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Category: Newsroom
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Caring for Child Care Providers with Austin Public Health’s Support
For child care providers in Central Texas, providing quality care during a pandemic and a labor shortage makes for a twofold challenge as limited resources and rising costs impact care.
To support our providers, Workforce Solutions Capital Area and Austin Public Health hosted curbside pickup events for providers to receive at-home testing kits for COVID19 and gloves at no cost on March 4 and 5 at the Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center.
Over the two days, we distributed 6,840 boxes of gloves to 127 providers. Austin Public Health provided 5,130 testing kits for centers located in zip codes with the highest transmission rates. The 127 providers care for 7,981 children across Travis County.
One of the providers was Annie Sabetti, development director at Trinity Child Development Center. Her 11 staff provide care for 48 children.
“The cost of gloves and other supplies is a lot for us right now so we are always on the lookout for anything the community can give back to us,” Annie said.
“Our center provides affordable child care to families in East Austin. We have a lot of families receiving scholarships. We were about to order more gloves, so I was excited when I heard about this event,” said Annie.
For Sharon Knight, director of Tarrytown Children’s Center, rising costs related to staff turnover has become a challenge for her 12 staff to care for the 54 children at their center.
“I am thrilled that Workforce Solutions helped us out. Child care has been so difficult—last year, we went through 24 staff members,” Sharon said.
“Our extra expenses to hire and onboard staff have been phenomenal. The fact that Workforce Solutions helps us out with all of these supplies makes a huge difference in how we can serve our families,” said Sharon.
Tarrytown Children’s Center is a 4-star rated provider in the Texas Rising Star program, the highest rating available.
The Texas Rising Star program is for child care providers who meet quality requirements that exceed the state’s minimum licensing standards and that are designed to enhance the intellectual, physical, and social development of children in care. In return for their commitment to quality, providers receive numerous benefits including enhanced reimbursement rates, learning materials and equipment, child development college course scholarships, and more.
“I love having these guys as mentors and working with them,” Sharon said. “The work that TRS does to support the interactions between teachers and children, how they support us in providing a foundation for the children is absolutely critical.”
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is committed to supporting providers in Austin who care for the children of our region’s workforce. By providing care in a safe and nurturing environment, Austin’s child care providers are helping to develop a future workforce that is skilled and productive. Learn more about how we support child care providers.
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Workforce Solutions joins PfISD to connect students to career paths, post-secondary options, and employability
For Career and Technical Education (CTE) month, Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS) partnered with Pflugerville ISD and Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce on Thursday for the 10th annual Pflugerville R.E.A.L World event.
- R.E.A.L stands for Real Experiences Achieve Learning, if you’re curious.
The big picture: Juniors and seniors from all PfISD high schools were bussed to the event to meet and to network with representatives from industries that are in high demand, such as IT, construction, and robotics, to learn more about local companies, post-secondary opportunities, and apprenticeship programs.
- Students also got the chance to do in-person interviews for entry-level positions that these businesses are currently hiring for. Students Kathy and Hannah, both seniors at John B Connally High School, said they really liked this part of the event and found it informative.
How WFS helped: Amber Warne, our director of upskilling and advancement, served on a panel to discuss apprenticeship opportunities, and our career education and outreach specialists led workshops on resume writing, interview prep, and more.
- We also co-hosted the career fair component of the event to link students to local jobs.
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What we’re watching in 2022
Austin’s job growth proves we live in one of the most resilient economies in the nation. But, as is happening across the country, it’s a competitive market for workers.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s (WFS) main focus this year is the skills gap. In our analysis, the skills gap is one of the biggest contributors to the current labor shortage, along with the ongoing fear of COVID and the need for quality child care.
This is why WFS is here: to ensure there are more workers with the skills needed for quality jobs. We also work with local employers to help them hire, train, and retain skilled workers.
Over the last five years across all WFS local programs, clients experienced a total increase in earnings of $118 million after completing their programs. These higher earnings are made possible through newly acquired skills and supports like child care, transportation, and more to help bridge the gaps.
Here are a few areas WFS board members will be watching in the workforce as our economy continues to evolve rapidly…
Career pathways for students:
- Melanie Flowers, VP of business strategy and corporate partnerships at Nepris: “I am looking to continue building industry-focused partnerships with CTE pathways for students that want to go directly to work and for students that want to go directly to college.
