Prisoner Reentry: Toolkits, Partnerships, Mentoring Guides and Other Resources
Each year more than 650,000 men and women are released from federal and state prisons, and return to their communities and families. To aid community leaders and law enforcement officials, the United States Department of Labor''s Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives has recently announced this compilation of prisoner reentry materials.

Prisoner Reentry Toolkit -- This toolkit is a guide for faith-based or community organization interested in establishing or enhancing their prisoner reentry program. This document covers a variety of topics, such as recruiting, case management, job placement, mentoring. Available for download at www.dol.gov/cfbci/pritoolkit.pdf.

Mentoring Ex-Prisoners: A Guide for Prisoner Reentry Programs -- This manual provides guidelines and recommendations intended to address the challenges and to increase the benefits of mentoring adult ex-prisoners as part of their involvement in reentry programs. Available for download at www.dol.gov/cfbci/20071101Mentoring.pdf.

Reentry Partnerships: A Guide for States & Faith-Based and Community Organizations -- Reentry Partnerships is written for state government officials and representatives of faith-based and community organizations who want to create and sustain collaborative efforts to reduce recidivism and to help people returning to the community from prisons or jails lead productive and law-abiding lives. Available for download at www.dol.gov/cfbci/20081218.pdf.

Ready4Work -- This promising practices guide examines the early implementation of Ready4Work and reports on the best emerging practices in four key program areas. Available for download at www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/198_publication.pdf.

Other Prisoner Re-entry Resources: www.dol.gov/cfbci/pri-resources.htm provides a list of documents, programs and resources that may be useful in learning more about prisoner re-entry programs and how faith-based and community organizations are active partners in the re-entry process. This information includes other agency efforts and programs, training, and technical assistance opportunities and publications.

For questions on these resources or other reentry-related questions, please contact the Office of Youth Services at 202-693-3030.

Secretary's Order 3-09: Delegation of Authority and Assignment of Responsibility to the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training
The January 14, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER the text of Secretary's Order 3-09 regarding the "Delegation of Authority and Assignment of Responsibility to the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training."

This Order which repeals and supersedes Secretary's Order 3-2007, updates the roles and responsibilities of the ASET to include responsibility for determining whether a recipient of a grant awarded or administered by the Employment and Training Administration is entitled, pursuant to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, to an exemption from a religious non-discrimination provision of a statute or regulation enforced by the Department.

Also see:

Department Releases Guidance Clarifying the Effect of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on Faith Based Organizations

NAWB Forum to Focus on Partners at Work -- Coming Together & Creating Solutions for Success in a Global Economy; Event Scheduled for Washington D.C. (March 7 - 10)
The National Association of Workforce Boards annual Forum will be held in Washington D.C. on March 7 - 10, 2009. The Forum organizers note:

The Forum is NAWB's signature event, attracting nearly 2,000 business leaders and workforce professionals from across the nation. This year's theme is Partners at Work - Coming Together & Creating Solutions for Success in a Global Economy.

At Forum 2009 our message is simple -- workforce boards, economic development organizations, education providers, and community and faith-based organizations must become partners at work to face new realities. We must come together and create solutions for a globally-competitive, knowledge-based economy, where new technologies are creating rapid and continuous change, future jobs will require higher-skilled workers and higher education, and lifelong learning will be essential to prepare future workers for jobs that don't even exist today.

Join us this year as we take a special look back and celebrate 30 years supporting the workforce industry!

Forum 2009 will offer many opportunities to participate in a peer-to-peer learning environment where workforce, education, economic development, business leaders, and others will come together as partners at work to turn today's workforce challenges into long-term opportunities.

Conference Details / Registration / Agenda / Program Speakers

Special Sunday Clinic: Using the Social Web to Lead and Convene - Virtual Tools for Workforce Boards

ETA Publishes WIA State Formula Spending Reports
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has published the latest quarterly spending reports for Workforce Investment Act programs (Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth). These data reflect "State Formula Spending for Program Year 2007 as of June 30, 2008 Reports (as of November 14, 2008)."

