The United States Conference of Mayors passed a resolution supporting the implementation of workforce development programs for infrastructure projects in cities and towns across the country similar to the Austin Infrastructure Academy. It further resolves that these programs shall serve as a training hub contributing to community-based and union-based training programs designed to support real-time needs identified by both job creators and job seekers.
Category: Blog
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WFS Capital Area Joins Austin Community College to Celebrate Juneteenth
We celebrated Juneteenth at Austin Community College’s (ACC) Eastview Campus on Tuesday, June 18 along with hundreds of local residents. ACC’s African American Cultural Center hosted this annual event in partnership with other college offices and programs and Workforce Solutions Capital Area participated to share job search and training resources with the community. This annual event commemorates the announcement of the emancipation of slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865—two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s official Emancipation Proclamation. -
Changing Lanes CDL School Trains Austinites for a Future in Transportation
Changing Lanes CDL School, founded in June 2020 by Delbert Crawford, is a premier truck driving training institution located at 100 W Pflugerville Pkwy Ste 111, Pflugerville, TX. Dedicated to transforming ordinary individuals into professional truck drivers, we empower them to become local community builders through trucking. As a veteran and black-owned business, we take pride in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all our students.
Our comprehensive truck driving training program equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the transportation industry. We stand out as a third-party testing facility, allowing our students to bypass DPS testing and streamline the certification process. Additionally, we offer free endorsements with each class, ensuring our students are well-prepared for all facets of truck driving.
At Changing Lanes CDL School, our core values of Family, Excellence, and Opportunity guide everything we do. We believe in creating a supportive and nurturing environment where every student feels like part of our family. Our commitment to excellence ensures that our training programs are of the highest quality, preparing our students for successful careers. We are dedicated to providing opportunities for all, helping over 800 individuals earn their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) since our inception.
Our dedication to excellence was recognized when we won the 2022 Dream Starter Competition, receiving a $100,000 prize to further our mission. We believe in the power of trucking to build stronger communities and aim to continue making a significant difference in the lives of our students and the transportation industry as a whole.
Join us at Changing Lanes CDL School and take the first step towards a rewarding career in truck driving.
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Austin Infrastructure Academy secures funding from Texas Mutual and Google to begin design phase
Austin, Texas – On June 26, Workforce Solutions Capital Area announced that Texas Mutual Insurance Company and Google.org have made significant contributions to support the design of the Austin Infrastructure Academy. The contributions, $125,000 from Texas Mutual and $100,000 from Google.org, will fund the program design that will guide strategic direction for the Academy to meet its goal of connecting more local job seekers to career pathways in construction and operations.
The Academy will serve as a central hub that will integrate recruitment, comprehensive and unified training, and wraparound service support for job seekers in Austin’s growing mobility and infrastructure industry.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Texas Mutual and Google for contributing to the creation of this one-of-a-kind Academy for our community that will equip our workforce with the skills and education needed to secure quality careers in mobility and infrastructure,” Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, said. “Austin’s infrastructure workforce employs over 222,000 residents and is expected to grow by more than 80% by 2040, so the Academy is a critical component to help prepare the current and future infrastructure workforce to meet this high demand.”
The financial contributions made by large local employers Texas Mutual, which provides workers’ compensation insurance and is headquartered in Austin, and Google.org, which has several Austin-area offices employing local staff, will fund the creation of a strategic plan for the Academy, establish the budget forecast for the first five years, support the organizational capacity of Workforce Solutions Capital Area to serve as the hub and administrator of the Academy, and will develop the first two years of the Academy’s operation plan. Additionally, the funding will support the capacity to hire the initial Academy program staff.
“At Texas Mutual, we strongly believe in investing in the workforce of tomorrow,” Jeremiah Bentley, vice president of marketing and community affairs at Texas Mutual, said. “The Austin Infrastructure Academy represents a unique opportunity to empower individuals with the skills and support they need to build meaningful careers while contributing to the growth and vitality of our region. By collaborating with great partners, we can create a lasting impact that extends far beyond the construction site, and we look forward to seeing the transformative effect the Academy will have on the lives of countless Austinites.”
On March 7, 2024, the Austin City Council passed a resolution, brought forth by Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, to approve the establishment of a program to fund and support workforce development by launching the Academy. Since then, Austin Community College has announced its contribution to the creation of a physical location for the Academy at its Southeast Travis County campus.
