To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Patrick Hernandez, Director, Human Resources and Kelly Folks, Division Manager, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
Prepared By:
prepared
Sasha Easton, Workforce Administrator, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
end
presenter
Presenter: Kelly Folks, Division Manager, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! and/or Sasha Easton, Workforce Administrator, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!
end
Subject:
title
Request for Approval to Enter into Agreements for Services with Eckerd Connects
end
Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Direction/Information:
Arapahoe/Douglas Works! would like to request approval to enter into two agreements for services with Eckerd Connects to serve as a subrecipient to provide service delivery to eligible Dislocated Worker RecoverCO grant participants, as well as to provide employer of record, payroll, and workers’ compensation services to eligible Arapahoe/Douglas Works! participants utilizing their staffing partner COAdvantage. If approved, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! will piggyback off of Denver County’s cooperative agreement with Eckerd Connects.
Request and Recommendation:
On behalf of Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, it is recommended that the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners be authorized to sign two agreements for services with Eckerd Connects.
Links to Align Arapahoe:
1. Quality of Life: Approval allows Arapahoe/Douglas Works! to continue to provide best-in-class service delivery to our citizens and business/industry, thereby ensuring the highest rate of return on public investment.
2. Fiscal Responsibility: This Agreement will allow Arapahoe/Douglas Works! to continue to strategically invest in human capital directly contributing to the overall economic vitality of the region.
3. Service First: Authorization will ensure that eligible participants receive exceptional workforce development services that are responsive to their dynamic needs.
end
Background and Discussion: Background: Eckerd Connects is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that serves over 40,000 adults, families, and children in 20 states nationwide. They are a partner of the American Job Center Network and they have extensive experience providing workforce development service delivery in the metro-region, as well as in numerous other states nationwide. If approved, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! will closely partner with Eckerd Connects to ensure best-in-class service delivery to RecoverCO participants, which may include, but may not be limited to, outreach, case management, career services provision, providing access to training and work-based learning opportunities, and the provision of supportive services. Arapahoe/Douglas Works! will ensure grant compliance and fiscal integrity is upheld for the duration of the partnership. COAdvantage, a partner of Eckerd Connects, operates nationwide offering the administration of payroll, benefits, workers’ compensation and core HR functions. For the purposes of this collaborative, this entity will serve as the employer of record, and administer payroll and workers compensation for Arapahoe/Douglas Works! work-based learning participants. Final agreements for services will be approved by the County Attorney’s Office. Discussion: If this request is approved, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! will partner with Eckerd Connects to serve as the service delivery provider for Dislocated Worker RecoverCO participants, as well as to provide employer of record, payroll, and workers’ compensation services for our work-based learning participants through their staffing partner COAdvantage.
Fiscal Impact: Authorization of this agreement will enhance the Counties’ economic environment by ensuring continued access to workforce funded programming.
Alternatives: If this request is not approved, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! will not be able to satisfy the obligations of our National Emergency Grants, COResponds and RecoverCO. Additionally, if it is not authorized, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! will not be able to expand our availability of work-based learning opportunities.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☐Be fiscally sustainable
☐Provide essential and mandated service
☐Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: N/A
Concurrence: This partnership is supported by Arapahoe/Douglas Works! and the Arapahoe/Douglas Workforce Development Board. Approved By: Patrick Hernandez, Director, Human Resources, Kelly Folks, Division Manager, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, Nicole Russ, Division Manager, Finance & Administrative Services, Tiffanie Bleau, Assistant County Attorney