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November 4, 2008    DOL Home > CFBCI > Access Points   

Access Points

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What are "Access Points"?

Through SHARE Network, a number of states have begun establishing Access Points in local faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs). Each FBCO that serves as an Access Point designates a volunteer or staff member to serve as a Point of Contact (POC) for the local One-Stop. The POCs are then trained by workforce system staff. The POCs help customers search for jobs using the Web-based job matching system and talent bank and make appropriate referrals to the One-Stop. POCs are also tasked with building closer working relationships with One-Stop staff to ensure that Access Point customers receive the full range of services they need to be job-ready. The POCs do not receive funding from the One-Stop system to provide Access Point services.

Why are SHARE Network states creating Access Points?

  1. Return on Investment — One-Stops are able to serve more people with fewer resources because the amount of time that Access Points spend serving customers far exceeds the amount of time it takes to train and keep in touch with each Access Point.
  2. Increase Reach — Access Points are often located in neighborhoods in which One-Stops are not easily accessible and are able to serve customers during times when the One-Stops are not open (weeknights and weekends). The Access Points are also capable of reaching demographic communities that traditionally don't utilize government services and customers who would not otherwise post resumes in the State's job matching system.
  3. Flexibility — Access Points can be used to increase the job-readiness of customers visiting the local One-Stop and/or to increase the number of alternative locations where jobseekers can access core services so that a direct One-Stop site visit is not always necessary. States can train Access Points to steer job-seekers into different service or employment options: general One-Stop visits, only measured One-Stop services (if eligible), or directly to potential job opportunities.
  4. Raise Awareness and Increase Access to the One-Stop System — States participating in SHARE Network believe that building relationships with FBCOs will increase a targeted community's knowledge, respect, and use of the One-Stop system and its Web-based tools. In particular, individuals who have the most barriers to self-sufficiency will be best served by these public-private partnerships.
  5. Access new worker pipelines for business partners and access to new business partners — At the same time that Access Points provide a services to jobseekers, they also help the One-Stop access new work pipelines for business. Some Access Points have also be successful in bringing new employer partnerships to the One-Stop.

How can my area replicate Access Points?

Based on the experiences both of the original pilot project and the 50 local areas currently working with Access Points, the U.S. Department of Labor SHARE Network team put together The Access Point Toolkit: Sharing How Access to Resources Empowers.

Your area can also receive special technical assistance in implementing Access Points from experienced SHARE Network Access Point trainers as well as network with peer agencies who are implementing Access Points in their community. Your can request to receive technical assistance in one of two ways. Technical assistance will be provided by individuals with extensive experience in assisting Access Point implementation.

  1. You can apply to be one of 20 new cities, regions or states to which the USDOL (through a TA provider) will give onsite training and implementation coaching to help create Access Point Networks!! Selected sites must see building Access Point network as part of their workforce system strategy and meet specific criteria, including committing to set up a minimum of 10 Access Points in their area.
  2. You can request technical assistance (generally via telephone and webinar) in utilizing the Access Point Toolkit: Sharing How Access to Resources Empowers. The TA provider will both give guidance and coaching based on other areas' implementation as well as connecting you with peers in other states implementing Access Points. You do not need to commit to a minimum number of Access Points to receive this guidance and coaching.

To find out more about Access Point Technical Assistance, please call Erica Pelman, 202 693 6451 or Rachel Ramirez (USDOL Contractor) at 714-374-1140.

Resources

  1. The Access Point Toolkit: Sharing How Access to Resources Empowers (PDF)
  2. Access Point Toolkit Appendices



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