- “I am also looking for innovative ways to collect and report current and real-time workforce data for the state and regions, including data on residents that move to the state.”
- Annette Tielle, DVISD superintendent: “Business partners and school districts need to work together to create curriculum for students for specific jobs. If students have opportunities to be adequately trained for a job, they will be more likely to pursue that job.
- “Secondly, many economically disadvantaged students need to work while in high school in order to support their families. If those students could enter paid internships/apprenticeships, then they could support their families while in high school, learn a trade, and pursue the trade post-graduation.”
- Joe Cooper, training director at Local 286: “I’m looking forward to pathways from high school to registered apprenticeship.”
Attracting interest in tech/manufacturing careers:
- Dave Parks, CEO at enChoice: “Technology is advancing much more quickly than companies can consume or leverage. This presents a huge challenge to businesses needing to change quickly or risk being automated out of business. I believe this opens opportunities for our younger workforce, who do not consider themselves technical but are driving these technology automation trends. They can become a part of the solution for the ‘modernize-or-die’ business dilemma because knowing old technology is not a prerequisite anymore.
- “I believe today’s younger generation will be able to absorb and provide benefit to tomorrow’s innovations if we can get them involved and trained without requiring college degrees.”
- Eddie Chien, senior director of human resources at Luminex: “One of the biggest issues we face is how to effectively attract prospective employees, especially with the cost of living in the region such a big concern.”
Remote work:
- Dave Parks, CEO at enChoice: “Technology jobs are more likely to provide remote work capability. [Remote work] opens up new opportunities to an expanded workforce, including those with travel to work challenges, children at home, and disabilities.”
- Michael Marler, vocational rehabilitation manager at Texas Workforce Solutions: “As a workforce representative of workers with disabilities, I am watching for increased and better-paying opportunities for virtual employment for well-qualified workers with disabilities who have physical challenges in a traditional work environment.
- “During the last two years, as much of the workforce has moved toward virtual employment, workers with disabilities have begun to experience an increase in opportunities for employment that they have not always had. We are also watching for increased opportunities for accessible training in high-demand areas that would benefit workers with disabilities.”
Bottom line: WFS is ensuring the region has more workers with skills, as well as higher wages for those who skill up and for those entering training at the lowest levels of income.
What’s next: To address skills gaps, equity gaps, and affordability concerns in our community, WFS is on the verge of launching the next phase of the Community Workforce Plan: Austin’s Hire Local Plan.
- Melanie Flowers, VP of business strategy and corporate partnerships at Nepris: “I am looking to continue building industry-focused partnerships with CTE pathways for students that want to go directly to work and for students that want to go directly to college.
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Workforce Solutions Capital Area Named One of the Best Places for Working Parents in 2022
Workforce Solutions Capital Area, the local workforce development board for Austin-Travis County, is excited to announce its 2022 recognition as one of the Best Places for Working Parents in Austin by Early Matters Greater Austin.
Best Places for Working Parents™ is a first-of-its-kind business self-assessment promoting research-backed policies that benefit both working parents and businesses’ bottom line.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area has supported early childhood success for many years and the pandemic has only made the need more acute. For that reason, we are proud to collaborate with Early Matters Greater Austin and invite you to become a part of this growing, national movement of business leaders that are proving family-friendly is business-friendly.
Through a short, confidential online self-assessment, businesses can see if they qualify for a Best Place for Working Parents™ designation and view how their company compares to other companies of similar size and industry. Qualifying businesses who take the assessment by February 18 will be promoted through local media outlets and receive unique branding opportunities. The online, self-assessment can be found here.
Why is this initiative important?
- 83% of millennials said they would or likely would leave their current job for another job with better family friendly workplace policies. Your company can be at the forefront of attracting and retaining top talent by earning this designation and showcasing your commitment to family-friendly policies.
- National research tells us that there is a serious business case to being family-friendly. More than 15 million U.S. workers have quit their jobs since April 2021, and 45% of those surveyed said needing to take care of family was a key factor in their decision. Offering family-friendly workplaces is a crucial component of getting Texans back to work, fueling our state’s economic engine.
- Our city thrives when children thrive because they are our future citizens, workforce, and leaders. Employers of every size and industry can play an important role in ensuring all children reach their full potential. Even though most employers are not directly involved in raising children, their support for family-friendly workplace practices is good for business and good for Austin.
