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 collaborative effort
of business, workforce and education leaders to prepare low- and
limited-skill workers for careers in Medical Billing and Coding. The
WIB utilized labor market information and discussions with various
healthcare employers in the metro area to define the need for trained
Medical Billers and Coders.
With support from local healthcare employers and community
organizations, the WIB partnered with Saint Paul College and Saint Paul
Public Schools Adult Basic Education to develop curriculum that meets
the needs of employers and the Adult Basic Education population. The
resulting training program is a unique blend of technical education with
Adult Basic Education, supporting the students through the instruction
needed to secure an in-demand healthcare position. The goal of this
initiative is to replicate the model for other training opportunities,
meeting the needs of employers while assisting job seekers in to jobs
with laddering potential.
Partners include:
-
Community Action
Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties
-
Department of
Employment and Economic Development
-
Goodwill
EasterSeals
-
Greater
Metropolitan Workforce Council
-
HealthPartners
-
Lifetrack
Resources
-
Presbyterian Homes
-
Quality Careers
Services
-
Ramsey County
Workforce Investment Board (RCWIB)
-
Ramsey County
Workforce Solutions
-
Saint Paul
Community Literacy Consortium
-
Saint Paul College
-
Saint Paul Public
Housing Agency
-
Saint Paul Public
Schools Adult Basic Education (ABE)
-
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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Additional focus areas are:
-
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.
-
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.
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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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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