Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Wagner-Peyser Program (Employment Services)
All Program-Specific Requirements provided for the WIOA core programs in this section must be addressed for either a Unified or Combined State Plan.
a. 2. Describe how the State will utilize professional development activities for Employment Service staff to ensure staff is able to provide high quality services to both jobseekers and employers
Current Narrative:
The VDOL has enhanced professional development opportunities for staff over the past year and plans to expand the number and quality of training going forward. In the last year, the VDOL’s program leadership offers a “WIOA World Series” skype training that is delivered on a monthly basis to One-Stop Career Center staff. Topics include; eligibility determination, assessments, creating effective individual service strategies, a comprehensive review of the 14 program elements and cross training with other programs such as WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker programs. In addition, the VDOL program leadership staff convene quarterly in-person meetings where staff apply what they have learned through the WIOA World Series. Many topics covered in the trainings stem from feedback from staff surveys or are as a result of monitoring programs, or leadership recommendation.
In PY 2020 -2021, the VDOL intends to develop and offer more professional development opportunities to staff. These may include; motivational interviewing, case management training, career counseling aligned with pathway exploration and advancement, financial literacy, trauma-informed case management, mental health and substance abuse awareness, implicit bias training, facilitation and project management trainings, etc. The VDOL is also pursuing a partnership with the Annie E. Cassie Foundation to gain a deeper of understanding of how to serve at-risk teens and young adults and develop a more individualized approach to career exploration and service delivery to build on young people’s strengths and develop a path to sustainable careers.