WIA Quarterly State Spending Reports Webpage

Department Announces Digital "Snapshot" Project to Archive Web Content
The Department of Labor has anounced that it will launch an online digital library to archive its Web sites under a contract with the San Francisco-based Internet Archive.

Through an on-demand system, the Web Snapshot Initiative was designed to capture the content of all departmental Web sites for historical purposes - thus documenting the department's missions, goals and programs on the site as of mid-January 2009.

The project, which commenced during the first week of January 2009, will archive complete working copies of approximately five million Labor Department Web site documents that will be made available to the public through the department's main Web site at www.dol.gov/Archive and through the Wirtz Labor Library collection at www.library.dol.gov. Copies of the documents will be stored to help meet the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) records management requirements. Archived documents will be available for viewing no later than Jan. 23.

More ...

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2009 LED Partnership Annual Workshop Scheduled for March 5 - 6 in Washington, D.C.
The Census Bureau has announced that the 2008 Local Employment Dynamics (LED) Annual Workshop will be held at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D..C on March 5 - 6, 2009.

The Workshop is open to workforce and economic developers, transportation planners, emergency managers, researchers, federal and state agencies, and the public.

Background / Invitation / Registration / Tentative Agenda / Submission Forms

New Ideas in Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Workforce Education Conference Issues Call for Presentations
The third national New Ideas in Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Workforce Education Conference will be held November 18 - 20, 2009 in Albany, New York.

The conference's main sponsor is the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. It is organized by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council in collaboration with the Partnership for Environmental Technology Education, Hudson Valley Community College and Lane Community College.

The conference organizers note:

This national conference will offer the most current information on instructional strategies, curricula development and best practices for training in the renewable energy and energy efficiency fields. Since our first conference in 2006, the transition to a green economy is underway but a strong and well-trained workforce is essential for these rapidly growing clean energy markets. Share your programs and projects with educators, trainers, government officials and industry from around the country.

The conference organizers are particularly interested in presentations and posters covering the following topics:

• Career Ladders and Lattices for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
• Course Delivery - On Line or On Site
• Credit and Non Credit Training Programs
• Defining Green Jobs - Occupational Classifications
• Developing Curricula
• Developing Partnerships with Industry, Government, or other Training Providers
• Effective Approaches & New Models for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Training
  (Anaerobic Digesters Training, Geothermal Training, Solar Energy Training, Wind Training)
• Energy Management and Residential and Commercial Energy Efficiency Training Programs
• Funding Training Programs
• Hands-On Laboratories
• Industry-Sponsored Training
• Internship Programs
• Job Forecasts for the Renewable Energy or Energy Efficiency Industries
• Labor & Apprenticeship Renewable Energy Training Programs
• Policy Impacts on Jobs
• Quality Assessment - Certificate, Certification and Accreditation Programs for Practitioners and Training
• Sector Strategies
• State and Federal Programs Supporting Practitioner Training
• Training for the Future (for example, Rebuilding the Utility Grid, Smart Grids)

FBI Announces Hiring Plans for 2,100+ Professionals
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced it is looking for 2,100 professional staff employees and 850 special agents to fill a variety of mission-critical roles.

The positions are located throughout the nation - in virtually every FBI field office and at the Bureau's Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Only U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.