“Google is committed to supporting initiatives that drive economic growth and create opportunities for local communities,” said Jim Anderson, vice president of North America Partner Ecosystem and Channels at Google Cloud and Google Austin’s site lead. “The Austin Infrastructure Academy will play a pivotal role to equip job seekers with the skills needed for successful careers in the mobility and infrastructure sectors. By investing in education and workforce development, we are helping build a stronger, more resilient future for Austin and its residents.”
For more information about the Austin Infrastructure Academy, please visit www.wfscapitalarea.com/about/industry-sector-partnerships/mobility-infrastructure/academy/.
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For Providers: Texas Workforce Commission launching a new case management system for the Child Care Services program
On July 1, 2024, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) will launch a new case management system for the Child Care Services (CCS) program—Texas Child Care Connections (TX3C). Below is more information about upcoming changes to policies and procedures resulting from the TX3C launch.
Transition Period
The system we use to manage parent and provider files will be unavailable starting at 6pm on Tuesday June 25 through June 30. There may be delays during the transition period in the following services:
- Processing new provider agreements/updates
- Payments
- We may not be able to answer questions regarding parent eligibility until after June 30
- Processing waitlist applications beginning June 14
New Statewide Application for Families
TX3C will include an online statewide application for parents who are applying to the Child Care Services (CCS) program. The application is web-based and mobile device–friendly. Be advised our local online waitlist application will be removed from our website on Monday June 17 and will be temporarily unavailable. The new Statewide application will be made available on our website on July 1. Workforce Solutions Capital Area CCS will continue to determine eligibility for CCS families, manage a waiting list, authorize services, and pay child care providers.
Improvements to Provider Payments
Beginning July 2024, providers will receive payment for authorized child care before care is provided (similar to private-paying families that pay tuition beforehand). Additional details regarding prospective payments:
- Payments will cover two-week periods, Monday-Sunday; you will be paid for the days that a child has been authorized to attend your program at the beginning of each two-week payment period.
- Payments for children enrolled during the 2nd week of the payment period will not be made in advance but will be paid on the next payment run, typically 1-3 weeks after service.
- The first two-week payment period beginning July 1 will be transitional, and payments may not be issued until July 5.
- The Texas Workforce Commission will issue a Statewide payment calendar. This calendar will detail each two-week payment period and the schedule for issuing provider payments for each cycle. We will share this calendar with you as soon as it is made available.
- If you receive an overpayment for a child whose authorization changes or ends during a period for which payment has already been made, we will adjust a future payment(s) to recover the overpayment.
- TX3C will determine each child’s age group based on the first day of the two-week billing cycle. In other words, if a child has a birthday that places them in the next age group, the change will not be applied until the beginning of the next pay period.
- TX3C will base the prospective payment on the provider’s location (Board area), rather than the child’s residence. The change will ensure that payments reflect the market rates and costs where the provider operates. In other words, child care providers in Travis County managed by Workforce Solutions Capital Area will be reimbursed based on Capital Area Board’s rates. This applies even if the child is referred by neighboring Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Board.
Parent Share of Cost
To align with the new two-week payment schedule, Parent Share of Cost (PSoC) will be recalculated to weekly fees. We will inform you of each family’s weekly PSoC amount, which will be converted from their current monthly rate, in the coming weeks.
Because the PSoC will appear as weekly deductions on your statement, collecting fees on a weekly or bi-weekly interval will help ensure your payments are accurate. This change will also affect our local non-pay reporting requirements that allow providers to be reimbursed for unpaid PSoC, when reported timely. We will notify you of the new reporting procedures in the coming weeks.
Child Attendance
CCS staff will use the new time and attendance features in TX3C to monitor attendance. In accordance with your agreement, you must ensure that parents record attendance directly in TX3C or through an approved child care management system (CMS) that uploads CCS attendance data to TX3C. Additionally, please make sure the new attendance system or CMS is accessible to parents so they can record attendance. More information about the attendance tracking system is available at https://tx3c.info.
Your payments are not affected by a child’s occasional absences—payment is based on the child care authorized. However, a child’s eligibility may be affected if they are not consistently attending.
Absence tracking will resume on July 1 and children with more than 40 total unexplained absences in a 12-month eligibility period risk the loss of their child care scholarship. Unexplained absences may include:
- Absence that is not due to a child’s documented chronic illness or disability, or to a court-ordered custody or visitation agreement; or
- Attendance not recorded by parent that cannot be explained, except if the attendance reporting system is not available through no fault of the parent or provider.
