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Aligning for Success
Brewster Culberson El Paso Hudspeth Jeff Davis Presidio
As Chief Elected Official for the Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board, it gives me great pleasure to share with you the Board’s accomplishments for 2011! Though this past year was challenging as a result of budget cuts, we have been able to make great things happen by maximizing our resources and leveraging strategic partnerships. I am especially proud to share that, as a result of our efforts, 34,673 people found employment this last fiscal year! In addition, our program for youth with disabilities, named “Breaking Barriers”, received state acclaims during the 15th Annual Texas Workforce Conference in Houston. The summer program was recognized in the Service to Workers category and resulted in a $25,000 check for the workforce board. Special thanks to my counterparts in the six counties, the county judges for Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Presidio. It is through our remarkable collaboration that we are making great strides toward a successful future! Sincerely, Mayor John F. Cook, Lead Chief Elected Official for Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande Mayor of El Paso, Texas
County Judges Brewster County Judge Val Clark Beard Culberson County Judge Carlos G. Urias El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar Hudspeth County Judge Becky Dean-Walker Jeff Davis County Judge George E. Grubb Presidio County Judge Paul Hunt
As you take a look at the accomplishments of your workforce development board, I want to thank all of our customers who came through our doors in 2011, counting on us to help them achieve a better tomorrow. We would not be here without you! While many of you have thanked us for helping you, I want to thank you for reminding us why we work to find better ways to serve you every day! I also want to recognize the employers, key stakeholders and partners in our six-county region. We have been able to accomplish so much by leveraging resources and working in collaboration. In addition, the successes on the following pages could not have been accomplished without all workforce system staff! While the work we do is not easy and is often challenging, the work is critical to education, employment and economic development. Most importantly – we change lives, one at a time. We are, and remain committed to our region all our customers in the six counties we serve. Sincerely, Lorenzo Reyes, Jr., Chief Executive Officer
Officers for the Board of Directors
Tracy Bristol 2011 Board Chair Marcus, Fairall, Bristol + Co., L.L.P.
Henry Gallardo Board Vice-Chair Strategic Wealth Advisors
Bertha A. Gallardo Board Secretary Las Palmas & Del Sol Regional Healthcare System
Board of Directors Mary Margaret Adame HHS Commission-EP Region Steven Blanco Blanco Ordoñez & Wallace, P.C. Irma Bocanegra AT&T Javier Casas El Paso Central Labor Union Luis Enrique Chew Volar Center for Independent Living Cille D’Ascenzo Paso Del Norte Association For the Education of Young Children Dr. Dennis Brown El Paso Community College
Leo A. Duran, Sr. L&J Café
Dr. Ana Huerta-Macias, Ph.D. Paso Del Norte Literacy Council
Debra Koch The Boeing Co. Judy H. Ledbetter Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute Grace Munoz First Light Federal Credit Union
Jesus M. Martinez El Paso Independent School District
Leticia Paez YWCA Foundation
Lane G. Mills B-P Construction Dr. Gilda Morales, M.D. Southwest Wellness and Fitness
Gloria E. Pena El Paso Specialty Hospital
Sotero Ramirez, III Texas Workforce Commission TeleCenter Dr. David Schauer, Ph.D. University of Texas at El Paso–Institute for Policy & Economic Development Melissa Wilder Pre-Paid Legal Services David Wilson Sul Ross State University
Our Mission
To provide skilled workers for employers by advancing education,employment and economic development opportunities
Our Vision
A strong network of strategic alliances which builds a gainfully emloyed workforce based on employer needs in a competitive global economy
Our Values Integrity Accountability Customer Focus Open Communication Teamwork
Our Pillars Finance Growth Services Quality People Community
Our Strategic Goals
Goal 1 A Better Educated and Skilled Workforce in the Board’s Region Goal 2 High-Skill, High-Wage Employers in the Board’s Targeted Industries Goal 3 Creation of Jobs with Higher Incomes as Targeted by the Board through Meaningful Alliances Goal 4 Achievement of a Fair Rate of Return on the Taxpayer’s Investment Goal 5 Recognition of the Board as the Strategic and Innovative Leader of the Regional Workforce System
Regional Snapshot
Average Household Income
$50,203 Per Capita Income
$29,381 Annual Unemployment Rate
10.1%
Performance
Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande is measured by 15 performance targets set forth by the Texas Workforce Commission intended to gauge the effectiveness of the services we provide to our customers. In Board Contract Year 2011, we EXCEEDED 9 targets and MET 4.
