Another big advantage of the Workforce Center partnership is the chance to reduce the duplication of services and information. In the past, all agencies had to keep extensive databases which are now being combined. This saves the client from having to fill out duplicative forms at each of the agencies offices. There have also been duplicated services which all of the agencies have tried to perform separately. Now these services are being combined with the service actually provided by the agency or institution who is the most suitable and qualified for that particular service.

According to Jerry Pectol, Manager of the Bartlesville Workforce Center, "In the past, many services for employers and job seekers were provided separately by the agencies and the educational institution. We are striving to consolidate these for the benefit of all."

Both the educational institution and the agencies used to offer...
Job fairs
Job search workshops
Tests and assessments
Career counseling

All of the service agencies also had their own...
Case management
Client databases and tracking
Placement specialists

Now there's sharing of data...
There's a main database of client information.
Information is made available to all partners on an as-needed basis.
There's also shared career and vocational counseling.

Other sharing opportunities also exist including...
Workforce Center partners now offer combined job fairs & workshops.
Agencies utilize the educational institutions tests & assessments tools.
Nursing students take samples for pre-employment drug testing. This saves the clients from having to drive to another location for this service.

The partners are now using a shared Advisory Board as well. This insures that the volunteer board members from the community are not called upon to attend multiple meetings throughout the year.