5/12/2009 - Astoria Site Visit.
Field learning experience in Astoria.
Had a site visit today to the Astoria One-Stop employment center.
Too little time! I really only got a chance to talk with Chris, the MIS Specialist (Management Information System). She was very informative. We went over a few of the resources available to a person coming in seeking services – there is a bank of computers that allow someone, once they are properly checked in to the system, to do job searching, work on a resume or use online tools to build work skills.
There are also more intensive training opportunities and workshops. I got to sit in for an hour on a Employment Readiness Training (ERT) workshop. They showed a half-hour video, from an old 60 Minutes, on STRIVE, a job-training nonprofit based in New York City. In broad terms, the show focused on the importance for job-seekers to develop “soft skills” (which means showing up on time and ready to work), a positive and upbeat attitude, persistence and perseverance. While these skills are probably useful for any job seeker (or holder!), I’m not sure that this news-show is the best medium to make this point. The age of the show (1997), the differences between urban New York City and rural Astoria and simply the boot-camp style drilling of the STRIVE program make it difficult for a viewer to identify with the job-seekers on the show. In my opinion, the video might get in the way of, rather than augment, training.
I came away with mixed feelings about the integration between the Oregon Employment Department (OED) and the WIA (Workforce Investment Act) Service Provider. In One-Stops, in the state of Oregon, the OED and the WIA Service Provider are supposed to integrate their service provision, with the hopes this will better serve those seeking training and employment. In Astoria, though, they do not appear to be integrated particularly well together. Nevertheless, the OED and the WIA Service Provider have a very strong working relationship and appear to be serving their clients pretty well. Should they still have to integrate their service if it wouldn’t necessarily improve operations or service?
Overall, a useful visit – but a very long day due to the drive!
-Monty