Out of 278,496
CUSTOMER VISITS, our dedicated staff members were able to serve:
• 795 CUSTOMERS in our WIA ADULT program • 196 CUSTOMERS in our BASE REALINGNMENT AND CLOSURE program • 4,032 CUSTOMERS in our TANF/CHOICES program • 1,392 CUSTOMERS in our DISLOCATED WORKER program • 1,380 CUSTOMERS in our SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING program • 235 CUSTOMERS in our NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT program • 983 CUSTOMERS in our PROJECT RE-INTEGRATION of OFFENDERS program • 91 CUSTOMERS with our SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH program • 607 CUSTOMERS in our TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE program • 1,030 CUSTOMERS in our TEXAS BACK TO WORK program • 5,498 CUSTOMERS in our WIA YOUTH program • 13,813 CUTOMERS in our CHILD CARE program • 597 MIGRANT AND SEASONAL FARM WORKERS • 5,569 VETERANS • 7,970 CUSTOMERS through our JOB FAIRS • 4,256 EMPLOYERS in our region • 68,049 CUSTOMERS seeking EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Additionally:
• 9,925 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMANTS become RE-EMPLOYED WITHIN 10 WEEKS • 5,888 CHILDREN were served on average PER DAY in our CHILD CARE program • 961,600 DOLLARS were reimbursed to EMPLOYERS through the TEXAS BACK TO WORK program Of the 1,123 PARTICIPANTS who obtained a DEGREE or CREDENTIAL, we assisted: • 143 CUSTOMERS received their GED • 148 CUSTOMERS receive a HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA • 1 CUSTOMER achieve their 1ST YEAR OF COLLEGE • 126 CUSTOMERS receive their ASSOICATE DEGREE • 99 CUSTOMERS receive their BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR EQUIVALENT • 11 CUSTOMERS achieve their 6th YEAR OF COLLEGE/MASTER’S DEGREE • 17 CUSTOMERS receive OTHER CREDENTIALS • 38 CUSTOMERS complete ADVANCED TRAINING/VOCATIONAL SKILLS • 5 CUSTOMERS complete ADVANCED TRAINING/TECHNICAL SCHOOL • 180 CUSTOMERS receive an OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS LICENSE • 479 CUSTOMERS receive an OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS CERTIFICATION/CRE DENTIAL Source: The Workforce Information System of Texas (TWIST) 7/1/10-6/30/11
Independent Auditor’s Letter
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIALREPORTING AND ON COMPLIANCE AND OTHER MATTERS BASED ON AN AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS Rene D. Peña, CPA Mary Carmen Briones, CPA James R. McDaniel, CPA MEMBERS OF AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
4171 N. MESA, SUITE Bl00 EL PASO, TEXAS 79902-1498 PHONE: 915-542-1733 FAX: 915-544-5440 E-MAIL: cpa@cpaelpaso.com
To the Board of Directors Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board, Inc. We have audited the financial statements of Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board, Inc., as of and for the year ended June 30, 2011, and have issued our report thereon dated March 26, 2012. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Internal Control Over Financial Reporting In planning and performing our audit, we considered Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board’s internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing our auditing procednres for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial statements, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board’s internal control over financial reporting.
A deficiency ill internal control exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent, or detect and correct misstatements on a timely basis. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board’s financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected on a timely basis. Our consideration of internal control over financial reporting was for the limited purpose described in the first paragraph of this section and was not designed to identify all deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that might be deficiencies, significant deficiencies, or material weaknesses. We did not identify any deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that we consider to be material weaknesses, as defined above. Compliance and Other Matters As part of obtaining reasonable assnrance abont whether Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board’s financial statements are free of material misstatement, we performed tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have a direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts. However, providing an opinion on compliance with those provisions was not an objective of our audit, and accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. The results of our tests disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards. We noted certain matters that we reported to management of the Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board, in a separate letter dated March 26, 2012. This report is intended solely for the information and use of management, the audit committee, Board of Directors and others within the entity, and federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties.
March 26, 2012
Models and Initiatives
STEM Challenge - This initiative looks to address the growing need to fill future in-demand STEM related careers in the region create STEM awareness in area youth. In May of 2010 we joined forces with the University of Texas at El Paso to put on the inaugural STEM Challenge and in 2011 the initiative grew exponentially. STEM Challenge2 goal one was: to engage 90 students. That was exceeded by engaging 192 students. A second goal was to increase schools participating by 20%; that metric was exceeded as we increased participation 100% (from 9 to 18 schools). Goal three was to have one rural team: we had six. The unique educational competition provided a real world opportunity for regional high school students to develop innovative ideas in a business plan approach to solve critical issues facing our six-county region. The initiative has gained statewide attention. The STEM Challenge was featured as a STEM Initiative Best Practice during a Texas Workforce Commission Forum in Austin August 30th. Members from three STEM Challenge Teams traveled to Austin. They included STEM Challenge2 first place winners Grey Water Solutions from Valle Verde Early College, STEM Challenge2 best presentation winners Presidio Rocketry and Robotics, Inc. and STEM Challenge third place winners Traction Jack Co., LLC. STEM Challenge 3 preparations are already in progress for March 2012!
