KeyTrain Works!

1. For Choctaw Nation Career Development KeyTrain Works!

2. History • First employee – April 2007 • Services • Facilitate career training which leads to industry recognized certification or licensure • 13 Career Counselors • 5 Academic & Employment Services Specialists • 14 Staff members hold gCDF Certification • Program is currently pursuing HPCD accreditation • Career Guidance • Financial Assistance – Tuition, books, fees, supplies, tools, etc. • Academic Enhancement • Employment Services • Current Client Base – Adults, H.S. Seniors Choctaw Nation Career Development Program

3. Program Purpose • To facilitate education & training which leads to industry recognized certifications or licensures and self-sustaining employment for Choctaw tribal members. • Tribal Mission Statement • To enhance the lives of all members through opportunities designed to develop healthy, successful and productive lifestyles. • Tribal Vision • To achieve healthy, successful, productive, and self-sufficient lifestyles for a proud nation of Choctaws. Choctaw Career Development

4. Removal of tribal jurisdictional borders Removal of blood quantum requirement Choctaw Tribal Membership: 220,000+ Program Innovations

5. Clients Approved for Training -- 2857 • Clients Working in Field -- 1798 • 63% increase since 2007 • Room for Growth: • Tribal Members -- 200,000+ Current numbers

6. Career Guidance • Relevant Academic Development • KeyTrain, WorkKeys, CRC • Education & Training • Credentialing • Employment Services • CRC • Financial Management • Success Experiences Keys to the Doors of Success

7. Pre-Assessments • Step #1 – KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 Pre-tests • Applied Math • Locating Information • Reading for Information • Internet-based • Clients across U.S. • Requirement for Payment of Training • No particular score levels required, but training may be delayed for academic preparation Academic Assessment

8. Academic Guidance • Academic Staff (5) -- Math and English Language Specialists • Client Follow-up • Relevant Academics • Utilization of Career Ready 101/KeyTrain • Career Cluster Based Pre-assessments • Academic Goals • Utilization of WorkKeys Profiles • WorkKeys Occupational Profiles Database • OKCIS Relevant Academic Enhancement

9. Other KeyTrain Lessons • Writing, Applied Technology, Listening, Observation, Teamwork, etc. • Tutoring Services • Test Prep • Additional Web-Based Lessons/Practice • Career Readiness Preparation Relevant Academic Enhancement

10. Nurse Prep Program • Potential Nursing Students • Focus on Academic Skill Building • Nursing Entrance Application • NEW – Nurse Prep Webinar • Success! • Joe – low grades in H.S. courses, out of school for over 5 years, worried about academics and ability to succeed • KeyTrain Assessment & Enhancement • 3rd Highest NET Scores in KTC Nursing Programs • Successfully completed LPN Training • Assists other Choctaw clients with preparation for nursing school Relevant Academic Enhancement

11. KeyTrain Reports • Partner Training Facilities • OK Technology Centers • Continual Communications • Area Community/Junior Colleges • Client Database • Excel Sheet • Referrals for WorkKeys Testing Tracking Client Academic Enhancement

12. It’s working! • Total Hours Worked: 3604 • Pretests Completed: 3521 • Hours Spent on Pretests: 1555 • Hours Spent on Passed Lessons 1059 Keytrain usage

13. The Process Work Ready Communities Employment for Citizens

14. WorkKeys Testing • Oklahoma’s WorkKeys/CRC Program • Free Assessments • Available Test Sites • Testing Outside of OK • National CRC Career Readiness Certification - CRC

15. Career Readiness Certifications Total CRC's: 1426 2/15/2011 Platinum: 1 % Gold: 33 % Silver: 51 % Bronze: 14 % CRC+: 13 % CRC Success

16. CRC Incentive Awards • Platinum=$400 • Gold = $300 • Silver = $200 • Bronze = $100 • CRC+ = $100 additional WorkKeys Initiative

17. Individual must be an approved CNCD client • Tribal Membership • Provide copy of Oklahoma CRC • National CRCs may also be submitted • Complete W-9 form • Checks are made payable to client WorkKeys Initiative Process Glenda earned her NCRC at Paris Jr. College.

