Building Networks of FBCOs

Printer-Friendly Version

In June 2005, the USDOL CFBCI chose Seedco, Inc., a workforce intermediary, to lead Project Reach Out, based upon Seeco’s experience with performance-based management of networks of faith-based and community service providers under Welfare-to-Work and as a Manhattan One-Stop Operator.

Under Project Reach Out, Seedco is working with five Workforce Boards across the country to help them build networks of faith-based and community organizations to improve the effectiveness of One-Stop Career Center services with "hard-to-serve" populations. The Workforce Boards include: Northwest Indiana Workforce Board (Center for Workforce Innovations); Nashville, TN; Snohomish County, WA; Brevard, Florida; and Newark, New Jersey. Each project is different and catered to the specific needs of the area, but many common themes have emerged.

SNAPSHOT OF PROJECT REACH OUT WORKFORCE BOARD

Newark WIB

In Newark, New Jersey, the Workforce Board and the One-Stop decided they wanted to build partnerships so they could better serve the ex-offenders, General Assistance, and welfare recipients who were coming through the One-Stop and not successfully reaching and retaining employment. Through work with Seedco, Newark leaders created a focus group, provided a presentation and survey of FBCOs o to find out what services from the One-Stop they would want to utilize and what services could offer to One-Stop clients. They were surprised to find out how little the community and faith groups who attended the focus group knew about and worked with the One-Stop system. But they were also delighted to find out the great desire of FBCOs to partner.

The Newark WIB created a "Request for Partners" application to solicit organizations that would want to collaborate through mutual referrals. To their surprise, they received more than twenty applications- even though no money was being offered! In January 2007, the WIB choose six partners from the twenty applicants and has begun monthly meetings to build relationships and track referrals. The Newark staff were also invigorated by the energy that the faith-based and community organizations brought to the project. Newark WIB will be tracking the referrals to see how they can contribute to One-Stop outcomes.

Newark Resources: Focus Group Presentation; Focus Group Survey; Request for Partners Application.