ATLANTA -- Lisa Adkisson, an employment marketing representative (EMR) in the Georgia Department of Labor’s Blue Ridge Career Center in Fannin County, has won the department’s Star of Excellence Award for outstanding contributions to employment services in the community.

Georgia State University’s Usery Center recently conducted a limited survey for the USDOL and GDOL in the Bartow County area to determine the willingness of industry and professionals to provide information on “workforce needs” on a regular basis.

The pilot study hoped to determine three things: what type of information is needed by planners to create programs within the workforce investment system; is it practical for employers to provide such information in a systematic , uniform and timely basis; and, would employers by willing to provide such information.

The study is designed to better understand employer viewpoints about current workforce information flow and how to improve it.

At this time the results of the study have not been published.

GA TAPP is a program that helps individuals use their experience and education to start a career in the teaching profession. Through additional course and field work the candidate can work towards teacher certification.

Some of the qualifications include:

• a background check;
• a Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited college or university that supports the field in which the candidate is seeking certification;
• at least a 2.5 GPA;
• candidate must pass or exempt the Praxis I; and
• the candidate must also be employed by the school system and the school system must recommend the individual for the program.

Middle Grades (4-8) (Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts)

Economics
English Education
Mathematics
Business Education
Social Science (Broad Field)
Technology Education
Foreign Language
Science (Broad Field, Biology, Chemistry)
History

This program is a collaboration of Northwest Georgia RESA, Kennesaw State University and other colleges and universities, the public school systems, and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. For more information visit www.nwgaresa.com or www.gapsc.com.

The United States Department of Labor has appointed Dr. Helen Parker as the new Regional Administrator for Employment and Training Administration for Region 3. Region 3 serves Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Dr. Parker currently serves the Georgia Department of Labor as Assistant Commissioner for Employment Services.

Dr. Parker earned her B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.. She has a Ph.D. in English Literature from Duke University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Georgia.

She has served in Employment Services in various positions of leadership since 1974 including positions with Durham, NC, Atlanta SDA, and the Georgia Department of Labor. Dr. Parker has been with the Georgia Department of Labor, serving as Employment Service Director and Assistant Commissioner since 1984.

She has received many national and international honors and awards including the International Who’s Who of Professional and Business Women, the Interstate Conference of Employment Security Agencies President’s Award (1999) and Vice President Gore’s National Performance Review “Hammer” Award (1996).

This ardent proponent for the unemployed and for those working in their interest will “do us proud!”

Northwest Georgia News

• Region 1 has received additional Dislocated Worker and Adult funds in the amount of $2 million that must be used by June 30, 2003. Please review your funding needs and immediately request any necessary budget modifications.
• The 3rd Youth Summit is scheduled for March 15,2003 that Heritage Hall in Rome.
• WIB welcomes new member Frankie Wheeler. Ms. Wheeler represents private industry and Polk County.
• McDermont Truck Driving School of Ga., Inc. is a new WIA provider. McDermont is located in Polk County.
• Georgia Department of Human Resources has reduced its Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases districts from 13 down to 7. The new map can be viewed at www2.state.ga.us/departments/dhr/mhmrsa/regbomp.html.
• As requested by hospital representatives at a recent meeting, an on-line resume submission form to be completed by WIA medical trainees when they are seeking employment is located at www.CareerDepot.org/resume.htm.
• The Georgia DOL’s Cartersville Career Center, the Cartersville Employer Committee, and the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce’s Human Resource Council will sponsor a seminar on labor laws in the workplace for employers in the area. The seminar will be held Tuesday, March 11, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the chamber of commerce office, 122 West Main St. in Cartersville. For additional information about the seminar, contact Employment Marketing Representative Jan Rucker of the Cartersville Career Center at (770) 387-3760.
• On Wednesday, February 12th, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao testified at a hearing before the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives. Her remarks and responses to questions and answers from the committee members dealt primarily with the Personal Reemployment Accounts proposed in the Administration's economic stimulus package to help unemployed workers and Workforce Investment Act( WIA) Reauthorization. To read her statement submitted to the committee go to http://www.doleta.gov/reemployment/HREducation.cfm.

Job Shadowing Can Provide Students with New Perspective about Studies

At the January Workforce Investment Board meeting, members were encouraged to host a youth in their businesses for a day of participation in the Job Shadowing Program.

Job shadowing is an academically motivating activity designed to give kids an up-close look at the world of work and to answer the question, "Why do I have to learn this?" Beginning with a nationwide kickoff on January 31, 2003, and continuing throughout the school year, students across America "shadow" workplace mentors as they go through a normal day on the job. The students get to see firsthand how the skills learned in school relate to the workplace. Job Shadowing is led by the National Job Shadow Coalition and is supported through a national sponsorship by Monster and a co-sponsorship by News Corporation.

If you want to host a student in your workplace, contact your local Junior Achievement office or other local organization listed at www.jobshadow.org. In the event that your community is not covered by one of these organizations, you can get students involved by contacting your local school directly.

Training Opportunities

Southeastern Employment & Training Association (SETA) and DOL Region 3 Finance & Admin Conference, Spring 2003
Westin Peachtree Hotel, Atlanta, GA
March 16-19, 2003
1-800-228-3000
1-404-659-1400
For questions www.seta.org or contact Carol Rayburn at 706-369-5703 or crayburn@negrdc.org

Career Point’s Case Manager Certification Training Series
Executive Tower Hotel, Denver, CO March 3-4, 2003
Ramada Inn Gulfview, Clearwater Beach, FL, April 7-8,2003
Registration Information:
Career Point, Inc., 4450 Belden Village St. N.W., Suite 601, Canton, Ohio 44718-3672, Ralph Kraus, Training Director, 877-212-1689

The 4^th Annual Ready, Work Grow Conference
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, 700 Aliceanna Street, Baltimore, MD 212023
March 19-21, 2003
Registration Inquiries: 330-425-9330
workforceconf@conferon.com

GCIS Training, Winter 2003
Albany State University, March 13, 2003 (229) 430-1838
Columbus State University, March 14, 2003, (706) 565-3645

National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP)
14^th Annual Conference
Adam’s Mark Hotel, St. Louis, MO
May 4-7, 2003
For more information: 202-589-1790

Motivational Counseling: Understanding Your Customer
By Project Ideas
Kennesaw State University
February 24-25, 2006

No One is Unemployable
By Project Ideas
Kennesaw State University
May 19-20, 2003
Contact KSU Center at 770-423-6369