WORKING
TOGETHER

OUR INITIATIVES

Regional Plan Implementation/SlingShot 3.0

The Foothill Workforce Development Board, on behalf of the Los Angeles Regional Planning Unit (LARPU), proposed to incorporate Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Regional Plan Implementation/SlingShot 3.0 activities on behalf of the Los Angeles Regional Planning Unit (LARPU) that are based on High Road Training Partnerships (HRTP) and High Road Construction Careers (HRCC). Intensive and extensive support services will be offered to individuals with multiple barriers who are trying to become employed and retain employment. Examples of some barriers are individuals who are English Language Learner, Justice Touched, Individuals with Disabilities and others.

This project was created to meet the needs of the hardest to employ and to provide them with an opportunity to find employment with self-sufficient wages, benefits, identifiable career ladder, and training that provides marketable skills sets in an industry sector that provides California’s employers and businesses with the skilled workforce necessary to compete in the global economy. Individuals who are currently in a workforce activity such as on the job training or work experience will be able to receive no-traditional supportive services through a local AJCC.

If you would like to find out additional information about this project or see if you qualify for the program, please contact your local Workforce Development Board: https://cwdb.ca.gov/local_boards/local_workforce_investment_associations/

Prison 2 Employment (P2E)

The LA Basin has a large number of people coming out of prison and involved with the justice system every year. Connecting these individuals to sustainable, well-paying career pathways is critical to reintegrating them with their communities and keeping them out of prison. The LABWN’s Prison 2 Employment (P2E) initiative is focused on helping people involved with the justice system overcome the complex barriers they face, and get on the path to a rewarding career, self-sufficiency, and a better life.

The P2E program is an innovative collaboration between County Probation, State Parole, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) systems, community-based organizations that serve this population, adult schools and community colleges, workforce development boards, and America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) across the region. Aligning our combined resources and expertise, we’re taking a holistic approach to supporting program participants, with access to education, training, and apprenticeships as well as housing, transportation, childcare, mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, and individualized case management.

Our unique collaborative approach ensures we share best practices across all partners, integrate resources, reduce redundancies, improve efficiencies, and streamline the delivery of services.

To learn more about P2E, call (310) 970-7700.

Los Angeles Performance
Partnership Pilot (LAP3)

In the LA Basin, one in six young people ages 18 to 24 are out of work and out of school.1 The LABWN and our partners are working to reconnect youth to their schools, communities, employers, and a brighter future. One of the most ambitious, comprehensive, and far-reaching models in the country, the Los Angeles Performance Partnership Pilot (LAP3) program is focused on reengaging disconnected youth to educational and work-readiness services.

In an innovative partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), community colleges and California State Universities across the region, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the Los Angeles Housing Agency, and over 50 organizations, the LAP3 program connects youth to a full range of educational, training, work experience, job placement, and support services that help them overcome barriers as they enter adulthood.

Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and National League of Cities as a model of best practice, the LAP3 collaboration shares vital resources across regional service providers, improving efficiencies and decreasing competition. The program additionally reduces the number of hoops youth participants must jump through to access services.

To learn more about LAP3, call (213) 744-7164.

Job Seekers with Disabilities

Research shows that people with disabilities are three times more likely to be unemployed than people without disabilities.2 A national leader in serving individuals with disabilities, the LABWN is helping employers tap into this valuable talent pool while connecting job seekers with disabilities to the training and support they need to enter rewarding careers.

One of LABWN’s top priorities for the region is to ensure access to training programs and career pathways for people with disabilities. We’re doing this by working with partners and employers to eliminate barriers, create inclusive processes and services, and build the knowledge and resources to support individuals with disabilities. This includes assigning Disability Resource Coordinators (DRCs) to train and educate our job center staff and assist with coordinating a full range of services.

We’re already seeing positive outcomes, with our fifth cohort of individuals with intellectual disabilities entering our Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machinists training program. Graduates have achieved an 88% employment rate with local manufacturers, and the program has become a best-practice model for similar training initiatives state-wide.

To learn more about training programs for individuals with disabilities, call (818) 409-0476.

Specialty RN Training and
C3 Skills Alliance

With an expected 91,770 new healthcare-related jobs coming to LA County in 2020, healthcare providers and systems are struggling to find and retain qualified professionals and fill challenging positions.3 The LABWN is partnering with healthcare providers and associations across the region to prioritize the pipeline of in-demand healthcare workers.

Developed in coordination with the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC), HealthImpact (the state’s nursing workforce center), the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALA), hospitals, colleges, and universities across the region, our Specialty RN Training program provides a simplified, streamlined way for working registered nurses to advance their practices in specialized areas of care with the highest demand. This collaborative program is also working to help hospitals reduce costs associated with staff overtime, traveling nurses, turnover, recruitment, and retention. To date, 100% of participating nurses have graduated from the program with an average passing score of 86%.

The LABWN has also worked in collaboration with our healthcare partners to launch the C3 Skills Alliance. This innovative program trains much-needed healthcare coordinators and case managers responsible for making sure every patient receives the right care from the right professional at the right time. Nearly 200 new and incumbent workers have completed the training so far, and hospitals are praising the program.

To learn more about Specialty RN Training, call (310) 970-7700. To learn more about C3 Skills Alliance, click here.

Aero-Flex Pre-Apprenticeship

The LA Basin is the largest manufacturing center in U.S. and a world leader in aerospace. This expanding industry sector is facing a significant workforce shortage. The LABWN is focused on preparing the next generation of skilled aerospace workers to fill this growing labor gap and connect our communities’ residents to excellent career opportunities.

To meet this goal, the LABWN collaborated on the nation’s first aerospace engineering apprenticeship program certified by the U.S. Department of Labor. Open to high schools and post-secondary students, veterans, returning service personnel, and other underserved individuals, as well as incumbent workers, the Aero-Flex Pre-Apprenticeship allows job seekers to gain in-demand skills while earning industry-recognized credentials.

Blending online learning, paid work experience, and on-the-job-training, the Aero-Flex Pre-Apprenticeship curriculum is designed with the direct input of aerospace employers. Building on the initial success of the Aero-Flex program, our collaboration now plans to roll out a Bio-Flex program following a similar model for the biotechnology industry.

To learn more about Aero-Flex, call (310) 970-7700.

Workforce Initiative
Now-Los Angeles (WIN-LA)

The LA Basin is undergoing rapid expansion, with major new infrastructure projects underway across the region. One of the region’s largest employers, Metro is facing a serious shortage of qualified employees, with 50% of its workforce set to retire by 2024.8 To meet this labor shortage, the LABWN is partnering with Metro on its Workforce Initiative Now–Los Angeles (WIN-LA) program to train and place employees in hard-to-fill positions across a range of transportation career pathways.

WIN-LA opens training and career opportunities for current and former foster youth, veterans, single parents, individuals experiencing homelessness, people who have been involved with the justice system, job seekers who have not completed high school or their GED, and women. Through a collaborative network of trainers, service providers, and partners, WIN-LA participants have access to a spectrum of support services along with training, including assistance with education, housing, child care, transportation, and mental health services. Learn more.