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Human Services: Phoenix workforce program enrolled nearly 1,700 residents and exceeded federal targets
Summary
Human Services presented results from Phoenix’s WIOA-funded workforce services: just over $4 million in federal allocation, two job centers, 1,700 enrolled residents, nearly 4,000 services provided, and multiple federal performance measures exceeded.
City Human Services staff told the subcommittee April 22 that Phoenix’s workforce-development work under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) served nearly 1,700 participants in the most recent performance period and exceeded federally mandated performance measures.
Staff said the city’s WIOA allocation for the Human Services Department is just over $4 million and the local workforce system is anchored at two comprehensive sites: the West Job Center in Maryvale and the South Job Center in South Phoenix. Services — available in English and Spanish — span basic career help, individualized career services and follow-up services up to one year after placement.
Program results cited by Deputy Human Services Director Jovanna Parkhouse included roughly 1,300 community-event engagements that produced about 800 referrals and nearly 4,000 distinct services such as resume help, transportation assistance and occupational training. Staff said the program exceeded several federal targets: second-quarter employment was above target by 6.6%, credential attainment was above target by 5.2% and measurable skills gains exceeded targets by 12.5% (dislocated worker measurable skills gains +16.6%). Median earnings metrics were also reported above targets for both adult and dislocated-worker tracks.
Councilmembers praised the program’s integration with shelters, libraries and neighborhood partners and asked staff for district-level breakdowns and further demographic detail. Staff said they use census and zip-code mapping to target outreach and embed workforce staff inside partner organizations — examples included Nourish Phoenix, UMOM and North Mountain Healing Center — to reach residents with barriers such as long-term unemployment, language needs, justice involvement or homelessness.
Staff described enhancements including training frontline staff on the Federal Reserve’s Benefits Cliff Tool to help clients plan around benefit cliffs and a staff realignment to integrate workforce services into Family Service Centers and Housing Department sites.
Staff urged employers and job seekers to use the state job board AZjobconnection.gov for posting vacancies and learning about workshops; upcoming in-person workshops and job fairs were listed in the presentation.
