The goal of FloridaWorks is to establish a workforce development system that is responsive to the growing needs of Alachua and Bradford Counties’ expanding business environment. To provide for the counties’ future needs, we hope to connect youth and first time job seekers to meaningful and self-sufficient employment. FloridaWorks provides innovative job services that fulfill the business requirements for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Our communities in North Central Florida are growing quickly and our employers need trained workers to meet the demand. At the same time, almost half of all students in Alachua County and almost 60% of all students in Bradford County are on free or reduced lunch programs and will need a good paying job when they graduate (if they graduate) from high school. (For the 2004-05 school year, Alachua county had a dropout rate of 5%, Bradford county 6.4% and the state of Florida 2.8%.)

FloridaWorks will utilize a dynamic, multi-faceted approach to employing youth and first time job seekers by working with employers, educators, community-based organizations and government agencies to determine the strengths, barriers and needs of first time job seekers in our region. We will work with the school system in dropout prevention and graduate as many youth as possible.

The following goals are just the beginning of a comprehensive process.

• Do curriculum inventory and compile a list of training programs.
• Partner business with high schools to develop curriculum that is industry driven and “hands on.”
• Develop school based programs that have recognized credentialing.
• Locate funding sources for school systems programs which work with youth to enhance their ability to produce math and literacy gains.
• Partner with school systems to provide alternative education options to youth who have not excelled in traditional settings.
• Replicate the Job Corps model of “Opening up schools” to untraditional students and at untraditional times.
• Utilize the Department of Labor’s Work Certification Program.
• Connect youth with FloridaWorks Career Centers for their employment needs.
• Inform youth and first time job seekers about employment trends, high wage/high demand occupations and training.
• Connect youth with “youth friendly” employers which will provide internships, job shadowing and jobs.
• Engage associations for involvement, input and opportunity.
• Provide employers with incentives to hire first time job seekers.

GIVING CHILDREN HOPE AND SKILLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY is a parent's handbook on the future world of work.  It was written by Susan M. Quattrociocchi, Ph.D. & Barbara Peterson, M.A.  If you would like to receive a hard copy of this booklet, please contact the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, Labor Market Statistics, at (850) 245-7205.  You can click on the book title above to view an electronic version.