Military Spouse/Family Advocacy Program

Transcription

1 Military Spouse/Family Advocacy Program Patricia A. Piazza Military Spouse/Family Employment Specialist Region 8 First Coast Workforce Development, Inc. WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

2 Establishment In 2004, Florida established a Military Family Employment Advocacy Program targeting military spouses and families Program delivers workforce services through Military Family Employment Advocates located within selected One-Stop Career Centers. WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

3 Our Mission To provide workforce services to spouses and dependents of activeduty military personnel, Florida National Guard members, and military reservists. WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

4 Military Spouse Employment Program Objectives 1. Coordination of employment assistance services through military base family support centers, Florida s one-stop career centers, and veteran support organizations. WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

5 Military Spouse Employment Program Objectives 2. Assisting employment-seeking military family members through job counseling, job search and placement services, the dissemination of information on educational and training programs, and the availability of support services. WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

6 Military Spouse Employment Program Objectives 3. Training to one-stop career center managers and staff on the unique employment needs and skills of military family members. 4. Promoting and marketing the benefits of employing military family members to prospective employers. WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

7 November Military Family Employment Specialists They were located in: Region 2 - JobsPlus Region 8 - WorkSource WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

8 1 July Military Family Employment Specialists They will be located in: Region 1 - Pensacola Region 2 - JobsPlus (2) Region 4 - Gulf Coast Workforce Region 8 - WorkSource Region 13 - Cape Canaveral Region 15 - Tampa Bay Workforce Region 23 South Florida Workforce WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

9 Program Year Approx. 8,600 services were provided to over 1,000 spouse/family members Data through June 2006 obtained from Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

10 Program Year Approx. 35,637 services were provided to over 2,119 spouse/family members with 16,838 job referrals made. (Wagner Peyser) Data obtained from Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

11 What does this have to do with you? One on one counseling provided for demand occupations based on regional LMI that are also portable Encouraged to work in field of their educational program to gain experience Highly encouraged to research schools for certification and degree programs to make them more marketable WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

12 Q&A WORKSource Connecting workers to jobs.

13 Florida Defense Alliance

14 Background: Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) created the Florida Defense Alliance (FDA) in 1998 in accordance with Florida Statute as a non-profit partnership between the Governor, Florida State Officials, the Florida Congressional Delegation, State Legislators, Base Commanders, Community Leaders, and Business Executives.

15 FDA Mission The mission of the Alliance is to promote base efficiencies and to further military missions in the State, while supporting its military families' quality of life.

16 Mission cont. It serves as an overall advisory body for Enterprise Florida s defense related activities. It is comprised of designated representatives from each local base s retention/re-use committee, local military base commanders, state agency liaisons, as well as a number of individuals and groups with statewide perspectives and national experience.

17 FDA Objectives Foster the military presence in the State of Florida in support of National Defense. Preservation of test, training, and staging areas suitable for maneuver by ground, naval or air forces to guarantee future availability of such areas to ensure the readiness of the Armed Forces conducting operations in Florida.

18 FDA Objectives cont. To expand the defense industries. To ensure that both active and retired soldiers, Marines, sailors, airman, guard, and reserves and their families receive continual improvement to their quality of life. Support local reuse efforts brought on by base closure or mission realignment.

19 FDA Membership Criteria Representatives of Florida military base or installation retention or re-use committees Florida military base or installation commanders Members of the Florida legislature or their designated representative Members of the Florida congressional delegation or their designated representative

20 FDA Membership Criteria cont. Florida state agency liaisons Designated economic development representatives from the community(s) associated with a military base, Installation or major defense contractor,

21 FDA Membership Criteria cont. Chambers of Commerce and/or associated Military Affairs Committees serving the communities associated with a military base Installation or major defense contractor and Military Department staff from Florida Universities or Colleges.

22 The Florida Defense Alliance Organizational Chart Past Officers Patrick Flynn Chair Diana Gonzalez (Immediate past president) John Pruitt Kellie Jo Kilberg Craig Dalton Vice Chair Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Warren "Rocky", McPherson Executive FDA Director Enterprise Florida Inc. Heather Cave Program Manager Military and Defense Enterprise Florida. Inc Patty Piazza Family Support Working Group Chair WorkSource Florida Inc. Kevin Gartland Growth Management Working Group Chair NAS Jacksonville Diana Gonzalez Legislative Working Group Chair Miami-Dade Defense Alliance Last Updated 02/03/09

23 FDA Military Family Support Working Group

24 MFSWG Mission To ensure active and retired Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airman, Guard, Reserves, and their families receive continual improvement to their quality of life while stationed or living in the State of Florida.

25 MFSWG Objectives Overall: Continual improvement to their quality of life. Specified: Mitigate issues involving family transition, spousal employment, quality of life Identify & assess opportunities for government to respond to needs

26 MFSWG Objectives cont. Identify and assess state, regional, and local assistance programs Identify and prioritize requests for Defense and Infrastructure Grants

27 MFSWG Objectives cont. Implied: Communicate information on existing QOL programs Assess remaining current needs Identify emergent needs based on BRAC, Transformation

28 How does this all affect you? The FDA supported in-state tuition rates for military spouses The FDA is a State acknowledged entity for supporting military families with a direct tie-into the Workforce Development Boards and Economic Development Boards

29 How does this all affect you cont.? Your educational perspective is invaluable to define barriers and issues faced by the military families attending your educational institutions Gaining an awareness of the big picture as it pertains to the various militaries around the State.

30 How does this all affect you cont.? Being part of the network of services that ensure the highest possible quality of life standards for our military families with the end goal of retaining amazingly well educated and trained people in the State of Florida after they separate or retire from their military obligations.

31 How does this all affect you cont.? Some results of our work: HB 7129/SB 274 Provided a 6 month waiver from BPBR for military spouses transferring into the State of Florida in occupations that require licensing or certifications. This was expanded 2010 (Christ) and again 2011(Scott)

32 How does this all affect you cont.? Some results of our work: HB45 Priority course registration to veterans who are receiving GI Bill Benefits. This includes spouse and dependent children of whom benefits have been transferred to. GI Bill users will be eligible for priority registration until expiration of GI Bill benefits.

33 How does this all affect you cont.? Some results of our work: HB 347 College Credit for Military Training

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