Strategic Business Plan 2017 - 2020 Strategic Business Plan 2017 - 2020 | Page 28

As veterans and their spouses, foster youth, and individuals with significant barriers to employment are
identified; they are assessed by career center staff and referred not only to workforce services that can assist
them but to community services that are available to help these populations.
Co-located Texas Veterans Commission representatives coordinate with career center staff to ensure
veterans and their spouses receive services that help them meet their education and employment goals. The
Texas Workforce Commission’s Military Families Initiative helps to further link military advocates and
resources to the workforce system.
Partnerships with local organizations focused on the needs of foster youth and those who have aged-out of
the system work to connect these youth and young adults with the workforce system. Career center staff
encourage these youths to participate in our WIOA youth and adult programs and to register in
workintexas.com.
Work-first programs like TANF/Choices and SNAP Employment & Training, coordinate with WIOA programs
to identify program participants interested in careers like healthcare that have clearly defined pathways to
success. Through co-enrollment in WIOA programs these customers are encouraged to pursue post-
secondary education opportunities in the form of short-term, employer-recognized skill credentials.
Facilitate the development of career pathways and co-enrollment, as appropriate, in core programs; and improve access to
activities leading to a recognized postsecondary credential (including a credential that is an industry-recognized certificate
or certification, portable, and stackable).
Targeted Occupations Lists are used by our ISD’s and education partners to discern the critical need for
skilled labor throughout the Coastal Bend. Citizens for Educational Excellence, our Coastal Compass partner
was awarded a grant by the Strata Foundation to create 16 specific career pathways for the region. This
work is in progress and will incorporate demand industries of Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and
Public Service.
Del Mar College, Coastal Bend College and our local universities continue to work together to improve the
vertical alignment and credit retention for students who transfer from community colleges to these
universities. By doing so, students take only the classes necessary to graduate and reduce their student debt
at graduation.
Local Strategies and Services
Describe strategies and services that will be used in the local area. To facilitate engagement of employers in the workforce
development programs, including small employers and employers in in-demand industry sectors and occupations;
a. to support a local workforce development system that meets the needs of businesses in the local area;
b. to better coordinate workforce development programs and economic development;
c. to strengthen linkages between the one-stop delivery system and unemployment insurance programs;
The Business Services Unit (BSU) is a specialized team designed to meet the needs of employers and
businesses in the workforce area and to meet the employer measures established by TWC.
The BSU is comprised of both contractor and TWC employment services staff. The BSU team is dedicated
to the mission of helping employers and businesses reach their potential by facilitating and supporting their
needs. Extensive outreach to employers is performed to share information about our services. An integral
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