Besides those skilled in computers and foreign languages, the FBI has outlined the following desired backgrounds and expertise:

• Finance and accounting
• Security
• Intelligence analysis
• Compliance and quality assurance
• Training and education
• Records management
• Fingerprint examination
• Information technology
• Nursing and counseling
• Physical surveillance
• Electrical engineering
• Physical/natural/social sciences
• Administrative/clerical processes
• Automotive mechanics
• Management/program analysis

FBI Announcement

FBI Jobs Website

Department of Education Seeks Revision of Reporting Governing Approval of State Processes for Assessments Used to Measure a Student Skills and Abilities
The Department of Education announced today it is seeking a revision of the reporting requirements governing the approval of State processes for assessments used to measure a student's skills and abilities, as well as private test publisher submissions for approval by the Secretary and the administration of tests that may be used to determine a student's eligibility for assistance for the Title IV student financial assistance programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The Secretary of Education publishes a list of approved tests which can be used to establish the ability to benefit for a student who does not have a high school diploma or its equivalent for Title IV, HEA eligibility purposes.

Comments are due by February 5, 2009.

Click here for full background and instructions for the submission of comments.

Treasury, FDIC and Federal Reserve System Publish "Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment"
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury; the Office of Thrift Supervision, Treasury; the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have published today the Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment which were originally proposed on July 11, 2007.

The organizations note:

In response to comments received, the agencies clarified several of the new and revised questions and answers that were proposed and are withdrawing the proposed revisions to an existing question and answer. Also, in response to comments we received, the agencies are proposing a new question and answer that would provide examples of how an institution can determine that community services it provides are targeted to low- and moderate-income individuals. The agencies are also proposing to revise two existing questions and answers to allow pro rata consideration in certain circumstances for an activity that provides affordable housing targeted to low-or moderate-income individuals.

The effective date of amended Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment is January 6, 2009. The offices quest that comments on the proposed questions and answers be submitted on or before March 9, 2009.

Click here for access to the Questions and Answers.

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ETA Seeks Comment on Proposed Extension of the O*NET Data Collection Program
The O*NET Data Collection Program yields detailed characteristics of occupations and skills for over 800 occupations by obtaining information from job incumbents/occupational specialists on worker and job characteristics to populate the O*NET (Occupational Information Network) database. The O*NET database information is used for a wide range of purposes related to career counseling and development, curriculum design, human resources functions and workforce investment efforts. The data collection methodology includes contacting businesses/associations to gain their cooperation, and collecting information from employees of cooperating businesses/associations as well as occupational specialists.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA)is seeking an extension (without change) of the O*NET Data Collection Program.

The December 31, 2008 FEDERAL REGISTER provides the "thirty-day" notice regarding this collection.

The "sixty-day" notice was published in the May 16, 2008 FEDERAL REGISTER.

O*NET Online

O*NET Resource Center

O*NET Code Connector

Department of Defense Solicits Proposals to Provide Economic Indicators to Identified Impacted Locations Engaged in Defense Economic Adjustment
The Office of Economic Adjustment within the Department of Defense is currently soliciting proposals that will result in one or more cooperative agreements to provide economic indicators on a recurring basis to certain Defense-impacted locations engaged in defense economic adjustment.

OEA currently works with communities/regions experiencing base closure, realignment, and mission growth. Implementation of a community's plan to redevelop surplus property (base closure) or address public requirements associated with mission growth may be impacted by changing economic conditions, including, but not limited to, declining home values, rising unemployment, labor surplus areas, declining tax revenue, and housing/business starts.

OEA is specifically seeking proposals to provide information to its program customer base on:

• adjusted monthly economic data for regions hosting identified military installations
• a national baseline for identified economic indicators.

Eligible respondents include any State or local government or private entity.

OEA will hold a pre-proposal teleconference on Tuesday, January 27, at 3 p.m. EST in which all interested respondents are invited to participate.

A completed proposal must be received by OEA no later than February 28, 2009.

The December 31, 2008 FEDERAL REGISTER provides full background, outlines the application requirements and review criteria, and furnishes a listing of military installations where regional economic data is sought.

HUD Publishes FY 2009 NOFA for Discretionary Programs, Outlines Policy Requirements; USDA Announces Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program Funding Opportunity
HUD Announcement The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has provided prospective applicants for competitive funding with an opportunity to become familiar with the General Section of HUD's FY 2008 NOFAs for discretionary programs. HUD notes that it plans to publish its NOFAs as they are approved for publication and not in a combined SuperNOFA.

