Narrative: II. b. 2.

GOAL 1– System Alignment: District agencies form an integrated workforce system that delivers coordinated, accessible, and effective workforce services through clearly defined roles and transitional supports throughout the provision of a continuum of services.

In order for our workforce system to progress and continue to serve all District residents, all partner agencies need to be aligned in their procedural and operational functions. While delineating clear roles and responsibilities, this will provide the opportunity to eliminate inefficient processes and improve customer service to both jobseekers and businesses. In recent focus groups and interviews with area employers and system users, several points were raised on how the current overlap among services and programming offerings complicates the utilization of the system. Increased integration with clearly defined roles and transitional supports will provide a more seamless delivery structure for system users and help allocate resources more efficiently to increase overall offerings.

GOAL 2– Access to Workforce and Education Services: All residents, including people with disabilities and those with multiple barriers to employment, regardless of education or skill level, can access the education, training, career, and supportive services necessary to move forward in their career pathway.

While a large segment of the District’s population possess bachelors and advanced degrees, we also have a large population without a high school diploma or its equivalent and significant numbers of individuals with one or more barriers to employment. Challenges in accessing and moving between the numerous services needed for some individuals to advance towards self–sufficiency have frequently been cited, and an effective system must be flexible in addressing varying needs. Increasing access to the full range of services and supports, as well as connections and handoff processes between services, will ensure that there are career pathways and options for individuals regardless of their educational attainment and skill levels.

GOAL 3– Sector Strategies/Alignment with Business Needs: The District’s business community gains access to a broader pool of District talent with the skills necessary to meet their needs and advance within their organizations; and informs workforce investments and incentives that effectively match jobseekers with their needs.

Businesses have frequently cited challenges in identifying enough District residents to meet both their skill set requirements and job readiness criteria, which can lead to both reduced business competitiveness and challenges for residents in competing with talent from neighboring jurisdictions. These stakeholders have cited the need to increase their role in informing and delivering training and other services, as well as aligning services targeted within high–demand sectors with significant hiring needs. Increasing the role of business leaders in the workforce system and creating true sector strategies that align with career pathways in high–demand sectors can help ensure that the District’s workforce system adds value for employers.

GOAL 4– Performance and Accountability: Funded workforce services are evidence–based, high quality, and flexible in meeting individuals’ needs; and District agencies evaluate outcomes through standardized methodologies that ensures accountability and transparency.

Evidence based services with high–level accountability and transparency are key to a sustainable and demand–driven workforce system. Accurate and timely assessment of programs has been lacking in many areas, and differences in reporting requirements and structures have increased these challenges. Through Mayor Bowser’s CapStat initiative, the District will assess its workforce system more thoroughly to help increase high–quality program offerings and move away from less effective services and providers. Greater standardization in defining and tracking outcomes will help the District better serve our jobseekers and business stakeholders.

GOAL 5– Youth: Youth have access to a coordinated, accessible, education and workforce system that provides the supports needed to prepare them for postsecondary success; including education, training, and competitive employment.

A critical component of improving of the District’s larger workforce development strategy includes the reshaping and integration of youth workforce development. Youth suffer from higher rates of unemployment and disconnection from the workforce than other age groups, and also have unique developmental needs, which necessitate targeted services that both supplement and complement other workforce offerings. In order to create a more coordinated system of services and ensure that the District’s youth employment programs address previous compliance challenges, coordinated and accessible services must be provided across workforce system partners.