June 17, 2008
Missouri Agencies Join Forces
for Education, Workforce Outreach
A new workgroup is leading a statewide public outreach project that will provide career planning information and resources for students, parents and job-seekers of all ages. The aim of the group, representing four state agencies and two non-profit organizations, is to build awareness of growing career opportunities in Missouri and stimulate interest in life-long career preparation.
The ultimate goal of the project is to help Missourians be armed with skills and education needed to be competitive and prosperous throughout their careers.
Beginning in June, a monthly news article will be distributed to statewide media and targeted publications to inform the public about statewide employment projections, career and industry trends, and point to available resources.
The organizations and individuals contributing to the new Missouri Connections Public Outreach Partnership project are:
- Department of Economic Development, Division of Workforce Development − Michael Waltman;
- Department of Economic Development, Missouri Economic Research & Information Center − Betty Brown and Mary Bruton
- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education − Michele Clark and Gayla Hays;
- Department of Higher Education − Wendy Baker and Jeremy Kintzel;
- Missouri Center for Career Education − Nathan Wittmaier; and
- Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry − David Lankford.
The workgroup also is tapping the involvement of a broad range of interested people, groups, and programs, including educators, guidance counselors, business and industry representatives, and the governor’s office − namely Rod Nunn, director of education and workforce innovation.
Several resources are being developed for students and will be released to Missouri middle schools and high schools at the beginning of the 2008-09 school year. They include a career planning toolkit, a career-focused video for students, titled “What’s Your Plan?”; and “virtual mentor” interviews with representatives of selected occupations and professions. The new resources will be available in August at MissouriConnections.org.
The partnership projects are made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. Missouri earned a share of special incentive funding by exceeding performance levels under the Workforce Investment Act, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act.