Washington Workforce Development News
Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
September 16, 2021
PRIVATE CAREER SCHOOL COVID-19 VACCINE INFO AVAILABLE
The Workforce Board has updated online information concerning vaccine and face covering mandates at the more than 300 Washington private career schools licensed and regulated by the agency. Get vaccination deadline information, sample exemption request forms, and further details at https://www.wtb.wa.gov/private-career-schools/vaccine/.
HELP INFORM FUTURE OF EQUITY IN WASHINGTON EDUCATOR STANDARDS
The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) is circulating a survey to get public feedback on educator standards as part of recent legislation that calls for the agency to review and revise the state’s current standards, and encourage the alignment of those standards with cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. The survey is open through Oct. 27 and takes about 15 minutes to complete. PESB is also convening a series of public and private listening sessions this fall. Take the survey and register to attend a listening session. Input collected will be shared with a technical advisory workgroup to strengthen standards to better support community and student needs.
NEW BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RECRUITING CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES
Washington’s Health Care Authority is launching a campaign to encourage residents to consider behavioral health careers. Behavioral health includes mental health, substance use disorder prevention, and treatment and recovery support. The state needs more trained behavioral health workers to serve communities. Get more details at www.startyourpath.org. Learn more about behavioral health workforce issues, read reports, and find out how the Workforce Board is involved with this topic at: https://bit.ly/39cZYid
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS HOSTS CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON COVID IMPACTS
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is hosting a free, virtual conference via WebEx from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, September 29. This conference will bring together national BLS experts to discuss the effect of COVID-19 on employment, wages, prices, and production, providing some regional aspects when available. BLS Commissioner William Beach is the featured speaker. Registration is required at: https://bit.ly/3kgNooJ
REMOTE ONLINE INITIATIVE TO HELP MORE RESIDENTS WORK FROM HOME
Washington State University Extension is partnering with the AWB Institute and Utah State University Extension to offer the Remote Worker Certificate to Washington residents to prepare them to take advantage of remote work opportunities. The nine modules of the four-week course help build skills to make an effective remote worker, whether as an employee, entrepreneur, or freelancer. Some scholarships are available to eastern Washington residents living in the Avista service area. Basic computer proficiency is required. https://extension.wsu.edu/remoteworkcertificate/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
School is back in session and there’s a chill in the air. Curl up with the latest edition of our workforce newsletter. Then share it with a friend (or two)! To subscribe, or unsubscribe (we'll miss you), email workforce@wtb.wa.gov