Today, workforce development in America is under tremendous pressure to change the way it delivers service. Many workforce development service providers have been forced to review the way they conduct business, and many have concluded that new ideas, news goals, new ways of thinking are required to accommodate and meet the challenges of Welfare-to-Work, and the new Workforce Investment Act. Consolidation of programs within service delivery areas Expedient and accurate verification of Performance Outcomes Accountability, Optimize Customer Satisfaction Collaboration and participation with post-secondary education institutions An inter-jurisdictional voucher system Common methods for collection and distribution of data across wide and diverse service delivery areas. The Intrastate Training Resources and Information Network (I-TRAIN) offers an interactive, user-friendly alternative to traditional workforce development service delivery. Intranet & Internet Accessibility I-TRAIN provides rapid response to the needs of a fast growing and changing workforce by providing an electronic, on-line, Regional Training Vendor Directory (RTVD) at the fingertips of any site with a computer and a telephonic communication interface. I-TRAIN connection is available at Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) program sites, Employment Development Department (EDD) offices, and One-Stop centers. Connectivity is facilitated by a Frame Relay Network (FRN), or dial-up modem connection, or through the Wordwide Web-Internet. More Than Software The data distributed electronically through I-TRAIN is procured year-round through an open Request for Qualification (RFQ) for Classrsoom Training Individual Referral (CTIR) training vendors. The RFQ was developed with the assistance of more than twenty procurement specialists and meets JTPA and EDD (Trade Act) requirements. Vendor schools no longer have to wait for a particular cycle for approval of an application, thus inclusion in the RTVD. A key feature of the approval process includes an on-site visit by a South Bay Private Industry Council administrative staff with an industry expert. Approved vendors are monitored annually by South Bay Private Industry and partnering service delivery area staff. Monthly monitoring and evaluation meetings are held where monitoring outcomes are reviewed and the monitoring schedule is implemented. The regionalize monitoring system is efficient and develops a sense of ownership for participating partners.

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