Career Cruising - Thousands of high school students in the Upper Rio Region have access to a valuable career tool for a fifth straight year thanks to Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande. The Board renewed the license for 127 schools in the region from middle schools to academies and colleges; an investment of $61,500. This online tool helps our future workforce better prepare for the career of their choice by exploring their future options in a virtual manner. It is a critical tool in career uidance. The Upper Rio Grande Region has more than 100,000 active students registered on the Career Cruising Website in grades 4-12. NCLEX- Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande is helping get more nurses into our community. Since 2007, the Board has provided financial support to those nursing students who are in the final semester of their studies and preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination for nurses (NCLEX). The students may be enrolled in either a licensed vocational nurse or registered nurse training program at the local community college or university. Nursing students at the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso Community College, Sul Ross State University and now Texas Tech have been assisted and NCLEX passing rates have skyrocketed. Last fiscal year we were able to assist 128 participants with their certification. Last year alone we invested $52,000!
Career Connections Job Expo This annual job fair brings together employers with qualified jobseekers in the heart of Downtown El Paso. In 2010 the event attracted employers with 5,000 jobs and 10,000 job seekers. The event was the biggest event of the year and the largest ever orchestrated by Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande. More than 400 people are back to work as a result of the effort. This year we welcomed 4,022 job seekers and more than 200 employers to the Convention Center. Just one month after the event, more than 100 hires had been confirmed.
Disability Subcommittee - The Disability Subcommittee was created in 2007 to provide direct input to the Board of Directors regarding service delivery to customers with disabilities. When created, it was the first disability subcommittee in Texas and is only one of a handful in the nation. The efforts are done through a collaboration of stakeholders serving people with disabilities in our community. The objective of the subcommittee is to better serve customers with disabilities, and to work closely with other agencies that serve people with disabilities. Breaking Barriers- The “Breaking Barriers” summer youth with disabilities program works in collaboration with key organizations that serve the disabled: Volar Center for Independent Living and The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). The initiative started in 2008 with 30 youth, in 2009 youth numbers doubled and employers tripled and in 2010 the program involved 82 youth. In 2011, the program included 60 youth and 22 employers. The program emphasizes tools that engage youth with disabilities facing employment barriers and educates employers regarding the benefits of employing individuals with disabilities. As part of the partnership, Workforce Solutions subsidizes youth’s wages and assists with job placement and additional case management; DARS and Volar CIL assist with referals, job coaching and case management. In 2011, Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande received an award from the Texas Workforce Commission during the 15th Annual Texas Workforce Conference in Houston for its Breaking Barriers program. The summer program for youth with disabilities was recognized in the Service to Workers category and resulted in a $25,000 check for the workforce board. The “Breaking Barriers” Youth Program is funded through the Workforce Investment Act.
Tech Prep
- More than 250 students have received their GED through Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande’s Tech Prep Program. Two cohorts graduate every year from the self-paced program. The Tech Prep program is funded through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and aims to assist those in need of obtaining a GED through individualized, self-paced teaching methods. The Tech Prep program was started in 2008 with one on-site lab inside the career center at 1359 Lomaland. More than a year ago, a second lab was added; this one located inside the Northeast workforce center at 9740 Dyer. The Tech Prep program is funded through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and aims to assist those in need of obtaining a GED through individualized teaching methods.
Education Expo- Youth, post secondary institutions, industry professionals, workforce partners and staff came together for our 4th Education Expo November 19th at the Region 19 Head Start Facility at 11670 Chito Samaniego. The half-day event began with Congressman Silvestre Reyes and included a motivational speaker; insight from industry professionals; workshops on college admissions and financial aid from UTEP; budgeting with First Light Federal Credit Union and job readiness and virtual career exploration. “This event was designed to eliminate barriers and offer support through awareness, preparedness and exploration,” said Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande CEO Lorenzo Reyes, Jr. Students that attended did walk away with a clearer outlook on their future and were already asking when we were going to have the next one! Thanks to all staff that assisted in making the event a success!
Early College High School - The initiative helps support students from the early college high school with funding for tuition and supplies for two semesters. The goal of this initiative is to assist those participants enrolled in dual classes; both high school and college. This program compresses the time it takes to acquire a high school diploma and complete the first two years of college. This initiative increases the number of Upper Rio Grande customers completing and attaining educational goals. Last fiscal year we had 88 participants enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso. In the past two years we have invested more than $175,000. Additional Highlights: In May - Seven Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande Child Care Services (CCS) providers in our rural counties received new learning centers and equipment to increase their quality of care thanks to money available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Quality Expansion Grant. The new additions, totaling $51,252.57 included books, tricycles, toy play sets, musical instruments, games and play dolls. Providers in El Paso County also benefited from the grant. A total of 355; 208 child care centers and 147 home providers received new toys and learning centers to improve their quality of care. In July - Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande awarded 48 University of Texas at El Paso juniors and seniors a scholarship to continue their pursuit of a degree in Early Education and Childhood Development. Each recipient received nearly $1,200. The funds were part of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Quality Expansion Grant to enhance child care.
