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2019 Agenda

Thursday, March 28, 2019

8:00 a.m.

Registration // Main Lobby

9:00  to 9:15 a.m.

Welcome & Opening Comments // Northwoods Ballroom

Chris Hannan, AIWP Chair // Region 7 Waterloo 

9:15 to 10:00 a.m.

Opening Keynote // Northwoods Ballroom

Renewing Our Connection & Recharging Our Batteries 

Dr. Celina Peerman

Join this time together to plug in and recharge! Dr. Celina shares stories and tools from her own work as well as research best practices for all who give so much and help others overcome what often feels like endless barriers. You will reflect, study, laugh to stay positive, lift each other up, and continue to extend the very best you have to all those you serve. 

10:00 to 10:15 a.m.

Break

10:15 to 11:30 a.m.

Bridging Educational Opportunities and Employment Skills to Immigrants in the Workforce // Northwoods Ballroom

Shawn Story, Kirkwood Community College

In this presentation, participants will discuss the data trends of the immigrant population in Eastern Iowa and their employment. We will discuss the various educational backgrounds of English Learners in our communities. Subsequently, we will analyze the barriers to employment these immigrants are currently facing, thus, leading us to identifying solutions through bridging educational training from community college programs with workforce partnerships creating successful pathways to employment. We will look at Kirkwood’s partnerships with local business here in Iowa along with other examples from other institutions around the US.

The Iowa Department of Education’s Statewide Approach to Career Pathways // Green Acres

Joe Collins, Iowa Department of Education

Session participants will learn about the IDOE’s statewide approach to researching, developing, and releasing career pathways for some of Iowa’s most critical industries, such as advanced manufacturing, health science, and the building trades.

Disability Etiquette // Meadows

Kochell Weber-Ricklefs, Iowa Department for the Blind

It isn’t easy to always know what to say or how to say it. This workshop will encourage the conversations around etiquette and blindness. There will be discussion around several scenarios and audience participation on what was right, what was wrong, and what could be better. 

 

True Colors for Youth // Youth Track // John Deere

Mary Lefeber and Cindy Wetterlind, Iowa Western Workforce Development

What color am I? You can quickly and accurately identify your own temperament with this personality instrument. It will help you recognize, accept, and learn to value the differences in others. It is a tool to increase understanding, empathy and communication.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Lunch //  Northwoods Ballroom // Buffet Located in the South Lobby 

Ryan West, Iowa Workforce Development

12:30 to 12:45 p.m.

Break

12:45 to 2:00 p.m.

Measurable Skill Gains: Title I and Title II // Northwoods Ballroom

Charlene Nicoletto, Eastern Iowa Community College

In this session, participants will learn what measurable skills gains are and how they are measured in Title I and Title II.

 

Ticket to Work at the American Job Center //Green Acres

Kylie Murphy and Brenna Schaefer, Hawkeye Community College-IowaWORKS Cedar Valley

This workshop describes the benefit of the Ticket to Work Program and best practices for implementing it within the American Job Center.

 

Assisting Incarcerated Individuals Transition Back to the Community and into the Workforce/IDOC Apprenticeship Programs // Meadows

Jennifer Seil, Iowa Correctional Institute for Women, Dane Sulentic, Iowa Department of Corrections, and Terry Zmolek, Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility

This session will provide information on the services, skills, and apprenticeships incarcerated individuals are receiving while incarcerated and the assistance they receive to transition back into the community.

 

Quality Work-Based Learning  // Youth Track // John Deere

Kelli Diemer, Iowa Department of Education

What is work-based learning? This session will dive into the variety of work-based learning opportunities for our students and what makes these experiences quality.

2:00 to 2:15 p.m

Break

2:15 to 3:30 p.m.

lntersectionality: Understanding the Multiple Cultures of Every Job Seeker  // Northwoods Ballroom

Brian S. Dennis, Des Moines Area Community College, and Reyma McCoy-McDeid, Central Iowa Center for Independent Living

Intersectionality attempts to identify how interlocking systems of identity, culture, and power impact those from underserved populations and addresses the manner in which socio-economic status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability and gender become interwoven and impact the persons we serve. This presentation will provide an overview of terms and concepts related to intersectionality and how mindsets and biases impact individuals, especially as they enter the world of employment. The session will conclude with strategies for effective and open communication which can lead to an environment for openness and inclusion.

 

Uncuffed: Breaking Down Walls through Corrections & Rehabilitation Partnerships // Green Acres

Rachel Thompson 

Kelly Brousseau, IowaWORKS of Burlington, Lanae Greene, IowaWORKS Southeast Iowa, and Shannon Weaver, IowaWORKS Southeast Iowa

The learning goal of this lesson is to provide workforce professionals information and resources to assist individuals involved in the criminal justice system and/or substance abuse treatment.

Dislocated Worker Regional Best Practices Panel // Meadows

Janae Carter, Iowa Workforce Development, Maria Gapen, IowaWORKS Burlington, Nina Gotta, Iowa Workforce Development, Kelly Timmerman, IowaWORKS Burlington, and Michelle Vandenberg, Region 16 Keokuk

Session participants will discuss best practices in serving dislocated workers. Best practices are considered professional procedures that are accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective.

 

Title I Youth Best Practices Open Discussion // Youth Track // John Deere

Courtney Mullen, IowaWORKS Burlington

Participants will engage in a discussion of best practices, innovative ideas, and what’s new in Title I youth services.

3:30 to 3:45 p.m.

Treat Break

3:45 to 5:00 p.m.

