ETA News Release: [July 21, 2004]
Contact Name: Lorette Post
Phone Number: 202-693-3984
Broward's Workforce One Takes Top Honors
Recognition of Excellence Awards Presented at Workforce Innovations 2004 Conference in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. - The Broward Workforce Development Board/Workforce One received the top Recognition of Excellence award in the Educating America's 21st Century Workforce category. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco presented the award at the Workforce Innovations 2004 Conference in San Antonio. This is the first time the awards, which recognize workforce investment system programs that have achieved outstanding success, have been presented.
"Getting large numbers of workers trained for good jobs in expanding industries requires much more than meeting federal benchmarks," said DeRocco. "Those programs that strive for innovative ways to train workers for jobs of the future; build strong coalitions among employers, education and economic development, and reach the hardest-to-serve populations deserve to be recognized and applauded for their accomplishments."
The Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) presents Recognition of Excellence awards in five categories. The "Educating America's 21st Century Workforce" category recognizes innovative and effective strategies to prepare workers for the challenges of a workplace that requires higher skills and more education.
Together with Broward Community College, Workforce One designed a three-pronged strategy to alleviate the shortage of nurses in Florida. The Registered Nurse (RN) Refresher Program targets unemployed RNs who want to return to work and working RNs who want to update their skills. A second component, the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - RN Transition Nursing Program, helps LPNs become RNs. Training curricula, developed with local hospitals and health care-related businesses, are computer-based for easy access and availability. The Nursing Career Exploration Program, the third piece of the strategy, interests high school students in the nursing profession through summer institutes and "shadowing" experiences.
Workforce One's goals of 550 participants in all three components, 150 of whom are youth, were achieved in May, two months prior to completion of the program. At that time, total enrollment was 593 with 193 young adults participating.
"We hope that these honors will throw a spotlight on what works so that others around the country will replicate successful projects, producing similar successful results," said DeRocco.
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