About Early Matters Greater Austin
EMGA is an alliance of current and retired business professionals focused on the critical relationship between access to high-quality early education and our State’s long-term economic success. EMGA is dedicated to bringing the business voice to the table where appropriate to help ensure young children in Central Texas reach their full potential by entering kindergarten prepared to learn and succeed. To learn more or to get involved as a Best Place for Working Parents™, visit https://www.earlymattersgreateraustin.org/.
About Workforce Solutions Capital Area
Workforce Solutions Capital Area Workforce Board is the publicly-funded workforce board for Austin-Travis County. Through strong partnerships and strategic collaborations, we are leading the region’s workforce system in the development of a world-class workforce. To learn more about our services for job seekers, employers, parents, and children, please visit wfscapitalarea.com.
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Donating Cleaning and PPE Supplies to Care for Our Child Care Providers
Child care providers in Central Texas have struggled to obtain cleaning and protective supplies since the pandemic began in 2020. With limited resources, providing quality care becomes a challenge.
To support our providers, Workforce Solutions Capital Area and Austin Public Health hosted curbside pickup events for providers to receive cleaning and PPE supplies, at no cost on January 7 and 8 at the Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center. Over the two days, we distributed 24 pallets of supplies, including hand soap and sanitizer, gloves and paper towels, bath tissue and bleach, for 128 providers. These providers care for 6,821 children across Travis County.
Austin Public Health also provided bleach and hand sanitizer, as well as at-home testing kits for COVID19 for centers located in zip codes with the highest transmission rates.
One of the providers was Valerie Johnson, Director of Gethsemane Lutheran Children’s Ministry. Her center has 16 staff and cares for 90 children.
“I was excited when I heard about this event. I have to say,, PPE is really cutting into my budget because everything is so expensive, so having WFS do this for providers is awesome,” Valerie said.” It’s really great you have the funding to do this for us. It helps out a lot.”
WFS staff load supplies into a provider’s vehicle. With WFS Capital Area and Austin Public Health helping to meet her center’s high need for cleaning supplies, Gethsemane can now put their resources toward other needs.
“We go through gloves like water. We use sanitary wipes to sanitize our handrails, door knobs—the teachers are using them for everything,” Valerie said.
“This really helps us a lot because we can devote more monies on food or new toys, and helping the parents out if they need scholarship money to cover tuition if they are not working or in between jobs.”
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is committed to supporting providers in Austin who care for the children of our region’s workforce. By providing care in a safe and nurturing environment, Austin’s child care providers are helping to develop a future workforce that is skilled and productive. Learn more about how we support child care providers.
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Shelley Lefebvre Pays it Forward by Giving Back
Shelley Lefebvre’s background is in education: she taught English and History for the seventh and eighth grade for over ten years. In 2015, she moved to Austin. The next year, Shelley’s life fell into a spiral when she went through several serious events, including incarceration.
A criminal record is a large barrier to securing employment and housing, but Shelley did not give up. “My first contact with Workforce Solutions came about in a way that was unfortunate. I had gotten in some trouble and went through a treatment program,” Shelley said. “I was in a steady decline, then a steady progression, step-by-step —rebuilding after the storm.”
In early 2020, while at a sober living center, Shelley met Barbara Ornales of the Austin Area Urban League (AAUL), an affiliate of the National Urban League providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of Central Texans. Barbara spoke to the residents about services offered by AAUL.
Shelley saw an opportunity to overcome her barriers and entered AAUL’s Returning Citizens Advancement Program (RCAP). RCAP recruits and serves formerly incarcerated individuals—returning citizens—who have experienced exclusion and barriers to housing, education, and employment leading to an improved quality of life.
Shelley was working at the time but was laid off when the COVID-19 pandemic struck Austin. While in AAUL’s program, she learned about a new service offered by Workforce Solutions for residents impacted by the pandemic. Shelley had connected with Workforce Solutions in the past and AAUL was connected with them currently—it was a connection that was, in Shelley’s words, “a godsend.” She finally saw hope and possibility through this partnership.
Barbara Ornales and Shelley Lefebvre Staff at the East Career Center assisted Shelley in enrolling in the federal Disaster Relief Temporary Employment (DRTE) program. In 2020, Workforce Solutions began participating in this program, which assists residents who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic. DRTE provides dedicated funds to cities and states to help respond to the pandemic recovery effort. The funds help to offset payroll costs for organizations doing humanitarian work directly related to the pandemic, such as AAUL.
