Questions & Answers
WORKFORCE DATA SERVICES (WDS) LLP, PRESENTS THE REEMPLOYMENT CONNECTION
Helping State and Local Workforce Development Agencies Meet the Goals of the American Recovery and Reemployment Act (ARRA)
Q. Can any one product help you meet all the goals of ARRA?
A. No, but the Workforce Data Services (WDS) Reemployment Connection solution can help you meet many of the ARRA goals effectively and efficiently.
Q. What is the WDS Reemployment Connection solution?
A. The Reemployment Connection is a worker history database containing timely and comprehensive information about every unemployed worker’s employment, education, and training history as well as other demographic data needed for assessment and service planning.
Q. What makes the WDS product different than other similar products?
A. Our process. We begin to populate the Reemployment Connection database as the UI initial claim is filed. The unemployed worker is instructed to access the database via the web within days of filing his or her claim to provide the detailed information about their history.
Using this process we capture timely and complete data about almost all dislocated workers within days of their filing for UI benefits as opposed to the relatively small number of workers who currently provide such data.
Q. How is this data used?
A. We offer integration services to pass the data to the ES legacy system so that it can be used to identify workers in need of services for dislocated workers such as RES/REA.
We can also pass the data directly to the systems of local service providers so they can work with the claimants, perform assessments, and make referrals to services such as reemployment, training or education.
The data, once accumulated, is instrumental in workforce development planning, economic development planning, and education/training curriculum development. Data can be passed or made available to those agencies as desired.
The Reemployment Connection allows states to have a comprehensive picture of what the dislocated worker population looks like and what their needs are.
Q. Is confidential UI data used, or does the UI initial claim system have to be modified?
A. No confidential data is used. We take only an extract of the data which UI captures for Worker Profiling purposes as it is being passed through the system.
In order to notify the claimant that he or she needs to access the web based database and how to prepare to provide their history we need to capture an email address or telephone number. If these data elements are not part of the UI intake process we will work with the agency to modify their intake data.
If UI initial claims are taken via a call center we try not to add to the information the intake interviewer must provide to the claimant. Claims taken via the web can be modified to capture the email address and or telephone number.
Using the email address an automated email can be sent to the claimant with instructions for accessing the database. Using a phone number an automated call can be generated either containing the instructions or providing a toll free number to call where the information can be provided via IVR. We try not to add to agency mail costs or staff time. Mailings the agency already uses can be modified to include the information.
Q. What does the worker have to do to provide his or her history?
A. The Reemployment Connection solution uses facilitated point and click and drop down box technology. Very little narrative is required of the claimant. Data is captured for employment history, education, training, occupational licenses and certifications, and any other criteria the state and local providers feel is necessary.
Q. Where does the database reside? Who owns it?
A. The database resides with the sponsoring agency – usually the department housing ES and UI. The database is the property of the sponsoring agency.
Q. How does Reemployment Connection help us meet ARRA goals?
A. First, using Reemployment Connection makes the connection between UI claimants and Workforce System providers. The connection and process is seamless and efficient without disrupting the intake process or adding time and duties to already busy staff.
Having access to comprehensive information about recently unemployed workers allows service providers to make a judgment about the types of service needed and the priority for service. Workers can be called in for specific services making best use of their time and staff time. Recruitments for job openings, classroom openings, and training slots are simplified and more productive.
Data about unemployed workers can be shared within and across regions by local providers and providers can team on special initiatives.
Planning activities will be enhanced and will be based on more recent and complete data than is available currently making the overall workforce development system more flexible and responsive.
Q. Describe the technology supporting the WDS Reemployment Connection solution.
A. The database product is developed in J2EE. It utilizes “Open” system design concepts and features a relational database. The product is SOA compliant and is highly configurable.
Q. How does using the WDS Reemployment Connection solution affect our other legacy and related systems supporting workforce development?
A. There is no impact on your existing systems. Our product does not replace or make obsolete any system/product you are currently using. Our solution is designed to collect, store, and pass data to your systems and those of the local agencies who participate. Creating interfaces between systems, if desired, should not be especially difficult.
Q. Who is Workforce Data Services (WDS) LLP?
A. Workforce Data Services (WDS), LLP is a limited liability partnership consisting of Workforce Data Services LLC, Kelliher & Associates LLC, and Coffey Consulting LLC. Kelliher & Associates is the technology builder and provider of the Reemployment Connection and related data integration services and has several decades of experience in developing workforce related systems including UI call center and web based claims systems. Kelliher & Associates also have extensive experience in database design and systems integration services.