Adult Regional Best Practices Open Discussion // Northwoods Ballroom

Jeff Chamberlin, IowaWORKS-Central Iowa

Participants are invited to attend this open discussion regarding adult services best practices, challenges, and innovations from across the state. 

 

Pathways to Success, Iowa’s Refugee Community, Economic Opportunities, and Barriers to Success // Green Acres

Zekariyas (Zack) Balcha and Grace Htee, EMBARC

Participants will understand refugee communities in Iowa and how the resettlement process impacts economic opportunities, learn about the economic impact of refugees in Iowa and on Iowa employers, build an understanding of barriers to entering or staying in the workforce through case studies, and learn promising practices and suggestions to engage and empower refugee communities.

 

TRADEtastrophe: How successful partnering can turn a catastrophe into clarity. // Meadows

Janae Carter, Iowa Workforce Development, Maria Gapen, IowaWORKS Burlington, Nina Gotta, Iowa Workforce Development, Kelly Timmerman, IowaWORKS Burlington, and Michelle Vandenberg, Region 16 Keokuk

This session will explore dual enrollment, case management of both Trade and WIOA programs, and coordination and communication between TRA/TAA (local level and in Des Moines). Local materials, spreadsheets, and more that have been created to keep us on track and to make the lists of needed items easier to understand and not so overwhelming will be shared.

 

Working with Youth Experiencing Substance Abuse & Mental Health Issues // Youth Track // John Deere

Teresa Larson-White, Children & Families of Iowa Fort Dodge
 

In this session, participants will learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of substance abuse and mental health disorders, learn how to develop a crisis plan for youth, and learn how to make referrals and involve parents, when necessary.

5:00 p.m.

AIWP Board Meeting // John Deere

Friday, March 29, 2019

7:30 a.m.

Registration Opens // Main Lobby

Breakfast Served // South Lobby

8:30 to 9:45 a.m

Panel Presentation: Successful Experiential Learning, Co-Enrollments and Training Partnerships // Northwoods Ballroom

Keri Kono, Hawkeye Community College

Are you interested in gaining insight from participants, employers, and case managers that have been involved in partnerships that have resulted in great success? If so, this is the session for you! Hawkeye Community College will highlight a panel of individuals that have firsthand experiences and can discuss the value of creating partnerships to best serve the participant. Case managers for WIOA Young Adult and the GAP/PACE programs will provide co-enrollment processes that led to experiential learning. Participants and employers will speak to their experiences within the partnerships and time will be provided for Q&A. Attendees will take home best practices and creative processes to better serve individuals and employers in their service area.

 

AEL and Workforce Development Collaboration for IELCE Success // Green Acres

Coretha Montouth, Hawkeye Community College

Participants in this session will learn of an underserved population that comes with a wealth of education, knowledge, and enthusiasm

 

Stop, Collaborate and Listen // Meadows

Maria Cortez, IowaWORKS, Joan Ebersold, Council Bluffs Community School District, Louis Fountain, Des Moines Public Schools, Jacob Kahn, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Maris Kingfisher, Iowa Western Community College, and Chris Nipper, Iowa School for the Deaf 

In this session, participants are provided an opportunity for personal and professional growth through developing perspective and empathy through cultural insight.

 

Job Corps: The answer to education and skills training. Careers begin here. // Youth Track // John Deere

Krista Tedrow, Ottumwa Job Corps 

After visiting Ottumwa Job Corps, Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta stated, “The Ottumwa Job Corps Center and [Indian Hills] have a great partnership to provide students the skills necessary to succeed in family-sustaining careers.” This workshop will explore how Job Corps is the answer to education and skills training for youth aged 16 to 24. We will talk about how youth can get what they need to be successful in the workforce including: a driver’s license, high school diploma, technical training, college degrees, independent living skills, social skills, and everything in between.

9:45 to 10:00 a.m.

Break

10:00 to 11:15 a.m.

Navigating Registered Apprenticeship // West Ballroom

Amy Beller, Iowa Workforce Development
 

Learn about what information is collected by interested businesses to develop a Registered Apprenticeship Program. This interactive Q and A session will answer your questions related to the step-by-step process on how to create a program.

 

Success with Business Community Sector Boards // Green Acres

Ron Axtell and Marla Loecke, IowaWORKS Region 1, and Dr. Wendy Mihm-Herold, Northeast Iowa Community College
 

Business Community Sector Boards provide critical and impactful connections between employers, educators, community developers, regional workforce development boards, and other stakeholders in our district. The objective of each sector board is to serve stakeholders through the exchange of information and implementation of workforce solutions, based on shared goals and human capital needs, leading to measurable results. Business Community Sector Boards support Future Ready Iowa, career and technical education, Project Lead the Way, Iowa’s Intermediary Network as well as other workforce and work-based learning initiatives in our district and across Iowa.

 

Workforce Partners Panel // Meadows

Andrea Feller, IowaWORKS Davenport, Mark Holloway, IowaWORKS Davenport, Charlene Nicoletto, Eastern Iowa Community College, and Paul Vogt, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Learn how Region 9 works together to meet the needs of those we work with. Title I, Title II, and Title IV will be represented.

 

Domestic Violence Awareness // Youth Track // John Deere

Lori Jensen, Children & Families of Iowa Des Moines

This workshop will provide information about domestic violence (DV) awareness including: an overview of CFI/DV services, DV advocacy, safety planning, healthy relationship education, DV warning signs, power and control, and stalking.

11:15 to 11:30 a.m.

Break

11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Closing Plenary // Northwoods Ballroom

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