FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN WHATCOM COUNTY

By Ronnie-Sue Johnson & Mel Monkelis

(Part Two of a report published in the 2005 Winter Edition of DSNews.)

Whatcom County workforce development partners are continuing to build a systemic approach to using the Dependable Strengths curriculum and model with job seekers and students. Growing from a desire to help public assistance recipients develop self-esteem and find success in employment, the Whatcom County WorkFirst partners resolved to use the Dependable Strengths Articulation process and principles across the partnership to encourage, empower, and support parents, students, and job seekers in every facet of the partnership’s services to them. To accomplish this goal, the first step was staff training. The scope of the vision required that local partners have the capacity to conduct staff training on Dependable Strengths locally, and the Center for Dependable Strengths joined the project to help develop local training capacity.

The partnership is well on its way toward its community-wide vision. Four partner staff (2 from each of the two local Community and Technical Colleges) have been working on certification as Level 3 Trainers, and have successfully completed their first Train-the-Trainer session, delivering the Dependable Strengths 5-day workshop to 7 partner staff at the end of April. These trainers are now working with Master Trainer coaches from the Center for Dependable Strengths to complete their certifications, and regularly conduct the 2.5 day sessions for staff and customers to familiarize them with the concepts and applicability of the Dependable Strengths model.

The Dependable Strengths Articulation process curriculum has been integrated into several venues where people are served by the workforce development system in Whatcom County.

• It is regularly conducted at both Bellingham Technical College and Whatcom Community College for students and job seekers who are participating in Washington’s WorkFirst program for families who are receiving public assistance benefits, and for students in the Adult Basic Education and GED preparation programs. Every college quarter, several sessions are offered to different classes at different locations and times to meet customers’ needs.
  
  
• A great testimony to the value of the Dependable Strengths process comes from the vision and hope it gave one group of WorkFirst parents. They were so positively impacted by their experience of DS that they requested a special session for their own teenaged children! As a result, Bellingham Technical College staff are working on a special session that will be delivered in July to teens of WorkFirst parents and teens who are working toward attaining their GED.
  
  
• Adult Basic Ed students learning English as a Second Language (ESL) at an evening class held in Blaine, the northern-most Whatcom community, have been the pilot group for developing an ESL version of the Dependable Strengths curriculum. The impact that Dependable Strengths had on these students was dramatic, reminding them that although they may struggle with the English Language, they have amazing skills and strengths to offer.
  
  
• The concepts of Dependable Strengths have been applied to a new community course on financial and home-renter skills in Bellingham which is offered to WorkFirst parents and low-income housing assistance recipients. The model is being used to help people apply their strengths and skills to money management and housing issues. Knowing your dependable strengths is useful for more than just finding a job!

WorkSource Whatcom, in partnership with Bellingham Technical College and Whatcom Community College, has added the 2.5 day Dependable Strengths training to its established 12-day Career Transitions program. The Career Transitions class is designed to assist individuals in their career planning and job search training. It has been recognized by the State of Washington as a Best Practice when serving customers. Career Transitions is offered every six weeks, and the partnership has just completed its 78th class. The addition of Dependable Strengths training has been received with overwhelming enthusiasm. Customers are saying: “I saw the lies about myself exposed.” “All job seekers would benefit from this course.” “It challenged me to analyze and recognize hidden skills, talents, and strengths.” “It has broadened my perspective and opened up options for me.” The DSA process has been shared with staff at Whatcom Community College and there are plans to hold a regular 2.5 day training session during Professional Development Week in September 2005.

At the DSA training held in December 2004 in Whatcom County with the partnership, members wanted their own web site for DSA Northwest. Bob Hayes, a DSA trainer from the Northwest Workforce Development Council took it upon himself to develop the web site at www.dsnw.org. The intent for the local site is to stay aware of DSA trainings and other DSA events taking place here in Whatcom County.

Enthusiasm for the Dependable Strengths process continues to grow as more and more system staff experience it for themselves. You might say that ENERGY and VISION are two of this partnership’s DEPENDABLE STRENGTHS!

Ronnie-Sue Johnson is WorkFirst Supervisor, Employment Security Department, Bellingham, Washington. Email: rsjohnson@esd.wa.gov. Phone: (360) 714-4230.

Mel Monkelis is Worker Retraining Coordinator, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham. Email: mmonkeli@whatcom.ctc.edu. Phone: 360-676-2170 Ext. 3325.