Department of Workforce Development

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Thursday, July 29, 1999 Governor Tommy G. Thompson Secretary Linda Stewart

News Media Contact Heidi Kafura 608/264-6811 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

WISCONSIN JOB CENTERS SHARE BEST PRACTICES

MADISON—The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today announced that it has created The Best Practices and Technical Assistance Guide, a collection of state and local practices that have placed Wisconsin at the forefront of the Job Center movement.

The guide provides helpful tips for the state’s 77 job centers to duplicate the very best and most successful ways to build partnerships with local communities and to help customers find the best jobs available.

DWD created the 200-page guide from information submitted by the state’s job centers.  The guide includes activities that have helped the state build a solid foundation for its job center system and best practices created by the local leaders and service providers.

Today, Wisconsin has an established Job Center system with 77 current locations, accounting for one-third of the nation’s total job centers.  Core Job Center partners include Job Service, Private Industry Councils/Workforce Development Boards, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Wisconsin Works (W-2) and the Wisconsin Technical College System.

DWD Secretary Linda Stewart said Wisconsin’s citizens benefit from a comprehensive and coordinated approach to workforce development services.

"One reason Wisconsin’s job center network is so successful is because we share information on what works best," said DWD Secretary Linda Stewart.  "By sharing the best practices, we are continuing to discover more efficient and effective models to provide services to our customers."

Secretary Stewart said that in today’s tight labor market, the success of the job center services is dependent on their ability to serve the changing diverse make-up in the local area.

Among the best practices identified in the guide, Job Centers are exploring solutions to become more accessible to people with disabilities and offering programs in alternative language formats.  In addition, the job centers are offering specialized programs to meet the needs of diverse populations.  These programs include workshops aimed at older workers, English as a Second Language, employer sponsored job fairs and staff training to facilitate serving diverse populations.

The Best Practices and Technical Assistance Guide will be available later this summer on the DWD website at http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/dwepfe/tag/taghome.htm.

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