A Letter From the President

I hope this edition of the MAWD Newsletter finds everyone in the holiday spirits as we end 2022. I have just returned from the NAWDP Youth Development Symposium and am feeling re-energized. The 2022 Youth Symposium was a fantastic event with a record number of attendees, with nearly 700 workforce professionals gathering in Charlotte, N.C., and 100 virtual attendees.  

Being a member of NAWDP has made me a better workforce development professional and put some of the top workforce professionals across the nation into my life. My membership has given me a venue to access the best of the best in our profession. And I have proudly represented Missouri on the NAWDP Board of Directors for the past four years.

Whether you are an experienced workforce development leader, director, manager, workforce development board member, or new to the industry, membership in NAWDP can help you stay at the forefront of your profession. Need to know more? Here are the top 10 reasons to become a member:

• Become eligible to obtain the industry-accepted credentials of a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP)
• Build connections with other industry professionals through NAWDP Connect, an online member community
• Gain access to industry-leading resources to thrive as a thought leader and drive advocacy within the industry
• Receive discounted membership pricing on professional development, conferences, and events.
• Member-only access to post RFP's and industry opportunities
  

• Ability to post and review current workforce development job opportunities
  
• Become a part of the largest organization of workforce development professionals
  
• Join other industry leaders at annual conferences for networking and development
• Be a critical piece in inspiring innovation and change within the workforce development community.
• Advance your knowledge, credibility and value in the workforce development industry
  

You can join as an individual or group rates can be applied. Ask your employer if a group membership option is available to you.    Watch the video to learn more about NAWDP membership and see what others are saying. https://youtu.be/-rY0Zx5M674

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have regarding NAWDP.

Dana Keller, CWDP
President

MAWD Conference Speakers Needed!

It Starts With Us: Empower. Collaborate. Energize.

The Missouri Association for Workforce Development is looking for speakers and workshop presenters for its upcoming annual workforce development conference. This year’s theme, “It Starts With Us: Empower. Collaborate. Energize”, focuses on strengthening our workforce professionals through knowledge, building partnerships, and motivation.

If you or your agency would like to be a speaker, please complete the Request for Proposal (RFP) documentation. Completed RFPs must be submitted to Donna Brake at Donna.Brake@dhewd.mo.gov by Sunday, January 15, 2023. For additional information, please visit https://www.mawd.us or review the entire RFP content. If you have any questions, please direct them to Donna.Brake@dhewd.mo.gov.

2023 MAWD Annual Conference

April 26 – 28, 2023

Become a MAWD 2023 Conference Sponsor

House Spotlight –

LIHEAP and LIWHAP

LIHEAP is a federal block grant program to assist low-income households, particularly those that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, in meeting their immediate home energy needs.  LIHEAP serves a vital, life-saving role, protecting families from brutal weather fluctuations, including increasingly hot and dangerously cold temperatures and enables Missouri to serve its most vulnerable citizens.

Clients can apply one of the following ways:

• Online at: https://mydss.mo.gov/utility-assistance/liheap
• In person at their local community action agency
• Or by mail: Print the LIHEAP application (English) (Español)

For more information please email FSD.LIHEAP@dss.mo.gov

LIHWAP is a onetime benefit amount of up to $750 to help low-income families pay their water and/or their wastewater (sewer) bills during times of hardship. Benefit can be used towards disconnection fees, in threat of disconnection, past due bills, and reconnection fees.

Clients can apply by one the ways below:

• Online at: https://mydss.mo.gov/utility-assistance/lihwap
• In person at their local community action agency
• Or by mail: Print the LIHWAP application (English) (Español),

For more information please email FSD.LIHWAP@dss.mo.gov

Here is a YouTube video with more information about LIHEAP and LIWHAP: https://youtu.be/tAPKIFi_PJ0

Jason Lisenbee Appointed MAWD Business Relations and Marketing Chair

Jason Lisenbee of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is joining the MAWD Board of Directors as the Business Relations and Marketing Chair and VR Representative.  Jason joined VR as a Business Specialist in May for the Central-West Region. 

Update Your MAWD Membership  TODAY!

The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) Office of Workforce Development hosted the 5th Annual Apprenticeship Missouri Summit, on November 14 & 15, at the Stoney Creek Conference Center in Independence, MO.

The event brought together over 200 apprenticeship community partners from all across Missouri, the United States, and even the globe and was one of the largest National Apprenticeship Week events across the USA. 

Tuesday featured a keynote luncheon panel on Fostering Industry Led Collaboration Across the Globe. This panel, moderated by Nazrene Mannie with the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN), brought together GAN members to discuss the role of the private sector and industry apprenticeship programs and partnerships including training for current employees and how to influence action to ensure that non-traditional cohorts can access apprenticeships and work-based learning. The panel was streamed live and is available online: https://youtu.be/Enb6A0t6JQI.

Missouri is one of the best states in the nation for Registered Apprenticeships, ranking third for new apprentices and fourth for completed apprenticeships.

MDHEWD and the Office of Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning continue to prioritize access to Registered Apprenticeship programs, as well as expanding current programs, and launching new partnerships.

To learn more about apprenticeship opportunities in Missouri, visit dhewd.mo.gov/apprenticeship_missouri.php and moapprenticeconnect.com.