The December 29, 2009 FEDERAL REGISTER provides full details. The workforce community should note specific HUD references to job training for veterans and the homeless.

USDA Announcement

The primary objective of the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program is to promote rural economic development and job creation projects. Assistance provided to rural areas, as defined, under this program may include business startup costs, business expansion, business incubators, technical assistance feasibility studies, advanced telecommunications services and computer networks for medical, educational, and job training services and community facilities projects for economic development.

The Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service has announced it is seeking applications for loans and grants for FY 2009 funding.

The December 29 2008 FEDERAL REGISTER provides full background, application requirements and deadlines, and pertinent contact information.

OnTheMap: Updated Version Provides Simplified Interface to Generate Map Overlays and Tabular Reports, Speeds Access to Employment Information; UN to Feature Application as "Innovation in Data Dissemination"

The Census Bureau has recently released OnTheMap Version 3.2.1. This Version introduces OnTheMap Direct, a simplified interface to generate map overlays and tabular reports with just one click of the mouse! Users can rapidly access employment data for their area of interest without performing the more advanced multi-step process found in the full version of OnTheMap. Options for selecting county, workplace or residential area, labor market segment, and analysis type are provided. Version 3.2.1 also includes updated Help documents.

OnTheMap is also supported by the Employment and Training Administration and the state partners under the Local Employment Dynamics partnership with the Census Bureau.

OnTheMap Version 3 can be accessed by selecting "Local Employment Dynamics" at http://www.census.gov and then OnTheMap under Quick Links, or directly at http://lehd.did.census.gov.

The Census Bureau also notes that United Nations (UN) will host a seminar on "Innovations in Official Statistics" in New York City, New York, on Friday, February 20, 2009. The seminar is part of a series dedicated to topics of great relevance for the global statistical community before the UN Statistical Commission session.

OnTheMap has been selected and will be featured as one of four contributed papers on U.S. statistical innovations. The 9-page paper, titled "OnTheMap - An Innovative Mapping and Reporting Tool" is located at http://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/statcom_09/seminars/innovation/Innovation%20Seminar/USA-OntheMap.pdf.

Mr. Thomas Mesenbourg, Deputy Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, will serve as a panelist in Session III of the Seminar, "Innovation in Data Dissemination."

For more information on the seminar, please click here.

Competency Models: ETA and Automation Federation Announce New Automation Model; Agency Publishes a Review of Related Literature
The Automation Federation and the Employment and Training Administration are working to develop the Automation Competency Model, which, when completed, will be a formal federal document defining the skills and competencies needed in the automation field. The Automation Federation approached ETA requesting a collaborative effort to develop a competency model for the automation professions. ETA conducted initial research and analysis, drafted a model based on the Building Blocks Model, and facilitated several sessions to obtain industry feedback and input to refine and expand the model.

ETA has also announced the release and availability of the paper -- Competency Models: A Review of the Literature and the Role of the Employment and Training Administration (ETA).

The paper discusses the relevant literature on the use of competency models for business and workforce needs, and the challenges presented when using competency models for employee selection and appraisal functions.

The paper also describes the investments ETA has made in various competency-based work, such as developing the Competency Model Clearinghouse, providing assistance to high growth industries for developing competency model frameworks, and testing a demonstration project that is providing competency-based training to prospective rural math and science teachers through Western Governors University, a distance education provider.

Training and Employment Notice 23-08 provides a synopsis of the paper.

Access to paper

Also see:

Advanced Manufacturing Competency Model

Aerospace Competency Model

Energy/Generation, Transmission and Distribution Competency Model

Financial Services Competency Model

Hospitality/Hotel and Lodging Competency Model

Information Technology Competency Model

Retail Competency Model

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