Solutions at Work: An Overview of the Heldrich Center's Mission and Current Projects
- 1. Solutions at Work: An Overview of the Heldrich Center’s Mission and Current Projects Carl E. Van Horn, Ph.D., Director Kathy Krepcio, Executive Director John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
- 2. Workforce Diversity and Inclusion John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 2 Mission and History The Heldrich Center is a research and policy institute dedicated to raising the effectiveness of the American workplace by strengthening workforce education and training programs Founded in 1997, the center employs 18 full-time professional staff and faculty representing an array of disciplines, from economics and labor relations to business administration and public policy
- 3. Workforce Diversity and Inclusion John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 3 What the Center Offers Evaluations of workforce and education programs Research on promising workforce practices Promotion of workforce and economic development Workforce partnerships and solutions
- 4. Workforce Diversity and Inclusion John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 4 Accomplishments Conducted over 200 research projects and evaluations Documented workforce best practices in over 180 publications Hosted over 60 major events Conducted and published 17 nationwide surveys Generated national and international media coverage
- 5. Workforce Diversity and Inclusion John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 5 Workforce Challenges Improving productivity by closing the skills and education gap Ensuring economic opportunity by connecting people to work Building workforce and economic development partnerships Strengthening workforce and education programs and building capacity
- 6. Edwar d J. Bl oust ei n School of Pl anni ng and Publ i c Pol i cy Sol ut i ons at Wor k: An Over vi ew of t he Hel dr i ch Cent er 6 Resear ch and Eval uat i on Assesses the effectiveness of workforce and education programs, underscoring best practices in education, training, and economic development, while also identifying emerging challenges that employers and policymakers must address. Selected projects include: – A profile of career and technical education programs in New Jersey high schools; – Evaluation of New Jersey’s Customized Training program, which provides funds to private companies to assist them in training their employees; and – Examination of efforts of 10 states to deploy community colleges in support of economic development efforts.
- 7. Edwar d J. Bl oust ei n School of Pl anni ng and Publ i c Pol i cy Sol ut i ons at Wor k: An Over vi ew of t he Hel dr i ch Cent er 7 I nf or mat i on and Wor kf or ce Sol ut i ons This group leverages the center's research on labor issues and its insight into workforce programs to develop information technology products designed to empower job seekers and assist workforce program operators. The center also analyzes industry workforce needs and how to span gaps between labor supply and demand. Selected projects include: – The development and maintenance of a New Jersey training program consumer report card (www.njtrainingsources.org), which describes training program features and facilitates searches and comparisons of programs based on the preferences of job seekers; and – The creation of a career guidance website for New Jersey’s high schools (www.njnextstop.org)
- 8. Edwar d J. Bl oust ei n School of Pl anni ng and Publ i c Pol i cy Sol ut i ons at Wor k: An Over vi ew of t he Hel dr i ch Cent er 8 Publ i c I nf or mat i on Distributes and publicizes research findings to educate business and union leaders, policymakers, community members, as well as media and the academic communities, on critical workforce and education issues that relate to the emerging global, knowledge- driven economy. Selected projects include: – WorkTrends surveys of American workers; and – Heldrich Center website (www.heldrich.rutgers.edu) and e- newsletter.
- 9. Edwar d J. Bl oust ei n School of Pl anni ng and Publ i c Pol i cy Sol ut i ons at Wor k: An Over vi ew of t he Hel dr i ch Cent er 9 Techni cal Assi st ance and Capaci t y- Bui l di ng This group assists frontline staff and managers in public workforce agencies and community-based organizations. Selected projects include: – Designing and managing the September 11th Fund’s Employment Assistance Program, which provided employment assistance to more than 11,000 workers displaced by the September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City; and – Developing a Workforce Information Plan for the City of New York.
- 10. Edwar d J. Bl oust ei n School of Pl anni ng and Publ i c Pol i cy Sol ut i ons at Wor k: An Over vi ew of t he Hel dr i ch Cent er 9 Techni cal Assi st ance and Capaci t y- Bui l di ng This group assists frontline staff and managers in public workforce agencies and community-based organizations. Selected projects include: – Designing and managing the September 11th Fund’s Employment Assistance Program, which provided employment assistance to more than 11,000 workers displaced by the September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City; and – Developing a Workforce Information Plan for the City of New York.