Giving Back Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande works daily to bring job seekers and employers together, but takes time out to give back to the community throughout the year.
In April, staff donated Easter baskets and all the needs for a fabulous picnic for more than 200 foster children in El Paso and all the children living at the Reynolds House, a shelter for homeless women and their families. In addition, donations were delivered to Fort Davis where students thought there would be no Easter due to devastating fires that ravished the area. Staff also volunteered their time to make a home make-over a reality for one El Paso senior. Staff cleaned her yard, planted a garden and touched up her home as part of “Rebuilding Together.” New in 2011 was the adoption of a two mile stretch of highway on El Paso’s eastside through the Adopt A Highway program. Every quarter, staff put on their safety vests and grab those trash bags to keep the area on Rojas and North Loop on 375 tidy. Throughout the year additional activities included Race for the Cure, a blood drive to benefit United Blood Services, Relay for Life, Fan Drive, Denim Drive, School Supply Drive, Food Drive, YWCA Toy Drive and a Paint-A-Thon.
For the holiday season, system staff increased their spirit of giving even further to include 131 boot boxes filled with gifts especially selected for a specific child living in El Paso and Ft. Hancock Colonias. This joyful initiative is heightened as the boxes stack up in our administrative offices prior to delivery. Led by Ms. Norma Rubalcava, Contract Specialist II, Board offices, the “Boot Box” holiday campaign is in its fourth year. Last year’s box total was 89. Staff also helped farm workers. More than 200 food items were donated by system staff for the Migrant Farm Working Facility and West Texas Food Bank. Administrative Staff also has the option to contribute to the Reynolds House throughout the year by having any amount they choose be deducted from their paycheck which emphasizes the importance of education and vocational training. In 2011 alone, staff contributed $1,549. An additional $1,381 was donated to the United Way.
Expenitures
Mobile Unit
Activated for Aid
On September 8th the Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande mobile unit deployed to Austin to assist with the recovery efforts resulting from devastating wildfires in Bastrop. The mobile career center is one of only six that exists among the 28 Boards in the Texas and was one of three activated to aid in this disaster. It is equipped with ten computers and a satellite for internet connectivity. In this effort, it was used to assist those affected by fires with filing for Unemployment Insurance; referrals to food, lodging, social service and charitable agencies. Locally, the unit typically assists by providing mobile career and rapid response services. This isn’t the first time the Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande Mobile Unit has been activated during a disaster recovery effort. In September 2005, staff and the mobile unit assisted in recovery efforts for hurricanes Rita and Katrina and in September 2008, the unit and staff assisted in the recovery effort following Hurricane Gustav.
Locations Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande centers and satelites are located in El Paso, Brewster and Presidio counties. Our mobile unit brings services to other outlying areas.
West 5070 Doniphan El Paso (915) 887-2730 Downtown 300 E. Main El Paso (915) 313-3000 Northeast 9740 Dyer El Paso (915) 887-2820 Ft. Bliss 2494 Ricker Road El Paso (915) 566-8649 East 1359 Lomaland El Paso (915) 887-2000 Sin Fronteras 201 E. 9th Avenue El Paso (915) 532-1059 Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo 11100 Santos Sanchez Socorro (915) 872-8648
Fabens, El Paso County 206 S.E. 8th Street Fabens (915) 764-4285 Van Horn 704 W. Broadway Van Horn (432) 283-8327 Alpine, Brewster County 500 West Avenue H Centennial Building, Rm 108 Alpine (432) 837-9800 Presidio, Presidio County 100 Market, Unit 6B Presidio (432) 229-1170 Mobile Unit
Texas
Workforce Boards Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande Administrative Offices 221 N. Kansas #1000 El Paso, TX 79901 (915) 887-2600 Visit our websites: www.urgjobs.org www.workintexas.com Customer care line: (915) 887-2600 1-866-351-2777
Shining Moment
Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande awarded “Services to Workers” and receives $25,000 at Texas Workforce Commission Annual Conference. Click covers to download previous annual reports or go to our website at www.urgjobs.org
Copyright © 2012 Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board. The Upper Rio Grande Workforce Development Board is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Relay Texas: Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) “711”. Ayuda y servicios están disponibles para personas con discapacidades. Relay Texas: Sistema de comunicación para personas con problemas auditivos (TDD) “711” o (800/735-2989), *800/735-2988 (Tel.)