DEFINITIONS:

Career

Development

System
OPERATIONAL PLAN

For

The Strategic Planning Process

The Kalamazoo - St. Joseph

Michigan Works! Area

August 28, 2001

This material was developed with the support of grant funds awarded by

The Michigan Department of Career Development.

Michigan Works!

536 W. Lovell St.

Kalamazoo, MI 49007

It has been more than a year since the beginning of the Strategic Plan efforts in Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties. We have come a long way in our effort to "work as one," but more communication and collaboration must occur to achieve a meaningful "oneness." Our common goal remains the same: to develop, sustain, and continually improve a Career Development System that produces workforce members who possess the skills essential to participate in gainful employment to enhance the region’s economy. The alarming trends identified in our Environmental Scan resulted in a closer look at what programs currently exist and what is missing from our career development system.

As we move into the second year of the process, we will be implementing strategies to accomplish our goal and to measure our progress. Efforts to build and invigorate strategic partnerships for career development will continue.

OPERATIONAL PLAN

The Operational Plan enumerates specific priorities and summarizes the annual spending plans of the participating institutions.

This document, the Operational Plan for the Kalamazoo-St. Joseph Michigan Works! Area, translates goal-directed strategies previously listed in the Executive Summary into specific actions. It focuses on two of the four original goals initially outlined in the Career Development System Report Card, disseminated in September and October 2000.

STRATEGIC GOALS

STRATEGIC GOALS are statements defining the desired, measurable outcomes resulting from the organization's efforts.

By 2004

Goal 1. Enhance workplace readiness skills.

Improve Work Keys scores of those high school and community college students and /or incumbent workers taking the Work Keys assessment by an average of at least one level on 3 assessments (e.g. Reading, Applied Mathematics and Locating Information; average one level gain per assessment

Goal 2: Improve employment and income circumstances for Workforce Development Program participants.

Increase average hourly wage at placement of Workforce Development Program from $7.50 to $7.75 in year 1, $8.00 in year 2, and $8.50 in year 3.

OPERATIONAL PLAN for the Kalamazoo-St. Joseph Michigan Works! Area

Goal 1: Enhance workplace readiness skills to benefit employers and emerging employees

Strategy #1: We will promote and implement valid approaches to assess workplace readiness

Initiative	Responsibility	Evidence of Accomplishment	Time Period	Expenditure and Source
1. Develop employer and worker awareness of the certified Work Keys Test Centers in each county	The community colleges: Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) and its Michigan Technical Education Center component (M-TEC) Glen Oaks Community College (GOCC)	In Kalamazoo Co., a 10% increase in 2001-2002 in the number of assessments from a base of 48 in 2000-2001. A 5% increase in subsequent years with a total increase of 20% by June 2004 In St. Joseph Co., a 5% increase each year over the number of assessments and profiles completed in the 2001-2002 year ending in June 2002. The total increase by June 2004 will be 10%	On-going 2001-2002	M-TEC funding Dollar amount devoted to Work Keys unknown
2a. Introduce Work Keys assessments in all adult education programs for those students who cite job placement or job retention as their primary goal.	Community colleges and ISDs	As evidenced by a 5% increase in Work Keys assessments per year beginning with a base number of 15 students	On-going 2001-2002	$9,500

Initiative	Responsibility	Evidence of Accomplishment	Time Period	Expenditure and Source
2b. Introduce Work Keys assessment in as a tool for developing student’s Educational Development Plan	School districts participating in the Career Preparation System Community colleges	As evidenced by at least 2000 high school students completing the Work Keys Value Packet	On-going 2001-2002	Career Prep Funding $1,218,500
3. Improve Work Keys scores of the high school and community college students using Work Keys	Community colleges and ISDs	As evidenced by the records of Work Keys assessments in reading, applied math, and locating information	On-going 2001-2002	Career Prep Funding $1,218,500

Strategy #2: We will promote and implement valid approaches to advance workplace readiness

1. Provide workplace skills instruction to elementary, middle and high school students through the school-directed career pathways process

ISDs

Participating school districts

All elementary, middle and high school students have received instruction in and have demonstrated grade-level workplace skills as evidenced in the student portfolio, lesson plans, curriculum guides, etc.

On-going 2001-2002

Career Prep

Funding (continued)

($1,218,500)

Initiative	Responsibility	Evidence of Accomplishment	Time Period	Expenditure and Source
2. Establish methods, techniques, and resources for all elementary, middle, and high school students to participate in authentic, career experiences	ISDs Participating School Districts	63 elementary, 24 middle, and 15 high schools have developed and implemented at least two forms of methods/resources from which all students may choose---as evidenced by lesson plans, curriculum guides, etc.	On-going 2001-2002	Career Prep Funding (continued) $1,218,500
3. Update CTE curricula to incorporate employability skills, emerging technology, and applied academic skills and state/national standards	ISDs Participating School Districts	15 CTE programs have developed and/or revised curricula to incorporate emerging technologies, employability skills, applied academic skills, and state/national standards as evidenced by curriculum guides or tasks lists.		Secondary CTE Perkins $2,403,000
4. Support the Glen Oaks Community College application for a Business Opportunity Demonstration Grant to in allied health aimed at those in need of post-secondary training	MWA	As evidenced by the funding award		Business Opportunity Demonstration Grant (pending) $120,000

5. Continue or expand English-as-a-second-language efforts in both counties

Partnership for Adult Learning (PAL) providers

As evidenced by increased enrollments /individual goal achievements in PAL’s second year vs. year 1

