Workforce Development

1
Workforce Development

• July 2005

2
Context

• The Plan for Transformation
• Redevelopment of isolated housing structures into
  integrated neighborhoods
• Re-integration of the population into the fabric
  of the city

3
Partners
4
Families with OpportunitiesTotal number of
households 12,606
5
The Goal for Families

• Achieving self-sufficiency
• This means families will have income and benefits
  sufficient to reduce their dependency on public
  housing and other government subsidies.

6
Results for Families

• Families are stable
• Traditional case management work links to
  education, child care, mental health, medical and
  substance abuse treatment, etc.
• Families have more household income
• Measures increases in the array of assets coming
  into a home, including employment, work supports,
  etc
• Families have more housing choices
• Includes lease compliance, household budgeting,
  housing quality standards, etc.
• Families are involved in their communities
• Focuses on families becoming more connection to
  local churches, block clubs, and other
  neighborhood activities.

7
Tracking Our Success

• Participation rates
• Employment Placements
• Service Referrals
• Status during Move-In
• Customer Satisfaction
• Data exchanges with The Chicago Public Schools
  and the Illinois Dept. of Employment Security

8
Workforce Development

• Education and Job Training for individuals who
  are motivated to work
• Employers who are prepared to make civic
  commitments to the Plan for Transformation
• A Quality Match between an employers needs and a
  residents interests
• Support over time for retention and career
  trajectories

9
Lessons Learned
10
Education Levels Among Adults
Education Levels among 2004 Service Connector
Clients, Source Service Connector
11
Literacy Among Adults
12
Children in CHA Households

• 59 of households have children living in them
• On average, those households have three children
  in them (2.7).
• 15 of households have four or more children.

13
CHA Elementary School ChildrenRates of Failure
on Basic Reading Tests
14
CHA Youth in Public Schools
15
Barriers to employment

• Literacy low levels among residents are a
  profound barrier to employment
• Skills Entry level positions in the global
  economy often require a skills set that exceeds
  that of many residents
• Work History a critical mass of residents have
  little or no work history
• Motivation years of isolation in under-employed
  communities had a negative impact on motivation
  to work

16
Individualized Approach

• Leveraging the whole population vs. a tiered
  approach to current needs
• Employment trajectories for those who are
  employed
• Consistent employment for those who are
  sporadically employed
• Employment skills for those with little or no
  work history
• Inventory of interest level in job opportunities
  based on market availability

17
Support skills and life experience

• Soft interview and job preparation
• Resume writing
• Interview skills
• Acceptable attire
• Professional behavior
• Retention Support
• Early warning systems for newly employees
• Regular follow up with newly employed residents

18
Remaining Questions