The WIB utilizes its position as a strategic leader in workforce
development to connect the needs of employers with the resources
available throughout the community. Below are WIB initiatives past and
present.
Healthcare Initiative
The Ramsey County WIB’s
Healthcare Initiative is a response to data predicting a shortage in
healthcare workers. Meeting with local healthcare system employers, an
environmental scan and needs analysis was conducted in 2008 by the WIB,
Ramsey County Workforce Solutions, and the Greater Metropolitan
Workforce Council. That analysis identified a need across healthcare
systems for certified Medical Billers and Coders. Medical Billing and
Coding positions can serve as a significant entry point into the
healthcare field, growing the pool of workers who may be trained to fill
other in-demand healthcare careers and increasing the individual’s
earning potential.
With this information, the WIB and its partners have developed pathways
to prepare low-skilled adults for a career in the Medical Billing and
Coding and Medical Records Clerk fields. The project has had three
phases, referred to as Healthcare Initiative 1, Healthcare Initiative 2
and Healthcare Initiative 3. The
instruction for all phases has been carried out through an integrated
programming model, which provides students with Adult Basic Education
(ABE) support within the content classroom.
Partners for Phases 1, 2 and 3 include:
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Community Action
Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties
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Department of
Employment and Economic Development
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Goodwill
EasterSeals
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Greater
Metropolitan Workforce Council
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HealthPartners
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Lifetrack
Resources
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Presbyterian Homes
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Quality Careers
Services
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Ramsey County
Workforce Investment Board (RCWIB)
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Ramsey County
Workforce Solutions
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Saint Paul
Community Literacy Consortium
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Saint Paul College
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Saint Paul Public
Housing Agency
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Saint Paul Public
Schools Adult Basic Education (ABE)
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Saint Paul Public
Schools K-12
If you would like more information or would like to be involved in this
initiative, please contact the WIB at info@rcwib.org.
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Blue Ribbon
Commission to Reduce Racial Employment Disparities in Ramsey County
Please go to the
Blue Ribbon
Commission's website for more information.
Past
initiatives have included the following:
Metropolitan Manufacturing Sector Initiative (MMSI)
The MMSI is a fast-track, demand driven program to train skilled workers
in the metal manufacturing industry.
After colleting labor market and anecdotal information to identify local
manufacturer’s workforce needs, the WIB convened employers, schools,
adult basic education, and workforce centers to create and implement a
short-term training course.
The course includes a cohort of incumbent workers and job seekers in a
“Manufacturing 101” classroom training followed by on the job and
specialized skill training.
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Development of an Issues Awareness Program- the goal of this program
is to inform WIB and community members on key workforce issues,
while establishing the WIB as a thought leader in workforce
development.
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Demand-driven work on the RENEW project, lead by the City of
Minneapolis and Ramsey County Workforce Solutions. The RENEW
project will serve low-income populations in Minneapolis and Ramsey
County, training up to 500 individuals for green jobs. The WIB
will be leading the environmental scan of local green jobs available
and needed, as well as coordinating the outreach to businesses by
community partners.
Building Lives
In 2002, Ramsey County Workforce Solutions obtained a federal grant to
develop and implement a pilot program called Building Lives. The program
served adjudicated and at-risk youth through a one on one case
management service model to help youth reach their educational, social
and employment goals.
Despite the successful pilot, funding ended. The WIB believes it is
important to continue this program.
In 2006, the WIB made it a goal to locate sustainable funding to support
this important program. In 2008, the Otto Bremer Foundation awarded a
$30,000 grant to the Friends of the WIB for Building Lives. On May 15,
2009, an appropriation was signed into MN law within the Economic
Development Omnibus bill dedicating $100,000 each year of the biennium
to Building Lives.
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