Workforce Development
 

The nation's economic needs have driven many of the discussions in policy and funding in adult education and literacy since the Revolutionary War in 1777.  George Washington instructed chaplains to teach literacy skills to the Continental Army so that he could communicate to his soldiers in writing. 

However, many agree that an economic crisis management approach to literacy policy has led to a lack of permanent infrastructure, unstable funding, limited leadership development and lack of careers in adult literacy.

Through the educational components of the Works Progress Administration to the Adult Education Act enacted as part of the War on Poverty, there has always been an expectation that adult education should enable citizens to get jobs and be productive rather than a statement of a right to adult education in and of itself.

National funding for adult literacy is currently authorized through the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, and the majority of new funding that has come to Louisiana since the hurricane has been in workforce development.

Many adult learners come to adult literacy and education programs with goals related to work - to get a job, to get a better job, to enter into a technical training or post-secondary education.  There are many programs available to connect learners to continuing education, training and jobs and many partnerships available to help learners meet their goals.

What We Do

Check out links to the Bridge Project - which connects people to training and jobs.

Learn about the 21st Century Success Principles Curriculum - sign up for the next training.

Workplace Literacy programming is available to help build the skills of your employees at your worksite.

Regional Workforce Planning

The Regional Workforce Transformation Strategy Document - This is an initiative that was launched late in 2006 to study the capacity and responsiveness of the regional workforce delivery system. Community partners in workforce development, economic development, and industry have come together to initiate this Workforce Transformation Strategy. This planning process has been focused on a broad view of a workforce development system that includes K-16, training providers, WIBs, One-Stop Centers, community organizations, economic development groups, literacy groups, state and local government, and industry leaders. This regional workforce collaborative aims to address strategic issues and opportunities beyond geographic boundaries, institutions, and mandates that can build consensus for a strong regional vision for workforce – and relies on the ability for each of our key stakeholders to execute within their respective missions and areas of authority. 

Workforce Foundations Education Plan - This document was created in response to the Workforce Transformation Strategy to more fully detail what the basic or foundations education component of a workforce development stategy should include.  This document was created with the staff and board of the Lindy Boggs Literacy Center, the Literacy Alliance and consultants David Rosen and Margaret Doughty.