DC Workforce Investment Council Responsibilities Membership Selection of Workforce Investment Council Members Selection of Youth Council Members Ensuring Public Access Conflicts of Interest Summary Responsibilities The DC Workforce Investment Council is charged with overseeing the implementation of the District of Columbia's Strategic Five-Year Plan for Provision of Services under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. This oversight includes, but is not limited to: The development and continuous improvement of a District workforce investment system as referred to in Title I of WIA The development of linkages in order to assure coordination and non-duplication of programs and activities in the system Annual review of relevant sections of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act The development and continuous improvement of comprehensive District performance measures, including adjusted measures of performance, in order to assess the effectiveness of workforce investment activities Preparation of the annual report to the Secretary of Labor The development of the District employment statistics system The development of incentive grant applications (Note: The District is a single Workforce Investment area and as a result has combined the WIA requirements for both state and local boards into the new DC WIC. For example, all One-Stop partners are members of the combined WIC.) Membership The Mayor Two members of the City Council Representatives of business in the District, appointed by the Mayor, who: Are owners of businesses, chief executives, or operating officers of businesses; or other business executives or employees with optimum policymaking or hiring authority Represent businesses with employment opportunities that reflect the employment opportunities of the District Are nominated by District business organizations and business trade associations The lead officials in the District who have experience and expertise in the delivery of workforce investment activities, and officials who have responsibilities for the programs and activities carried out by One-Stop partners: Director, Department of Employment Services (labor programs, One-Stop partner, youth programs) Superintendent, DC Public Schools (vocational education programs, One-Stop partner) Director, Department of Human Services (vocational rehabilitation, social welfare programs, older worker programs, One-Stop partner) Director, Department of Housing and Community Development (community development block grant administrator, economic development, One-Stop partner) Chancellor, University of the District of Columbia and President, Southeastern University (adult education and literacy programs, community and technical colleges, One-Stop partners) A representative of District residents A majority of the members of the DC WIC shall be representatives of business. The Mayor shall select an Acting Chairperson from among the business representatives until the Council members elect the official chairperson. Selection of Workforce Investment Council Members The selection of Council members adheres strictly to the requirements of the WIA, with the Mayor appointing all members with the exception of those representing the City Council. Given the size of the District and the fact that it is required to establish a board that includes both state and local membership, it was thought prudent to appoint agency directors who had oversight of more than one required entity. For example, the Mayor appointed the Director of the Department of Human Services to represent vocational rehabilitation, social welfare, and older worker programs because his agency includes these programs. Similarly, the Director of the Department of Employment Services will represent the Job Service, Unemployment Insurance, various training programs under WIA, and other Department of Labor programs because DOES administers these programs. Many of the appointed members oversee youth programs. The District strongly believes that in order to realize the WIA vision, a dynamic, representative Workforce Investment Council must be in place to oversee and provide advice to the Mayor on the District's integrated workforce investment system. With a clear mandate from the Mayor, outlined in the executive order establishing the Council, and a membership that includes business, legislative, government, and education leaders, One-Stop Career Center partners, and representatives from labor, the new WIC is well-equipped to achieve the vision. Selection of Youth Council Members The District's Workforce Investment Council will work closely with the School-to-Work partners to identify appropriate Youth Council members within the parameters of the Act. In so doing, the Council will utilize the experience and expertise of the school-to-work partners and other groups and partnerships around the District. Ensuring Public Access The DC WIC will ensure that the public has access to Council meetings and information relating to Council activities and membership through a District statute that requires that all Council meetings be publicized. Additionally, all meetings will provide seating for the public, and information related to membership and minutes will be available to the public upon request. By virtue of the open meeting law, District plan drafts, discussion among DC WIC members, and comments on the plan will be available as well. Conflicts of Interest A member of DC WIC may not vote on a matter under consideration by the Council regarding the provision of services by such member (or by an entity that such member represents). In addition, a member may not vote on a matter under consideration by the Council that would provide direct financial benefit to such member or the immediate family of such member, or engage in any other activity determined by the Mayor to constitute a conflict of interest. Summary With leadership from the Mayor, the District of Columbia Workforce Investment Council will have the support and authority to bring the various partners together into a cohesive network of service providers centering on the One-Stop Career Center system. The membership, which includes leaders from across governmental agencies, the District's City Council, secondary and postsecondary education, business representation from around the District, and labor, will have the interest, expertise, and resources to meet both the requirements of WIA and the needs of District residents related to workforce investment. Since employers, along with their employees, are beneficiaries of the system, they will have the leadership role in shaping the DC WIC's role and direction. Through this combination of mayoral leadership, comprehensive Council membership, and strong business participation, the DC WIC will be well-equipped to shape workforce investment in the District of Columbia.