On-going 2001-2002

PAL State School Act 108/funding for Year 2 not known

Strategy #3: We will assist students and involve parents in career preparation and planning

Initiative	Responsibility	Evidence of Accomplishment	Time Period	Expenditure and Source
1. Incorporate Career Pathways concept in middle and high schools.	ISDs Participating School Districts	22 middle and 14 high schools have incorporated Career Pathways concept, or state-recognized alternative as shown by lesson plans/ guides	On-going 2001-2002	Career Prep Funding (continued) $1,218,500
2. Develop a parent-endorsed Employability Plan (EDP) for 8^th grade students	ISDs Participating School Districts	100% of students entering the 9^th grade have a parent-endorsed EDP as shown by the EDP with a student and parent/legal guardian signature
3. Establish a process that enables 9^th -12^th grade students to conduct an annual review/update of their parent-endorsed EDP	ISDs Participating School Districts	100% of students have reviewed/updated their EDPs at least once as evidenced by the parent-signed review dates.
4. Develop/provide experiential learning for middle and high school students	ISDs Participating School Districts	At least 30% of 7-12 grade students have participated in at least one experiential opportunity as shown by the parent-endorsed EDP and/or student portfolio

Initiative	Responsibility	Evidence of Accomplishment	Time Period	Expenditure and Source
5. Provide career planning assistance to special populations	ISDs Participating School Districts	Supply informational materials for outreach and recruitment	On-going 2001-2002	CTE Perkins (continued) $2,403,000
6. Provide guidance services to special population students	ISDs Participating School Districts	At least 100 special population students have participated in guidance activities as evidenced in their student records	On-going 2001-2002
7. Develop student awareness of job search resources available by using the Michigan Works! System	ISDs	At least 30% of CTE students will have copies of Talent Bank resumes
8. Provide teachers and students with mini-grants for on-site visits to business/industry to increase their understanding of business and technical occupation-specific skills	ISDs	At least 10 teachers will have received mini-grant awards as evidenced by awards of grants		Tech Prep $75,875
9. Expand parent-endorsed EDP process and EDP document into post-secondary levels for 11^th -12^th grade Tech Prep students by student participation in EDP planning process	ISDs	100% of Tech Prep students entering 11^th -12^th grades have a parent-endorsed EDP that extends into post-secondary levels as evidenced by a copy with student and parent signatures	On-going 2001-2002	Tech Prep Funding (continued) $75,875
10. Provide assistance for students to access direct college credit in the 2+2 plan	ISDs	At least 50 2+2 students have completed competency-based assessments and have received college credit as evidenced by post-secondary transcripts	On-going 2001-2002
11. Conduct follow-up of all Tech Prep completers to track post-secondary transition	ISDs	No fewer than 85% of Tech Prep student completers have responded to the follow-up survey as evidenced by the number of completed questionnaires	By June 2002

GOAL 2: IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME CIRCUMSTANCES FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

STRATEGY #1: We will provide intensive/case-managed services for low-income adults

1. Establish low-income adults as priorities to receive WIA Intensive Services	MWA			At least 50% of the program funds will have been used for individuals who are unemployed		On-going 2001-2002	WIA Adult allocation $389,400
Initiative		Responsibility	Evidence of Accomplishment		Time Period			Expenditure and Source
2. Provide comprehensive assessment of participant’s skill levels		Adult Intensive Services Provider	A record of the assessment given and the results will be on file with the service provider		On-going 2001-2002				WIA Adult Allocation (continued) $389,400
3. Develop an Individual Service Strategy (ISS) with each participant		Adult Intensive Services Provider	2. Provide comprehensive assessment of participant’s skill levels
4. Provide case management throughout participation in intensive services and job search			Case notes in each participant’s file
5. Improve the participant’s "soft skills"			Employment levels that meet or exceed contract requirement
6. Use customer satisfaction (participant and employer) surveys to realign and/or improve services			Steadily increasing customer satisfaction as demonstrated by survey results
7. Provide a client-centered approach to overcoming the individual’s employment barriers			As evidenced by job placement and retention as measured by the terms of WtW						Welfare to Work Allocation 10/01/01-9/30/02 $649,484 Work First Allocation 10/01/01-9/30/02 $2,528,000
8. Increase average hourly wage at placement of all Program participants to $7.75			MIS reports for the Kalamazoo-St. Joseph MWA					WIA, WtW, and Work First Allocations

STRATEGY #2: We will provide intensive/case-managed services for youth

Initiative	Responsibility	Evidence of Accomplishment	Time Period	Expenditure and Source
1. Provide assessment of participant’s career awareness and basic skill levels	WIA Youth Provider	Documentation in file	On-going 2001-2002	WIA Youth Allocation $542,380
2. Improve the participant’s "soft skills" necessary for future employment	WIA Youth Provider	Documentation in file of soft skills curriculum and completion of assignments
3. Develop an Individual Service Strategy (ISS) with completing education as a primary goal	WIA Youth Provider	Signed (student and caseworker) copy of the ISS in participant’s file
4. Use customer satisfaction surveys to realign and/or improve services to youth	WIA Youth Provider	Steadily increasing customer satisfaction as demonstrated by survey results

Prepared by the staff at the W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research/Michigan Works! Agency

Contact Jan Smith at (616) 349-1533 or smith@we.upjohninst.org with comments or questions