Shelley began working at AAUL temporarily through DRTE. Her background in teaching, lived experiences and drive to help others impressed her colleagues at AAUL, and she was hired as a Case Manager to assist other Central Texans experiencing the same events that Shelley experienced.
Her work focuses on assisting those who are facing personal, professional, and economic challenges by connecting them to services and employment. “I am privileged to serve clients who sit in the chairs I once sat in myself. I want them to know I understand, and it is my goal to be a light on path that is not easy, but certainly possible,” Shelley said.
Everyone that I have encountered at Workforce Solutions have been very encouraging and the staff at AAUL has created a space for us to thrive. I appreciate all their effort—it’s been a very positive experience for me.
“I am in a satellite office at Clean Investments, an outpatient program that I had to complete myself. All of the steps, hoops and hurdles that one has to go through to rebuild and thrive again can be lessened when the person before them comes back to help the ones coming up after. It is a blessing to walk through those doors each day and truly believe that If I can do it, so can they. And I didn’t do it alone and they don’t have to either! I am passionate about helping other people who need the services that I needed when I first started,” said Shelley.
Shelley also spends her time building relationships with Second Chance employers to assist her judicially involved clients with gainful employment. RCAP wants to see each client on a career path with a livable wage in a job that has potential for growth.
“We are building bridges today, not burning them down. We are blazing a trail and setting the example for the people behind us,” Shelley said. “We want them have better opportunities for employment, to understand their rights when searching for employment, as well as the responsibility to suit up and show up in a way that shines a positive light on their community.
“It’s a challenging job and can be very demanding, but I am super grateful for all the support, guidance and resources provided to me. Programs like RCAP and DRTE are game changers for many of us,” she said.
She added, “Everyone that I have encountered at Workforce Solutions have been very encouraging and the staff at AAUL has created a space for us to thrive. I appreciate all their effort—it’s been a very positive experience for me. I think about the Case Managers I had and I strive to listen, partner and encourage as well as they did.
For Shelley, the events shaping her life in 2020 and 2021 are miraculous: “To me, it’s a miracle. I made choices that changed my life and it takes time to climb out. The beauty and the miracle in that climb is to now be in a position to use that experience to help someone else who will undoubtedly experience many of the same barriers that I faced.”
How WFS Capital Area supports judicially-involved job seekers: We offer assistance to all kinds of job seekers, including returning citizens. Our supports include job training as well as job searching. If you are facing employment barriers due to a criminal history, contact your nearest career center for assistance securing your next job or enrolling in training for an in-demand occupation.
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Meet Jessica Camarillo, our Director of Technology Partnerships!
Technology is a growing industry in the Austin area. As more tech employers grow their presence and develop their workforce here, WFS Capital Area will be helping to build connections and opportunities for tech businesses and workers to be more productive.
Leading our efforts is Jessica Camarillo, our new Director of Technology Partnerships! We posed six questions to Jessica to get to know her better.
Are you part of Austin’s tech scene? Contact Jessica to explore how you and WFS Capital Area can work together: 512.799.3709 | Jessica.Camarillo@wfscapitalarea.com
Why did you apply for the Director of IT Partnerships role?
My passion is to support marginalized Austinites as they lead their families and communities out of poverty through ambition and dedicated work. With a projected 38,000 openings in the industry from 2021-2024, tech is full of opportunity for residents to gain life-changing employment.
I went from paycheck-to-paycheck to actively working toward creating generational wealth for my family thanks to my work in tech. I started my career in the industry almost three years ago as the Director of Marketing with the Austin Technology Council. In that role, I connected and built relationships with hundreds of tech leaders, never experiencing a dull moment with the group.
Knowing what the tech industry did for me and thoroughly enjoying the relationships I formed with tech leaders, I am eager to build a business-led program that will bridge the divide between businesses looking for amazing talent and the potential I see in traditionally disenfranchised Austinites. I can’t wait to connect with innovative leaders to build a diverse talent pipeline for years to come.
How was your first week at Workforce Solutions Capital Area?
My first week was fantastic. I really enjoyed meeting my new colleagues and am vigorously absorbing as much as I can to set a strong foundation for the program’s success. It’s like the first day of school! I’m a nerd and loved school.
Where are you from originally?
El Chuco! Or, in laymen’s terms: El Paso, Texas. Lower Valley ‘til I die.