Child Transfers
Effective July 1, voluntary transfers of children between child care providers are not permitted until the start of the second pay period following the parent request, approximately 3-4 weeks after the request was submitted. Limited number of exceptions may be approved for reasons like valid health and safety concerns, court-ordered visitation, etc. Additional guidance will be forthcoming.
Expanded Age Groups
A new state law requires TWC to match age groups for provider payments with Child Care Regulation age groups and TX3C will support this change. You will be able to designate rates for more age groups, as demonstrated in the following table.
Rate Groups before July 1, 2024 New Rate Groups effective July 1, 2024 Infant: 0–17 months Infant-0: 0–11 months
Infant-1: 12–17 monthsToddler: 18 months–2 years Toddler-1: 18–23 months
Toddler-2: 2 yearsPreschool: 3–5 years Preschool-3: 3 years
Preschool-4: 4 years
Preschool-5: 5 yearsSchool Age: 6–*12 years School Age: 6–*12 years
(no changes for this age group)*Eligible child with disabilities may be served up until the age of 19 Please wait to initiate any changes to your rate agreement. We will request updated rates from providers in the coming months and will ensure all rate addendums are completed by the TWC deadline of October 1.
Stay up to date on the progress of this change by visiting our website at wfscapitalarea.com. CCS families have also been notified of these upcoming changes. To see a copy of the parent notification and learn more about the changes unique to families, please click here. If you have questions, you can contact us by e-mail at ccsproviderservices@wfscapitalarea.com or by phone at 512-597-7191, option 4.
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For Parents: Texas Workforce Commission launching a new case management system for the Child Care Services program
On July 1, 2024, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) will launch a new case management system for the Child Care Services (CCS) program—Texas Child Care Connections (TX3C). We will provide more information on how you access the new system within the next month. Workforce Solutions Capital Area CCS will continue to manage your CCS case, determine eligibility, and manage the local waiting list. Below is more information about upcoming changes to policies and procedures resulting from the TX3C launch.
Transition Period
The system we use to manage your case will be unavailable starting at 6pm on Tuesday June 25 through Sunday June 30. There may be some delays in the following services:
- We may not be able to answer questions about your case until after June 30.
- If your eligibility is due to be recertified around the suspension period, please make every effort to submit all your eligibility documents by June 20.
- Please submit any summer or back-to-school changes by June 20. This will help us to complete your case changes without delay.
- TX3C is scheduled to launch on July 1. Some services may be slower than usual as staff learn about the new system.
New Statewide Online Application for Families
TX3C will include an online statewide application for parents. This application will be used to apply for our waitlist or when recertifying for a new eligibility period in the CCS program. Our local online waitlist application will be removed starting Monday, June 17 and will remain temporarily unavailable. The new Statewide application will be made available on our website on July 1 and feature the following:
- A new statewide application for families
- Easy-to-use and works with mobile devices
- A common user experience for all Texans
Absence Tracking
Absence tracking will resume on July 1, and you will be responsible for complying with TWC’s attendance standards. Children with over 40 total unexplained absences in a 12-month eligibility period risk losing their scholarship. You are required to report your child’s attendance using the attendance reporting system located at your provider’s location or through the mobile app (if available for your provider).
Unexplained absences may include:
- Absence that is not due to a child’s documented chronic illness or disability, or to a court-ordered custody or visitation agreement; or
- Attendance not recorded by parent that cannot be explained, except if the attendance reporting system is not available through no fault of the parent or provider.
Absences due to a child’s documented chronic illness, disability, court-ordered visitation are not counted in the number of unexplained absences. Documentation must be submitted to support these types of absences.
Parent Share of Cost (PSoC)
Change to Weekly Rate
Effective July 1, your Parent Share of Cost (PSoC), also known as your parent fee, will be calculated on a per week basis. In the coming weeks, we will share the specific amount of your weekly fee. Your weekly fee will be calculated from your current monthly fee, ensuring that your total cost does not go up. Although CCS will be assigning you a weekly fee, please talk to your child care provider to determine how often they want to collect your fee.
New Calculation
TWC has approved a new way to calculate your Parent Share of Cost (PSoC). Your current PSoC will remain the same unless you report a change in income or family size. We will use the new calculation beginning with your next eligibility period. You may request a review of your PSoC before your recertification if you have experienced a change in income, family size, or have an extenuating financial situation.
What’s changing?
- The new sliding fee scale for PSoC will be statewide.
- If you relocate to another area of the state and transfer your care, your PSoC will remain the same.
