California Regional Workforce Funders Collaboratives and Innovation: Emerging Lessons from Experience to Date

1. Key Informant Interviews with Funders and Grantees February 2012 California Regional Workforce Funders Collaboratives and Innovation: Emerging Lessons from Experience to Date

2. Impetus and Purpose Key Stakeholders Inquiry Design Funder Observations Grantee Observations Summary OVERVIEW

3. Imperative for regional collaboration in a time of constrained resources • Need for targeted investment to • Meet emerging regional health employer needs • Provide support for UR populations • ID and address institutional and policy obstacles to innovation impetus

4. Inform • Health Workforce Development Council statewide plan development • CHWA membership and ongoing health workforce development efforts • Provide • Input to RWFC partners on innovations to date and obstacles to be addressed Purpose

5. Regional Workforce Funders Collaboratives • Four in CA – Bay Area, San Joaquin, LA, SD • Local and regional foundations, non- profit agencies (e.g., UW), public and private sector employers and community colleges • Develop/strengthen pub/private sector workforce partnerships, links to employer needs, emphasis on UR populations. • Workforce Investment Boards • 49 WIBs in the state, 7 in LAC, some multi-county • Workforce services through One-Stop Career Centers • Convene business, labor, and education, analyze and disseminate data/information, advocate for workforce policy • California Community Colleges • 72 districts, 112 colleges, and over 2.9 million students • Central role in training for allied health professions Key Stakeholders

6. Key informant interviews with funders and grantees from each of 4 RWFCs Interviewees selected by RWFC lead agency representatives based upon demonstrated commitment to innovation (given focus of inquiry). One hour telephone interviews with 18 representatives (9 funders, 9 grantees) Small sample – Important to view input as issues to discuss, rather than draw conclusions Design

7. Funders • “What would you identify as the most significant obstacles to innovation, as it relates to a) grantee organizational functions, structures, etc., and b) local and state public policies?” • Grantees • “In the course of your implementation of your project(s) supported by the Funders Collaborative, in what ways did your organization change the way it does business?” Core Questions

8. Lack of collaborative capacity/experience • Some WIBs have little prior experience in serving as intermediary or convener – HWD large and complex sector • Lack of experience among WIBs in collaborative planning and engagement • Reluctance to explore innovative approaches among larger WIBs • Lack of flexibility among CCCs in design and implementation of programs Funder observations

9. Strategies to address, given imperative to meet increased demand in context of health reform • Targeted engagement between WIBs and economic development agencies • Increased emphasis on strategic blending of funding streams between WIBs and other stakeholders • More critical review of variations in capacity and potential roles that WIBs may play in different regions Funder observations

10. Need for Increased Emphasis on Pathway Development and Targeted Support • WIBs expand their scope of engagement to address issues earlier in the educational pipeline • Lack of alignment among WIBs and mandates with the need for skill development for low income populations • CCCs need to expand links with high schools, with particular focus on health academies and support of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds • Lack of clear pathways and guidance in CCCs to ensure student knowledge and advancement • Need for more in depth and ongoing engagement between CCCs and health professions employers Funder observations

11. Quality Improvement • Lack of capacity and support for the development of metrics and monitoring systems that support quality improvement • Lack of understanding, and in some cases willingness to innovateamong community-based organizations Funder Observations

12. Public Policy Obstacles to Innovation • Stringent funding requirements • Lack of flexibility in use of funding dollars • Funding impediments to collaboration • Lack of focus on strategies based on best practices funder Observations

13. Strategies to Address • Establish regional intermediaries • Engage local elected officials • Create targeted funding streams • Diversify funding sources • Develop long term strategic plans that include policy development • RWFCs key resource to bridge funding gaps in system Funder observations

14. Strengthened Partnerships • Increased focus on collaborative planning • Ability to expand staffing capacity • Better alignment between community college programs and employers of varying size. • WIBs giving increased focus to health careers and leveraging training $$. Grantee observations

15. Increased program effectiveness and sustainability • Provided the infrastructure to step back and re-design existing programs • Enabled staff to participate on other planning and advisory bodies • Increased the time and interest among staff to pursue additional funding opportunities • Increased awareness of health career opportunities among HS youth • Increased program retention Grantee observations

16. New Strategies, Programs, & Populations Served • HIT training programs • Vocational ESL health program • Summer bridge program • Increased focus on health workforce diversity • Multi-stakeholder collaborative strategic planning Grantee observations

17. Enhance CCC Curriculum and Culture • Increased alignment with regional employer needs • Customize training curriculum for medical assistants • Developed health career computer skills curriculum • Changed culture among nursing instructors “There used to be a boot camp mentality but now there is a greater focus on mentoring and peer tutors.” Grantee observations

18. Mix of positive and negative input on the role of WIBs suggests • In depth assessment to determine optimal roles in different regions • Need for targeted sharing of best practices among WIBs to provide a road map for innovation • RWFCs address gaps in current funding patterns • Infrastructure for collaboration and shared accountability • Support services for youth and adults from disadvantaged communities • Move the needle – increase training capacity • Need for increased emphasis on • Engagement of policy makers • Integration of policy development into collaborative strategic planning • Others? Summary