Virtual Workforce Services

heldrich_robb Thu, 04/01/2021 - 14:12

Published Date

April 1, 2021

Type

Presentations

Related Authors

Stephanie Walsh

Program Development & Technical Assistance Products

Work Category

Attachments

Strategically_Virtual_Libraries_Holcomb_Volpe_Webinar_Presentation.pdf (1.92 MB)

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Excerpt

Discusses the results of a national study of how public libraries assist job seekers, including the career services libraries offer, their strengths in offering career services, and the challenges libraries are facing. Also discusses a recent study of New Jersey public libraries’ virtual services and how libraries can establish communities of care to assist job seekers.

Tagline

Discusses the role of public libraries in assisting job seekers.

Using Text-based Courses to Provide Remote Workforce Services

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:18:56 +0000

Using Text-based Courses to Provide Remote Workforce Services

Topic

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:18

Published Date

July 27, 2020

Type

Program Development & Technical Assistance Products

Work Category

Attachments

Using_Text-based_Courses.pdf (447.19 KB)

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Excerpt

Examines text-based courses, which are designed to teach course materials in a simple and accessible manner. Overall, text-based course technology can enable local workforce areas to seamlessly distribute learning course materials to customers in an accessible format via text message. As the need for social distancing and safety measures continues during the COVID-19 pandemic, text-based learning technology may be of great help in reaching customers and job seekers in a new and innovative way.

Tagline

Examines text-based courses, which are designed to teach course materials in a simple and accessible manner.

Suddenly Virtual: A Review of Workforce Area Websites in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:18:56 +0000

Suddenly Virtual: A Review of Workforce Area Websites in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

Topic

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:18

Published Date

July 15, 2020

Type

Related Authors

Program Development & Technical Assistance Products

Work Category

Attachments

Suddenly_Virtual_Website_Review_Brief.pdf (450.33 KB)

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Excerpt

Reviews findings from a review of websites and social media efforts of workforce areas in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania as they make information available online to customers and job seekers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tagline

Reviews how workforce areas in four states are making information available online during the pandemic.

Suddenly Virtual: Workforce Services, Eight Weeks Later

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:18:51 +0000

Suddenly Virtual: Workforce Services, Eight Weeks Later

Topic

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:18

Published Date

June 23, 2020

Type

Related Authors

Program Development & Technical Assistance Products

Work Category

Attachments

Suddenly_Virtual_Workforce_Services_Eight_Weeks_Later.pdf (150.99 KB)

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Excerpt

Reports findings from a June 2020 survey, two roundtable discussions, and audits of websites of local workforce areas in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in order to assess workforce staffs’ current thinking on virtual services, remote teaming, and a potential return to in-person services.

Tagline

Reports on how workforce areas are responding to the need to provide virtual services during the pandemic and their plans for reopening physical offices.

Suddenly Virtual: How Texting Can Enhance Public Workforce Service Delivery

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:18:49 +0000

Suddenly Virtual: How Texting Can Enhance Public Workforce Service Delivery

Topic

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:18

Published Date

May 4, 2020

Type

Program Development & Technical Assistance Products

Work Category

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Excerpt

by Amanda Bombino

Over the past few weeks, the Heldrich Center launched its Suddenly Virtual series of products exploring the initial response of the public workforce system to the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders. Thus far, the products in the series have focused on delivering virtual workforce services, offering guidance for frontline service providers, and providing a toolkit for communicating with clients and co-workers.

Our research showed that one of the primary services local workforce areas are offering to their job seeker customers is ongoing case management via phone and text. While some staff are simply using personal cell phones for phone calls and texts, many have turned to texting services so that they can “mask” their private number and more easily manage group and individual texts to customers.

In this post, we highlight a few of these services and share some of the best practice tips we gathered from workforce staff.

TextNow is a free service that allows users to create an alternative phone number for calling and texting. With features such as voicemail, group texting, and conference calls, TextNow allows for efficient and seamless communication. Additionally, TextNow can be used on a cell phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer, which contributes to the platform’s versatility. Frontline staff can text clients using TextNow, which allows them to safeguard personal phone numbers and maintain a degree of privacy. This becomes incredibly beneficial for case managers and other frontline staff who wish to maintain direct contact with clients while working remotely.

