Careersource Florida

About WFI Workforce Florida, Inc was created by Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature with the passage of the Workforce Innovation Act of 2000, Chapter 445, Florida Statutes. A 45-member board appointed by the Governor oversees and monitors the administration of the state's workforce policy, programs and services carried out by the 24 business-led Regional Workforce Boards the Agency for Workforce Innovation. Direct services are provided at nearly 100 One-Stop Centers with locations in every county in the state. This innovative approach to workforce development in Florida is illustrated in the model below. The Workforce system was re-designed to create partnerships between economic development, workforce development and businesses. In addition, the system is operated through performance-based contracts that increase accountability of all entities to meet strategic and legislative-mandated goals. WORKFORCE FLORIDA BOARD The Workforce Florida board is comprised of three standing committees Executive, Finance, and One-Stopand three standing councils. The councils,, and Business Competitiveness, are tasked with developing strategies to target the needs of job seekers and employers across the employment spectrum-from entry into the workforce to cultivating workers to fill coveted high skill/high demand jobs. On an as needed basis, the board may form Task Forces or other special groups to focus on specific issues. Committees romotes successful entry into the workforce through education and job experience, including school-to-work initiatives that enlist business and community support to ensure that students have the educational and occupational skills required to succeed in the workforce. Also addresses adults entering the workforce for the first time and youth programs related to welfare reform. Career Council assists families transitioning from welfare to work and former welfare recipients working in low-wage jobs with limited mobility. Also includes the Incumbent Worker Training program, which helps employers retrain and upgrade the skills of their employees to meet the changing demands of the economy and avert layoffs. Business Competitiveness Council aligns Florida's education and training programs with higher-paying, high-demand jobs that advance careers, build a more skilled workforce and enhance the state's efforts to attract, grow and expand job-creating businesses. The high skills/high wages strategy is comprised of several initiatives including identifying high-demand, good paying occupations and linking performance to educators who graduate workers for these jobs; targeted industry sectors; regional high skills/high wages committees which bring economic developers, businesses and educators together; and customized training programsQuick Response and Incumbent Worker for the state's existing and new-to-Florida businesses. Local Workforce Boards While Workforce Florida provides policy, planning and oversight at the state level, 24 regional workforce boards with significant representation from the business community are largely responsible for implementing programs in their communities. Each regional board has performance measures and contracts to provide accountability, however, the choice of initiatives and programs it implements are under the local board's control. This allows for programs to reflect the economic development, business and workforce needs of each particular region of the state. Workforce development services in Florida are available primarily through a system of nearly 100 One-Stop Centers designed to provide easy access to diverse services including job placement and training, temporary cash assistance and special support services such as subsidized childcare and transportation. Florida's One-Stop Center network was established to bring workforce and welfare transition programs together under one physical or "virtual" roof to simplify and improve access for employers seeking qualified workers