Louisiana Works outlines father-focused workforce services, urges survey participation

Fianna James, chief of staff for the Office of Workforce Development at Louisiana Works, told the Fatherhood Engagement Task Force on Nov. 14 that the agency’s integration initiative — ‘one door to work’ — is intended to connect fathers with training, employment and supportive services across the state.

James said Louisiana Works became Louisiana Works on Oct. 1 as part of that consolidation. “Louisiana Workforce Commission became Louisiana Works officially as of October 1,” she said, describing the agency’s goal of creating a single, consistent point of access for job seekers and employers. She told members the agency provides training, case management and connections to short-term credential programs and community colleges, and that it has begun integrating parts of the Department of Children and Family Services to better link services for fathers confronting transportation, childcare or reentry barriers.

Why it matters: Task force members emphasized that identifying and reaching fathers — particularly those who are justice-involved or live in rural parishes — is central to the task force’s charge to improve father engagement statewide. Louisiana Works officials described concrete steps to expand outreach and faster connections to employers.

Among programs discussed were reentry case managers who work with probation and parole and an insurance-backed fidelity-bonding program to reassure employers hiring justice-involved applicants. “We have a fidelity bonding program that ensures a employer that up to $25,000 can be insured for those individuals with incarceration background,” said Kenny Lynch, workforce development administrator.

Task force members pressed Louisiana Works on intake procedures and rural access. In response, deputy assistant secretary Sonia Williams said local American Job Centers include 15 comprehensive centers and more affiliate sites in rural areas; virtual options and partner networks are also used to reduce travel barriers. Officials agreed to provide the task force with a contact list of local workforce offices and to increase promotional outreach to listening sessions.

On next steps, James and other Louisiana Works staff committed to follow up on specific referrals, investigate reported delays with certain subrecipients and provide materials for the task force’s outreach: flyers, office listings and contact information for local outreach. The task force’s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 15, when data subgroups will present preliminary analyses.