Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board? What services are provided?
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What is the mission of the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board?
- What kind of issues does the Workforce Investment Board address?
- Who does the WIB work/coordinate with? Where do the directions and ideas for programs to pursue come from?
- What is the make-up of the Workforce Investment Board?
- What kind of businesses are asked to serve on the Workforce Investment Board?
- How much time is involved?
- What is the application process for the Workforce Investment Board?
- What is the Youth Council and what role does it have with the Workforce Investment Board?
- How does Job Link fit into all of this?
- How is the Workforce Investment Board funded?
- Who staffs the WIB?
- How is information about the Workforce Investment Board being distributed?
What is the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board? What services are provided?
The Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board is a group of business and community leaders, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, working to ensure two things: that the residents of Sonoma County have the skills, training, and education to achieve their career goals, and that Sonoma County employers are able to hire, develop, and retain outstanding employees.
To reach those goals, the WIB’s priorities are to:
- Oversee Job Link, Sonoma County’s One-Stop career center,
- Work with local employers to determine what skills they need from the local workforce, and to promote training to meet those needs,
- Research grant opportunities and leverage funding for local workforce programs,
- Focus on the education and employment needs of youth in Sonoma County, and
- Partner with local companies, nonprofits and government agencies to promote the workforce of Sonoma County.
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) established local workforce investment boards. A local board can represent a city, group of cities, county, multi-county, or any other jurisdiction. In 1999, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors designated a Workforce Investment Board to represent the county.
In general, the WIB will provide a forum for discussing issues that are key to the success of Sonoma County’s workforce. For businesses, the WIB will offer an opportunity to explore their workforce concerns and work to discover solutions. The WIB is action-oriented and recommends solutions to issues ranging from education to workforce preparation.
What is the mission of the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board?
The mission of the WIB, as a partnership of innovative business and community leaders, is to provide vision, direction, and coordination of a system that enables Sonoma County to have the most effective workforce attainable.
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What kind of issues does the Workforce Investment Board address?
The WIB discusses a wide variety of issues that impact the workforce and are key to economic and business development in Sonoma County. The WIB members generate and prioritize issues that the membership feels are of greatest importance to workforce development. The WIB holds a strategic planning meeting every other year to prioritize upcoming initiatives, taking the current economy and workforce into account.
Who does the WIB work/coordinate with? Where do the directions and ideas for programs to pursue come from?
The WIB partners with many agencies, especially those of its members. Primary partnerships are with Economic Development Board, Sonoma County Office of Education, Sonoma County Water Agency, non-profits, and other County Departments, as well as the Job Link partners.
The direction of the WIB comes from its members, the Board of Supervisors, the state, and from partner agencies.What is the make-up of the Workforce Investment Board?
A dramatic focus on the 45-member WIB is the number of business representatives. Every nonbusiness seat will be matched with a business seat. The Sonoma County WIB has the following membership: Education (5); Labor (5); Community-Based Organizations (3); Economic Development (1); One-Stop Partners (8); and Business (23).
What kind of businesses are asked to serve on the Workforce Investment Board?
Business members represent a wide variety of small to large businesses that geographically cover all regions of Sonoma County. Furthermore, the representatives from business are required to be senior level executives, including top human resource managers.
How much time is involved?
The WIB meets bi-monthly in a general session. Between general meetings, smaller groups meet and discuss specific issues. Initially, the term for new members of the WIB is one year. Subsequent terms are for two years.
What is the application process for the Workforce Investment Board?
The WIB Executive Committee reviews each application for vacancies on the WIB to ensure that the prospective member meets the Workforce Investment Act's qualifications for membership. If the individual meets those qualifications, the prospective member will be recommended to the Board of Supervisors for appointment. The application is available here.
What is the Youth Council and what role does it have with the Workforce Investment Board?
The Youth Council is a committee to both the WIB and the School-to-Career Board. The role of the Youth Council is to focus on workforce issues for all youth between the ages of 14-21. In their role, the Youth Council will recommend eligible service providers to be awarded grants or contracts, conduct oversight of funded youth programs, and coordinate youth activities. The Youth Council will also make recommendations regarding the section of the Workforce Investment Plan that relates to youth services.
The mission of the Youth Council is to develop a comprehensive system of services for all Sonoma County youth that integrates academics, career preparation and youth development strategies through collaboration with youth, employers, educators, service providers and the community.
How does Job Link fit into all of this?
Sonoma County Job Link is a partnership of over 30 workforce service providers. This one-stop employment system consists of an Employer Resource Center and Job Seeker Centers. The partnering agencies make up this collaborative system to provide integrated workforce services to the employers and job seekers of Sonoma County. The WIB has direct oversight of Job Link and its services.
How is the Workforce Investment Board funded?
State and federal dollars fund the WIB. The WIB addresses issues of funding, including the creation of private/public partnerships to accomplish their program goals and objectives.
Who staffs the WIB?
The WIB is staffed by the administrative unit of the Human Services Department, Employment & Training Division. Karen Fies, the Division Director, is also the WIB Director. Please see the Staff page.
How is information about the Workforce Investment Board being distributed?
A comprehensive marketing plan has been developed for two primary reasons: first, to inform the business community and public in general about the WIB; and second, to recruit businesses to be involved with the WIB.
In addition, this website (www.sonomawib.org) provides up to date information regarding the WIB, its committees and its accomplishments.