- The new scale will also have more gradual increases for families with rising incomes.
Child Transfers
Starting July 1, child transfer requests will start at the second pay period following your request, approximately 3-4weeks after the request was submitted. A limited number of exceptions may be approved to transfer your child before the start of the second pay period for reasons like valid health and safety concerns, court-ordered visitation, etc.
To stay up to date on the progress of these changes, please visit our website at www.wfscapitalarea.com. If you have questions, you can contact us by e-mail at austinccs@wfscapitalarea.com or by phone at 512-597-7191.
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Central Texas Healthcare Partnership: Spotlight on Texas Tech University
Workforce Solutions Capital Area partners with many local healthcare employers to train and hire the workforce for this key local industry. One of our partners is Texas Tech University’s Accelerated BSN program, who hosted a Mental Health Stimulation Day in May.
“This year, we incorporated a brief Wellness Station into our Simulation Day. This station included activities which explored time management, test anxiety, sleep issues, and perfectionism,” Kara Moellenberg (MSN, CPNP, RN), Program Instructor and Austin Clinical Site Coordinator, said. “Students were able to listen to music, dim the lights and take some time to rest and reflect during this very busy semester of our program. It is important to remind students (and faculty) to take care of themselves!”
Texas Tech University is a member of the Central Texas Healthcare Partnership. The partnership was founded in early 2018 under the leadership of three Central Texas healthcare industry leaders: Baylor Scott & White Health, Ascension Seton, and St. David’s HealthCare. Learn more about how the CTHP is leading workforce development in the Central Texas healthcare industry.
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Tamara Atkinson named “I Am Austin Woman” at 2024 Woman’s Way Awards
Our CEO Tamara Atkinson was honored with the most prestigious award at the 9th Annual Woman’s Way Business Awards, presented by Austin Woman Magazine.
The award was judged not only on Tamara’s leadership over her career but also how she, with direction from our board members, have created a company with staying power and a plan to grow in the coming years. These milestones include:
- Launching the Hire Local Plan to: 1) increase skilled local talent while better defining the region’s capacity for training, 2) improve income for locals by creating an affordability index, and 3) grow payrolls for local businesses.
- Launching the Workforce Mobility Industry Sector Partnership (alongside Mayor Watson, Travis County Judge Brown and partners ATP and CapMetro) to supercharge the co-creation of an action plan to bring thousands more residents into mobility and infrastructure jobs in our region for the foreseeable future.
- Leveraging our proprietary boots on the ground intel and data-driven approach to analyzing how our region is growing, what workforce is needed to support that growth and how to bridge those gaps.
At a time of disruption and opportunity in workforce development, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, through Tamara’s leadership, are raising awareness of key industries, connecting students to post-secondary education, and training local workers for career advancement.
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Supporting Austin’s working parents at the Family Celebration & Resource Fair
Catch up quick: To celebrate the start of Week of the Young Child, we hosted our first-ever Family Celebration & Resource Fair with food, fun, and lots of resources for families on April 6!
Why it matters: Workforce Solutions Capital Area supports eligible families in Travis County with affordable, high-quality child care options with child care scholarships.
What happened: 63 families attended to learn about community resources, enjoy a story time reading with their children, practice CPR for infants and children, and more!
What they’re saying: We surveyed the families and 100% said they would attend next year!
- “Thank you for inviting us! “
- “This was a great event! We loved story time!”
- “I enjoyed myself as did my children.”
- “Everything was great, super informative and helpful and not painful experience either. Glad we came.”
- “It was awesome, informative!
Workforce Solutions Capital Area Child Care Services helps families and providers through scholarships to afford quality care, partnership to increase the quality of early childhood education, and support with job search and business services. Learn more about how we promote positive child outcomes.
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Workforce Solutions Capital Area joins City of Pflugerville for job training with a Community Development Block Grant
Exciting news for Texans in Pflugerville looking to gain new skills: Workforce Solutions Capital Area, the local workforce development board for Austin/Travis County, has received funding through a Community Development Block grant award from the City of Pflugerville to provide no-cost job training for eligible residents.
Program participants will train to earn required skills for in-demand occupations in industries quickly growing in Pflugerville, such as advanced manufacturing. Eligible participants must reside within the Pflugerville city limits and meet federal standards for low- to low-to-moderate income.
The Community Development Block Grant Program, led by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
WFS Capital Area will serve up to 20 Pflugerville residents through December with this funding. Pflugerville residents interested in participating can contact us to begin.