The Job Center of Lake County is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment by calling TTY 800-526-0844 or 711. To request accommodations, please contact dharris@lakecountyil.govor 847-377-3423. 

BACKGROUND 

Governor Pritzker has a strong agenda for ensuring that economic prosperity reaches underserved communities and creates opportunities across the state for all citizens by removing barriers for economically disadvantaged populations. Two avenues exist to move these priorities forward; the response to Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2019-03 - An Action Agenda for Workforce Development and Job Creation and the priorities within A Plan to Revitalize the Illinois Economy and Build the Workforce of the Future. Both rely on data-driven approaches to establish goals and inform policy that will reduce equity gaps. Building on this direction, the WIOA Unified, Regional and Local Plans along with the Perkins State Plan all have guiding principles for equitable access and opportunity for all populations.  

IMPLEMENTATION  

As equitable access is a fundamental principle within the Plans as well as a high priority of the Governor, a Task Force made up of Lake County Workforce Development Board members and partners will come together to develop a framework of recommendations within Lake County’s’ workforce system to establish goals and improve inequality for the populations we serve. The taskforce shall be in place for one year unless requested by the board to be extended further.  

Ways in which a Task Force under the direction of the Lake County Workforce Development Board will address equity and inform policy, include:  

• creating shared definitions for a set of key terms addressing equity,  
• developing education and workforce tools that can track program access and outcomes-and that disaggregate data by race, gender, and target population to reveal disparities in policies and programs.  
• examining programs, policies, and practices and then infuse issues of equity and inclusion into these programs, policies, and practices,  
• establishing equity goals and  
• making recommendations regarding inclusive and diverse approaches including professional development of staff to ensure they use an equity lens in serving their diverse populations.