Workforce Development Component

Deborah Hayward, Executive Officer

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The Workforce Development Component is responsible for the management and administration of our Employment and Training programs, which consist of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title 1B Adult, Youth and Dislocated workers, and Senior Community Services. In addition, CAPECO is an active partner in Work Source, the Regions One-Stop Center. The One-Stop Center is a WIA initiative that collectively merges partner agencies to mutually provide services to employers, job seekers, wage earners and youth at one central location.

Training our current and future workforce is essential to a healthy and prosperous community. It is crucial that our existing workforce stay current with state-of-the-art and leading edge technology to meet occupational and societal demands. However, access to this training in our region is often unattainable and/or unaffordable. Fortunately, through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and other Employment Training funding opportunities, CAPECO is in a position to enhance existing training programs to ensure that our communities are able to meet industry demands.

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The Workforce Investment Act signifies a major reform to job training programs and substitutes the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). CAPECO implemented WIA July 1, 2000 providing universal access to basic job search activities to the community. In addition, WIA Title 1B services provide in-depth employment and training opportunities for eligible individuals.

CAPECO's charge in implementing WIA is to develop training opportunities for residents of Region 12 that provide job placement, job retention, career advancement, educational accomplishments, wage progression, and skill attainment for economic independence and family stability.

We accomplish this by developing a strong management and leadership team with a clear understanding of our rural communities needs, conditions, and potential barriers of our customers.

In meeting this commitment, CAPECO will continue to solicit resources and develop strong alliances that support our philosophy of creating comprehensive and innovative programs. This initiative will effectively and efficiently bridge the skill gaps between our workforce and the employment needs of our employers.

The following information delineates the menu of opportunities that promotes the welfare of the jobseekers, wage earners and employers while helping prepare America's workforce to meet the challenges of the new economy.

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• Adult Program - Occupational/vocational job training, work readiness, work experience, job skills training, support services, job placement/retention and follow-up services to low-income adults age 18 and older.
• Dislocated Program - Occupational/vocational, customized training, work readiness, on-the-job training, job skills training, needs related payments, support services, relocation services, job search/placement/retention and follow-up services to individuals 18 years and older who have been terminated, laid off or have received a notice of termination or lay-off.
• Youth Program - Activities and services directed toward helping youth achieve academic and employment success. These services include work experience, work readiness, remedial education, tutoring skills, summer employment, alternative education, job shadowing, occupational skills training, leadership development, mentoring, counseling, support services, job placement/retention and follow-up services to low income youth 14 through 21 years of age.

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• Senior Community Services Employment Program - Provides occupational/ vocational training, work readiness, work experience, on-the-job training, job skills training, support services, job search/placement/retention and follow-up services to low-income individuals 55 years of age and older.

In addition to the traditional employment and training services to our customary clientele several fee for services are available to employers in need of skilled workers. CAPECO offers employers assistance in recruiting, screening, hiring, testing as well as specialized assessment and customized training services. CAPECO uses a variety of assessment tools including but not limited to:

Basic Math and Reading

• Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) - This instrument produces a Basic Math and Reading grade level for each individual.
• Profiles International - This assessment instrument measures occupational interests, thinking and reasoning abilities and behavioral traits, the results can be utilized for placement, promotion, self improvement, participant and employee coaching, as well as job description developments.
• Career Information Services CSI) - CIS will provide labor market information to participants planning post-secondary training and/or future career opportunities.  Information is available on colleges, vocational institutions, career opportunities wage levels, employment projections, etc.

• CAPS - This instrument is used to assess a participant's abilities as they relate to career planning. It will help the participant identify strengths and weaknesses.
• COPES - This instrument is similar in that it evaluates the types of activities participant values in a position. For instance, values such as whether participants are leaders, practical, investigative, independent, etc. This assessment may be useful in screening applicants.
• COPS - This instrument is used to assess participant's interests in regards to various tasks required of any position. This helps our Specialists determine what type of position a participant may be interested in. This may not be a tool you would use when screening applicants.

As appropriate, we also have an in-house customized basic computer skills assessment tool we utilize to determine computer literacy in Basic computer operation, Windows, Word Processing, Excel, Spreadsheets, Internet Capacity and Database Management.

CAPECO offers the community free access to state-of-the-art computer labs. These labs  contain new Dell computers with today's most popular software, Internet access, typing and software tutorials and are available at the Work Source Oregon offices in Pendleton and Hermiston.

For more information about CAPECO's Workforce Development Component, please contact us via this website or via phone at the office nearest you.