1 WBLP Regional Training Team Leadership Meeting January 26, 2010

2 Purpose of the Meeting Work together on Regional Training Team Strategies in preparation for the RFR for FY2012 and for implementation of enhanced regional training approaches in Summer 2011 and Program Year

3 Goals Managers and staff in youth employment programs will have a sense of “ what they need to know ” and how/where they can learn these things. Employers and youth will have access to opportunities to learn about using the WBLP and about how to develop and participate in high- quality work-based learning experiences. Thoughtful professional development/training strategies will result in high-quality youth employment programming. Managers and staff will have access to a menu of training to get started and to continually build skills.

4 Warm-up Exercise In small groups, look at the reports that you brought (about WBLP skills, job titles, skill gain). Based on what you see (from your own region or elsewhere): –List 2-3 things that you see that please you very much ; –List 2-3 things that you see that you would like to change or improve  ; –From this, list 3 or more important concepts or skills that you would like all staff in your region to know and apply.

5 Report Out [Report out from warm-up]

6 What are Regional Training Teams When the Work-Based Learning Plan was first launched, each region formed Regional Training Teams. Regions sponsor workshops and provide peer-to-peer training to support staff and employers in use of the WBLP. Regional training strategies are supported by workshops, conferences, networking meetings and materials provided by the state level. Each year, in the Connecting Activities RFR, regions describe the professional development planned by their regional training teams.

7 Why Refocus Now? Expanded use of the WBLP by a wide range of youth employment programs; Expanded availability of online resources (including the current set of online resources as well as potentially greater uses of online forums for training and professional development); Fewer statewide conferences; Transition to the Online WBL Database; Greater availability of statewide data with examples of job descriptions and skills used in jobs and internships. Many years of examples of best practices in youth employment programs; “Program maturity” for the WBLP and Connecting Activities – many new staff who were not involved with the original development and implementation.

8 Regional Training Team Strategies A regional training team strategy will define: Content Delivery Strategies Materials/Resources Team Membership Audiences Goals

9 Content What training topics can be provided or coordinated by regional training teams? –Specific to WBLP Programmatic – how to use the WBLP Technical – how to use the Online WBL Database –Broader topics in youth employment Working with youth - youth development; career development; job readiness. Working with employers - marketing; outreach; job placement; use of WBLP. Programming - Understanding program goals; planning and program design; collaborating with partners; creating regional, community or school-wide systems for youth employment and career development. Management - managing resources and data.

10 Delivery Strategies What delivery strategies do you use now? What other formats/forums are possible? –Workshops –Webinars –Conferences –Peer-to-peer –Self-guided –Online forums –Online reading –Print –PowerPoint (self-guided or in a workshop) – (weekly or Q&A) –Staff meetings (“training moment?”) –Other

11 Materials / Resources What is available? –Resource Pages: –PowerPoints: Intro to WBLP; Writing Job Descriptions and Skills/Tasks; Navigating the Online WBL Database; Registering and Signing In; Using the Placement Screen; Using the Reports Menu; Intro to WBLP for Youth. –Skills Pages Blog (WBLP Skills; Tech Tips) –Elearning series is in development –CommCorp: Career Readiness Curriculum, Youth Development Materials –DCS: MassCIS, Career Exploration Materials –Resource people: local/regional, state-level How/when to use these resources? –How are they used now? What other approaches would be helpful, such as weekly training moments? Weekly s? More formalized peer-to- peer or self-guided training? Etc.

12 Team Membership Who should be on the training team? –Should there be broad membership or a smaller core of experienced staff? –How to make sure that training team members have experience and expertise? –How to make sure that the training team has fresh ideas and input and connects with many stakeholders? –How to be sure to plan for continuity as managers and staff turn over? –Define roles of training team members…. Directly providing training? Planning and coordinating training? Etc.

13 Audiences Who are the potential audiences for training? –Staff in your region New and Experienced Staff Connecting Activities WIA Youth Program YouthWorks Other Programs –Employers –Youth –School Leaders –Community Leaders

14 Goals Based on this discussion and the goals stated at the beginning of the presentation … each region will work during the next few months to articulate a clear goal statement and a coherent strategy to support professional development.

15 Checklist Activity TopicsAudiencesFormat/MethodProvider(s) Notes (see checklist and background materials)Staff Employers Youth Schools/Organizations Workshops – Statewide Workshops - Regional Staff Meeting Presentations Webinars One-on-one training Reading – Print Reading – Online Reading – Weekly Topics Informal Learning Who will provide the training? In small groups, work on the chart to indicate your ideal regional training plan, including content, delivery strategy, audiences and providers.

16 Report Out and Next Steps [Report out from checklist activity]