Workplace Discussion List Members,
Here are some recent new resources, with maybe a couple of older ones
that I hadn't included before.  See what you think.
Donna

Donna Brian
Moderator, LINCS Workplace Literacy Discussion List
Off-list contact djgbrian at utk.edu
 
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>From CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy) http://www.clasp.org 


"Beyond Stimulus: Shoring Up the Safety Net, Securing the American
Dream"
	The United States is entering into a recession which many will
be longer and more severe than any we have faced in recent decades. As
Congress and the new President consider what actions to take, CLASP
calls for a package that goes beyond stimulus aimed at temporarily
boosting consumer demand. This policy paper outlines actions that
Congress should take immediately to strengthen safety net programs that
provide critical assistance to vulnerable workers and families and to
ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to share in the benefits
of recovery. Among the recommendations are to:
-Ensure Access for Low-Income People to Good New Jobs Created Through
Infrastructure Investments 
-Fund Summer Jobs in Areas with High Youth Unemployment Rates 
-Increase Support for Education and Training During the Downturn 
-Expand Transitional Jobs for Individuals with Barriers to Employment
http://www.clasp.org/publications/claspbeyondstimulus.pdf 

"Recover, Renew, Rebuild: Workforce Policies for a Strong and Fair
Economy"
	Education and training are major contributors to economic
prosperity. They are drivers of economic mobility and opportunity.
Workforce policies to help individuals who are struggling in the labor
market also are a critical component of a recovery package to get
America working again. This report contains CLASP workforce policy
recommendations for Congress and the Administration to address the
immediate economic crisis and to make a down payment on the longer-term
agenda of building a stronger and more equitable economy. It includes
actions they can take to: help workers and families recover from the
current recession; renew the nation's commitment to good jobs and upward
mobility for all and rebuild middle class jobs.
http://www.clasp.org/publications/workforce2009_nov12_2008.pdf 

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>From Public/Private Ventures  http://www.ppv.org 


"Targeting Industries, Training Workers and Improving Opportunities: The
Final Report from the Sectoral Employment Initiative"
	As opportunities for less-educated workers to access well-paying
jobs grow scarce, it is clear that our nation requires new approaches to
workforce development.
http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/263_publication.pdf 


>From the Asian American Civic Association http://aaca-boston.org/ 


"Communicating at Work"
	This resource is a free web site for immigrant adults put
together by the Asian American Civic Association in Boston, MA in
response to the concerns of its ESOL and training program graduates now
working in mainstream American companies. The web site is very
interactive and features dialogues, scenarios and quizzes to help adult
learners improve their communication skills with supervisors, co-workers
and customers.
http://aaca-boston.org/caw/ 

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>From Neighborhood Funders Group http://www.nfg.org 


"Newcomers in the American Workplace: Improving Employment Outcomes for
Low-Wage Immigrants and Refugees"
	Given immigrants' growing numbers and their expanding economic
role in U.S. society, addressing challenges and creating opportunities
for immigrants to succeed in the labor force are critical prerequisites
to improve the economic security for all low-wage working families and
ensure the future vitality of our economy.
http://www.nfg.org/publications/newcomers_in_workplace.pdf 

"Jobs Toolbox"
	A one-stop resource guide for grantmakers and trustees on jobs
and employment funding, covering trends in the economy, employment and
training strategies, welfare-to-work strategies, and funding case
studies.
http://www.nfg.org/toolbox/index.htm 

"Bridging the Gap: Reshaping Poverty Policy in America"
	This conference issue of NFG (Neighborhood Funders Group)
Reports includes papers presented at the September 2008 conference which
focused on poverty and the important role foundations can play in
addressing the social, economic and civic barriers that prevent people
in low- and moderate-income urban and rural communities from attaining
the American Dream.
http://www.nfg.org/reports/2008_Fall_report.pdf 

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>From MDRC http://www.mdrc.org  


"Opening Doors: "Students' Perspectives on Juggling Work, Family, and
College"
	Community colleges offer low-wage workers opportunities to
increase their earnings and improve their family's overall economic
well-being by enhancing their marketable job skills with advanced
education and training. Yet many people who could benefit from community
college programs either do not enroll or drop out before completing
their coursework. This study uses information gathered in focus groups
at six community colleges from current, former, and potential students
(most of them single parents) to explore institutional and personal
access and retention issues they face as they seek a workable balance of
college, work, and family responsibilities. The focus group findings
have important implications for the community colleges, employers, and
policymakers who work with these nontraditional students.
http://www.mdrc.org/publications/260/full.pdf  
  
"Promoting Student Success in Community College and Beyond: The Opening
Doors Demonstration"
	This report describes the background, objectives, and design of
MDRC's evaluation of Opening Doors. Six community colleges are
participating in the project. The six colleges make up four Opening
Doors study sites, each implementing a unique intervention. The Opening
Doors evaluation is the first random assignment study of programmatic
interventions in community colleges - making it the most scientifically
rigorous test of whether these enhanced programs can make a difference.
In addition to examining short-term impacts on course completion,
grades, and certificates or degrees from community college, the
evaluation will determine whether Opening Doors participants experience
longer-term improvements in rates of transfer to four-year colleges and
universities and in employment, earnings, personal and social
well-being, health, and civic participation. Finally, the study will
provide an in-depth investigation into the implementation and cost of
Opening Doors programs and into the perceptions and experiences of
community college students and faculty in the study sites. A series of
publications is planned between 2005 and 2009 to inform education policy
and practice.
http://www.mdrc.org/publications/409/full.pdf  

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Levels of literacy: Adult literacy declines in new age
	Although Americans can read at roughly the same level they could
in the early 1990s, the demands of work, family and civic life require
higher levels of literacy than they did before.
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/media/multimedia/2008/11/14/media/Arch
ive_/index.html 

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