions

38. Equal Opportunity • Your rights under federal law include the right to file a complaint of discrimination with the Department of Occupational Resources or the New York State Department of Labor. Our Equal Opportunity Policy is included in the eligibility packet that we provide to individuals who apply for assistance under our federal grant programs. The policy includes the name and contact information of our Equal Opportunity Officer

39. Services for Individuals with Disabilities • Auxiliary aides and services are available upon request • Disclosure of disability is completely voluntary. There are; however, services and programs available for people with disabilities that may be of additional benefit to you as a jobseeker. If you chose to disclose, information about your disability will be kept strictly confidential.

40. Assistive Technology • Workstation Evas Handicapped Accessible Workstation • Software: Zoom Text Xtra L2 LP/Speech Jaws Pro Screen Reader Open Book Scanning and Reading Software I-Communicator for the Deaf • Phone: Text Telephone System Ultratec Miniprint 225 (TTY) Voice Amplification Phone

41. Assistive Technology (Continued) • Keyboards: 1 Dell 7D00 Xtra Series Large Print Quietkey Gray Keyboard 1 Dell 7D00 Xtra Series Large Print StickyKeys Keyboard 1 Tash Win 2460 USB Mini Alternative Access Keyboard 1 Pulse Data Int. Scorpius Keyboard • Mice: 1 PNX 08-16056 Microsoft Explorer Trackball 1 Dell Intelli Mouse • Wrist Supports: Kensington Gel Pillow Keyboard Wrist Support Kensington Gel Pillow Mouse Wrist Support

42. Assistive Technology (Continued) • Scanner & Camera Unit: 1 Epson Perfection 1650 Scanner 1 Smart View Computer Interface with Footswitch 1 Smart View B&W Color Select Camera Unit • Evacu-Trac Emergency Evacuation Chair

43. Partners/Vendors/Affiliates • Abilities, Inc. • Circulo de la Hispanidad, Inc. • City of Long Beach Office of Youth and Family Services • Town of Hempstead Department of Occupational Resources • Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County • Education and Assistance Corporation, Inc. • Goodwill Industries of Greater New York/New Jersey • Nassau Community College • National Council On The Aging, Inc. • New York State Department of Labor, Division of Employment Services • Workforce Investment Act Title II, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Network • New York State Education Department Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities

44. Questions and Answers