2022 Update

Fourth Plain Navigator

WSW sought and was awarded a $20,000 grant from KeyBank and $20,000 matching funds from the City of Vancouver to support a “Fourth Plain Navigator” who will serve as a liaison to people in the Fourth Plain Corridor of Vancouver. Alongside the City of Vancouver, Fourth Plain Forward, and the Fourth Plain Steering Committee, the Navigator will work to connect residents to support services, training and other opportunities at WorkSource, Next and with other organizations.

Expanding System Liaison Program

WSW has expanded its System Liaison program in Clark County by entering into a contract with Clark College to co-invest in establishing an employment navigator position at the College’s Career Services Center. The navigator will build relationships with area businesses to connect students to open jobs. The position is posted on the college website and recruiting is underway. WSW is funding four system liaisons: two in Clark County, one in Cowlitz County, and one in Wahkiakum County. The investments support educational and human services partners in building relationships with businesses and industries to help identify and fill their workforce needs and connecting students and job seekers to those open jobs and to the region’s public workforce network and resources.

Workforce Services to Those Dislocated Due to Opioid Addiction

WSW-funded partners have shown immense strides in the effort focused on individuals who have been dislocated from work due to opioid addiction. WorkSource continues to develop intentional connections with community partners such as LifeWorks, Clark County Public Health, and the Recovery Café to ensure individuals who are in recovery understand that workforce services are available.

2021 Update

Our Programs team has taken numerous steps:

• Rather than assuming we know what any community wants or needs, we are partnering with a local community group to evaluate workforce system accessibility, inclusivity and other factors and create a way to actively engage with community partners throughout the region to ensure the needs of historically-excluded communities are being met.
• Through our youth career and employment center, Next, we will be seeking individuals with expertise and knowledge of the needs of historically-excluded populations to provide culturally competent and inclusive services to youth from those communities.