18. Added confidence for previously not-so-successful students • Disadvantaged Students • Offenders • Award $ • Employment Opportunities • Success Experiences CRC Success Stories

19. Client Advantages • Documentation of skills • Additional credential for career portfolio • Competitiveness among students • Initiative $$$ • Increased employability Benefits of CRC Amber & Tara are twins and each has earned her Silver Level CRC

20. Oklahoma’s CRC+ • KeyTrain’s Workplace Effectiveness & Work Ethics Curriculum • Oklahomans must complete curriculum • Choctaw Tribal Members must complete curriculum at 80% or higher scores to earn the CRC+ Initiative Award Clients Earn CRC+

21. Leads to Industry Recognized Licensure or Certification • Short-term & Long-term • Technology Centers • Community/Junior College • Career Centers • Universities • CNA, LPN, RN, Truck Drivers, Teachers, Welders, HVAC Technicians, Automotive Technicians, Cosmetologists, Real Estate Agents, Accountants, etc. • Career Ladders Education & Training

22. ACT’s New Report: Breaking New Ground Building a National Workforce Skills Credentialing System http://www.act.org/research/policymakers/pdf/BreakingNewGround.pdf Middle-skills Gap Layered Workforce Certification Model - NAM Alignment

23. Layered Certifications

24. CNA – LPN – RN – BSN – Nurse Practitioner • CRC at CNA Level • Teacher – Principal – Superintendent • CRC at Teacher Level • Truck Driver – Driver Trainer – CDL Examiner • CRC at Truck Driver Level Layered Certifications & Career Ladders

25. Employability Skill Development • Resume & Cover Letter Development Assistance • Interviewing Skills Training • Job Search Strategies • Employment Application Assistance • Networking Skill Development • Job Search Workshops • On-line Job Board • Email Job Listings • Client Follow-up • Completer Survey Employment Services

26. Employer Relations • Continual access to a pool of trained and credentialed employment candidates for your selection purposes • Workforce diversification resource • A free online resource for posting jobs and reviewing resumes of potential employees • WorkKeys/CRC information & guidance • WorkKeys testing agency • Workforce development partner • Career Expo – direct contact with potential employees, free booth spaces • Employer Surveys Employment Services

27. Resume Development • Professional Dress • Employment Application Strategies • Interview Skills • Free • Wednesdays starting Feb. 23 • Noon to 12:30 • Archived to www.choctawcareers.com • Contact for Registration: rmize@choctawnation.com Ready, Set,… Work! Webinar Series

28. Southeast Expo Center, McAlester, OK • Opening Ceremonies • Motivational Speakers – Jason White / Stan Clark / Sam Glenn • Employment & Educational Opportunities • 200 Employers & Schools/Training Facilities • 1900+ Job Seekers & Students • Lunch Provided for All • Transportation for Tribal Members • Employment Application Lab • Resume Assistance Annual Career Expo

29. Job Seeker Breakout Sessions • Employer Panels • Using Social Media in you Job Search • Health Careers Success Strategies • Using the CRC in your Job Search • High School Student Breakout Sessions • College Financial Aid/Admissions Process • Native American Programs, Services, & Scholarships • Employer Services • CRC & Work Ready Region Information

30. Career Expo 2011 – Save the date!

31. Certification Ceremony – November 10th, 2009 Kiamichi Technology Center, Idabel, OK • Oklahoma Dept. of Commerce & Governor’s Council for Workforce & Economic Development Initiative • Certified Work Ready Communities have a competitive advantage because they can qualify a skilled workforce to an existing employer or a new business considering Oklahoma for a new location. • The Work Ready Community project expands the Career Readiness Certification efforts and verifies that certified communities or regions have a sustainable, reliable pipeline that delivers the right workers with the right skills at the right time. • Re-Certification in progress! “Oklahoma’s Premier Work Ready Region”

32. 13 Counties included: Choctaw Atoka Haskell Bryan Latimer Coal Leflore Johnston McCurtain McIntosh Pittsburg Hughes Pushmataha The nation’s largest Work Ready Community! “Oklahoma’s Premier Work Ready Region”

33. To qualify as a “Certified Work Ready Community,” we must meet the following requirements #1. 3% of our existing workforce must be Career Readiness Certified and #2. 25% of the available workforce must be Career Readiness Certified and #3. The region must have either a minimum of 82% high school graduation rate OR 82% of high school seniors have Career Readiness Certificates Work Ready Region Eligibility 3.1% 26.1% 86%

34. Choctaw Asset Building (CAB) Program • CAB provides Choctaw tribal members with: • Financial Independence • Financial Literacy Training • Matching Funds (IDA) • First-time home owners • Small business development • Continuing education “The Choctaw Nation is keenly aware of the challenges our tribal members face…This IDA savings program will provide the training and support they need to help them establish good financial habits, as well as, a high-quality asset and a path toward a brighter future.” --Chief Gregory E. Pyle CAB

35. Cost Benefit Analysis • LPN ($22k) to RN ($45k), Training Costs: $7k • Table Busser ($3.50/hr) to Diesel Tech ($14.00/hr), Training Costs: $4000 Choctaw tribal members are achieving healthy, successful, productive, and self-sufficient lifestyles. Success!

36. Program Marketing Strategies

37. Social Media • Newspaper • Billboards • Radio/TV Program Marketing Strategies

38. Website www.choctawcareers.com

39. Rhonda Mize, Academic & Employment Services Coordinator rmize@choctawnation.com | 580-931-7624 Please contact me if you would like a copy of this presentation. Thank You