Do you have any pets?
I have two perr-hijos (aka fur babies). Eleven, a two-year-old Lab mix, and Daxter, a seven-year-old Jack Russell Terrier mix. There’s a lot of crazy energy at my house.
What new things have you added to your life during COVID?
I started dancing with Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklorico group. I had to find something to get me out of the house and keep me sane. It’s been a great experience. Our next performance is in December at the Austin ISD Performance Arts Center. Come enjoy the show!
Post-COVID, what are you most excited to do?
I can’t wait to start up family get-togethers and birthday parties more regularly. Like everyone else, I have severe decision fatigue when it comes to events, so it would be nice to plan without pausing to think about all the steps we need to take to have a COVID-free good time.
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Texas’ extended unemployment benefits for jobless Texans will end in September
Texas will soon stop paying State Extended Benefits (EB) because of a decline in the state’s unemployment rate, announced by Texas Workforce Commission last week.
With the end of Extended Benefits, all enhanced unemployment benefit programs are no longer available for jobless Texans.
The state typically gives unemployed Texans 26 weeks of assistance, but high unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic triggered EB, which provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits during periods of high state or national unemployment.
For EB to trigger, the state’s three-month average unemployment rate needs to be above 6.5%. The last of the extended assistance will be given through the week ending Sept. 11.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area will continue its work to support and connect local people to local jobs. We will continue to offer services to assist individuals in finding employment and their training needs, and will provide additional information to persons needing job assistance.
Continued supports and services we offer for businesses and job seekers include:
- Virtual hiring events
- Posting and promoting available jobs through Jobs Now and WorkinTexas.com
- Scholarships for child care
- Scholarships for job training programs
- Individually working with each employer to fill job orders
- Highlighting employers on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube) who are hiring, offering sign on bonuses and wage increases, and more
- Offering financial incentives to businesses to grow their talent on the job
Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s three career centers across Austin are available by phone, email, or in-person to serve residents and businesses impacted by economic changes caused by COVID-19.
Residents seeking assistance can contact us at 512.549.4967 or visit wfscapitalarea.com to learn about our many other services and resources for job seekers, employers, parents, and students.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area Workforce Board is the publicly-funded workforce board for Austin-Travis County. Through strong partnerships and strategic collaborations, Workforce Solutions is leading our region’s workforce system in the development of a world-class workforce.
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Workforce Solutions Capital Area and Austin Public Health Support Travis County’s Child Care Providers with PPE Donations
The ongoing COVID-19 Delta variant surge reminds us of the importance of creating safe and nurturing spaces for the children of working parents in Austin becomes more apparent. Across Travis County, many providers seek to continue offering care but have limited resources to do so.
To support them, Workforce Solutions Capital Area joined Austin Public Health to host curbside pickup events for providers to receive cleaning and PPE supplies, as well as resources for the City of Austin’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, at no cost on August 19 and 20 at the Mexican American Cultural Center in Austin.
Shannon Eastman is the Child Development Center Coordinator at Eanes ISD’s two child development centers. The district’s 38 child care staff care for 128 children at its central location and 40 at the Barton Creek center.
“We definitely still need all the supplies. Gloves have been back ordered, and we just sit and wait, and wait, and wait for gloves,” Shannon said. “We have really struggled with getting gloves for the centers. Some of the pieces have been really hard to get ahold of.”
Diana Flores is the Community Engagement Coordinator for the City of Austin’s WIC program.
“WIC helps pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children from newborns to age of 5. We provide nutrition education, breastfeeding education and food benefits every month,” Diana said. “Right now, we are here to provide WIC incentives and information on how to enroll in the program for child care centers.”
Diana added, “I talked with some providers and they said they are really appreciative of what we are doing here today. This information is helpful because they get a lot of questions about how to enroll in the program.”
Over the two days, 70 providers picked up pallets of supplies, including hand soap and sanitizer, gloves and paper towels, bath tissue and bleach. These providers care for 4,074 children across Travis County.
“This is a huge undertaking that the Child Care Services staff do for us. Not only is it so helpful to have these PPE, but they have continued to be our backbone. I am really thankful for everyone at CCS,” said Shannon.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is committed to supporting providers in Austin who care for the children of our region’s workforce. By providing care in a safe and nurturing environment, Austin’s child care providers are helping to develop a future workforce that is skilled and productive. Learn more about how we support child care providers on our website.
