HBI

While most YouthBuild grantees that use HBI are familiar with the HBI Core Units, not all programs may be aware that HBI’s new re-branded/updated curriculum edition was revised in 2018 to include a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), and there are now 20 certifications offered through the Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT), including some that are gaining popularity with YouthBuild grantees, such as the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) and the Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT) certificates.  These updates to HBI-PACT are described below.

NOCTI
NOCTI is a national leader in creating customized and standardized assessment solutions that are recognized across industries. HBI’s partnership with NOCTI allows HBI to offer additional assessments which certify the student’s knowledge of building trades safety, math, tools and materials, green building, and employability.  The NOCTI designation provides a credible means of verifying the knowledge and skills expected by industry and is recognized by ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education), the largest national education association that prepares youth and adults for careers.  Three of the HBI-PACT certifications are available with the NOCTI designation – PACT Core, PACT Core (Green), and PACT Core plus Build Construction Technician.  The assessments are stackable certifications.
 
CAMT
A CAMT certificate is an ideal next step for those PACT Building Construction Technology (BCT) graduates who want to improve their employment prospects by expanding their career options.  The new HBI curriculum, updated in 2018, offers the option to add CAMT as a stackable credential to the HBI PACT.  CAMT provides PACT students with the specific training to perform the wide range of duties expected of facility maintenance technicians and includes the five technical hands-on training courses required by CAMT:
 

•  Electrical Maintenance and Repair
•  Plumbing Maintenance and Repair
•  Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Maintenance and Repair
•  Appliance Maintenance and Repair
•  Interior and Exterior Maintenance and Repair

 
Participants that complete all CAMT tasks in the PACT BCT Unit and four online nontechnical courses will receive a provisional CAMT certificate signifying completion of the technical requirements.  They can then seek permanent CAMT certification when they successfully complete the following:
 

• All examination requirements within 24 months of declaring candidacy for CAMT; and
• One year of apartment or rental housing maintenance experience.

 
Simulations
New safety simulations have been added and are designed to embed the trainee in the training situation.  In these simulations, the trainee uses a computer-based course to apply knowledge in a safe environment.  The trainee can control a “person” in the house, and can move throughout, seeing what the animated “person” sees.  This technology allows the trainee to move at his/her own pace, and can be applied to both exterior and interior job site safety practices.

Other Resources
Other resources within HBI include:

Instructor Resource Library (IRL) – Certified instructors automatically are given access to the IRL, where instructors can find tools like Student Assignment Records, Handouts, Quizzes, and other resources to accompany each lesson plan.  These tools reinforce what is taught in the unit, and are often more specific and detailed.

• My PEP – This Personal Employability Plan (PEP) is a great job placement resource available at no extra cost.  Programs can access this resource through the Instructor Resource Library.
• PACT Works – This entrepreneurial guide is both a checklist and a guide book for participants interested in beginning their own construction company.
• Skill Achievement Record (SAR) – The SAR is the checklist that demonstrates participant competency.  The SARs are aligned with Industry Standards and reinforce the teaching material.

 
Be sure to save the date for our upcoming DOL YouthBuild HBI-PACT training, which will be held November 6-9, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky.  This training is designed to provide DOL YouthBuild construction trainers with HBI-PACT training credentials.  With these training credentials, DOL YouthBuild construction staff can return to their programs and train and certify their students. 

Technology Tips
NCCER includes several technology tools that can improve the user experience and expose participants to different learning modalities.
 

• NCCERConnect – This online, interactive platform contains all of the NCCER module content.  Participants can access it remotely, which can reduce the completion time that is lost due to absence.  NCCERConnect is module content only; testing is not available on this platform.
   
• NCCER Testing Management System (TMS) – The TMS allows for online testing in a computer lab setting.  The instructor gets immediate results that are official.  The TMS also tracks the professional profile for the individual participant so they can see what modules they’ve successfully completed.  Online videos are available to assist new users.  There is a cost-per-test for this platform.
   
• Instructor Resource Center (IRC) – Once an instructor is trained, qualified, vetted, and approved by NCCER, they can access resources on the IRC that are not available in the resource guide.  The IRC is essentially a knowledge bank for NCCER.

 
Be sure to save the date for our upcoming DOL YouthBuild NCCER training, which will be held December 10-14, 2018 in Tampa, Florida.  This training is designed to provide DOL YouthBuild construction trainers with master level NCCER training credentials.  With these training credentials, DOL YouthBuild construction staff can return to their programs and train and certify their students. 
 
Build Your Future Initiative

Build Your Future (BYF), a program of NCCER, is a recruitment and marketing website designed to identify crafts and career pathways in crafts.  The site offers full access to career support, including recruitment, training, placement, and retention.  This website offers a great tutorial on exploring construction careers.

The tools and resources listed here are not an exhaustive list of those available through HBI and NCCER. YouthBuild grantees are encouraged to explore both curricula and the resource libraries they hold for more ideas.  YouthBuild programs can also learn more about how to maximize these construction trainings by downloading the archived webinar for October, Maximizing the Construction Curriculum.  

Additional Resources:

Construction Credentialing Structure
Construction for New DOL YouthBuild Programs
Tip Sheet: How to Develop Successful One-Cohort Construction Projects
Green Building Basics Tip Sheet

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a national celebration that offers leaders in business, labor, education, and other partners a chance to demonstrate their support for apprenticeship. It also gives apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities, and apprentices in their community.
 
Here's how you can get involved!

Host an Event
Showcase your commitment for apprenticeship by hosting an event and featuring it on the NAW website.

Get Inspired
Looking for inspiration? Visit our website to learn more about how others are putting the spotlight on apprenticeship during NAW and check out our Event Kit Materials for tools to help plan and promote your event.

Make it Official
Send us your proclamations so we can celebrate momentum and help spread the word.  Showcase your commitment for apprenticeship by hosting an event and featuring it on the NAW website.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

With over 1.1 million jobs currently open in healthcare and social assistance, the U.S. Department of Labor has announced a proposal to allow younger Americans to safely develop critical skills for fast-growing jobs in healthcare – which are expected to add 2.4 million jobs, more than any other occupation, through 2026.

A regulation that took effect in 2010 treats healthcare patient lifts on par with construction equipment like backhoes, cranes, and other industrial equipment with respect to youth employment.  The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), available here, proposes lifting the restrictions that bar 16- and 17-year-olds from operating patient lifts.

This NPRM is consistent with the Department’s efforts to safely promote workforce development opportunities for youth, while still maintaining worker safety.  The Department encourages interested parties to submit comments on the proposed rule, which will be available for public comment until November 26, 2018.


Youth.gov Adds Toolkit for Working with Youth in Foster Care

Youth.gov has recently highlighted the availability of a toolkit from the Child Welfare Information Gateway’s Capacity Building Center for States which provides guidance and examples that illustrate the Youth Welfare approach for working with youth in foster care.  The Youth Welfare approach recommends shifting from a child-focused system that is reactive, case plan-driven, and protection-focused to a more youth-focused system that is proactive, youth-driven, developmentally-framed, and normalcy-oriented.
Click here to learn more.