Benefits include:

Free phone number
Free calling and texting over WiFi
Multiple methods of communication make client contact more flexible

Remind is a free online platform that streamlines virtual contact both in groups and one-on-one. In addition, frontline staff can make announcements to an entire group. Like TextNow, Remind does not require users to share personal phone numbers. While the app is primarily geared toward educators, its functions are universal and can be used in spaces outside of education. Frontline staff can easily send files to clients, such as informational packets and worksheets. Remind’s messaging capabilities are also helpful for staff to forward information about public resources, such as food pantries. In addition, Remind’s strict adherence to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) privacy regulations ensures that any and all personal information is encrypted and protected from third-party use. Remind’s security features are modeled after its goals to promote user control of personal data and conduct routine audits of security practices to protect user information.

Benefits include:

Job seekers do not need a smartphone, just the ability to receive text messages
Job seekers can join by sending a text message
Can be used to support remote learning
Attention to security and safely encrypting user information eases privacy concerns

Guide by Cell is a mobile technology service that enables organizations to quickly send information to large groups via text message. Also, Guide by Cell allows organizations to send audio and text files to recipients. For workforce professionals, this service can be especially helpful when sending general announcements and other information at a larger capacity. Service packages for Guide by Cell are customizable, with flexible month-to-month contracts. To request a service quote, click here.

Benefits include:

With options to pre-record audio and schedule messages, administrators can efficiently streamline important information to groups
Crowdsource feature allows recipients to leave comments and share thoughts, which encourages active feedback
Administrators can monitor engagement via general statistical reports (e.g., how long an audio clip was heard, number of page views)

Feedback from workforce staff using these services indicates that they appreciated the privacy and the immediacy of contact with job seekers who were more likely to respond to text messages than to emails. This is especially true for job seekers who may lack access to computers and broadband.

Staff also reported that texting allowed them to provide a surprising array of services. One Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) case manager reported using Remind to send daily inspirational messages and job search worksheet packets to her customers. She also shared links to resources, such as the locations of local food pantries, and conducted daily check-ins to see how job seekers were faring. Other staff were sending links to job leads and announcements about various COVID-19 resources and supports.

Our research showed that texting services can provide a valuable lifeline to job seekers in these challenging times, especially when used to inspire and support. Going forward, workforce programs should develop a robust, comprehensive strategy for using texting services to provide coaching and resources as part of their overall virtual service delivery approach.

Amanda Bombino is a research intern at the Heldrich Center; she is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at Rutgers University.

Tagline

Highlights texting services that workforce staff can use during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as best practices.

Suddenly Virtual: Accessibility in a Virtual Environment

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:18:49 +0000

Suddenly Virtual: Accessibility in a Virtual Environment

Topic

Job Seekers with Disabilities

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:18

Published Date

June 11, 2020

Type

Related Authors

Program Development & Technical Assistance Products

Work Category

Attachments

Suddenly_Virtual_Accessibility_Toolkit.pdf (754.96 KB)

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Excerpt

Provides resources to address the needs of people with disabilities as they access virtual services through various tools such as video conference calls; video conferencing services; collaboration, productivity, and document creation tools; and messaging services.

Tagline

Provides resources to address the needs of people with disabilities as they access virtual services.

Virtual Services Toolkit: The Basics

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:18:47 +0000

Virtual Services Toolkit: The Basics

Topic

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:18

Published Date

April 30, 2020

Type

Program Development & Technical Assistance Products

Work Category

Attachments

Virtual_Services_Toolkit_The_Basics.pdf (594.22 KB)

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Excerpt

In response to workforce areas across the United States needing to provide virtual services to clients, this toolkit provides information on a variety of tools and products to assist service providers in communicating with clients, as well as communicating with one another.

Tagline

Provides information on tools to assist service providers in communicating with clients, as well as communicating with one another.

Suddenly Virtual: A Practical Guide for Frontline Service Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:18:47 +0000

Suddenly Virtual: A Practical Guide for Frontline Service Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Topic

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:18

Published Date

April 28, 2020

Type

Related Authors

Program Development & Technical Assistance Products

Work Category

Attachments

Suddenly_Virtual_A_Practical_Guide_for_Frontline_Service_Providers_During_the_COVID-19_Pandemic.pdf (128.08 KB)

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Excerpt

Discusses challenges workforce professionals are facing during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the tools and services they are using or exploring to address these challenges.

Tagline

Examines how workforce professionals are responding to the COVID pandemic.

Suddenly Virtual: Delivering Workforce Services in the COVID-19 Environment

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:18:46 +0000

Suddenly Virtual: Delivering Workforce Services in the COVID-19 Environment

Topic

admin Thu, 10/22/2020 - 15:18

Published Date

April 22, 2020

Type

Related Authors