DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday announced the State of Delaware has implemented changes to mandatory bachelor’s degree requirements, among other criteria, for several positions to provide a pathway for more individuals to enter the state workforce. The Delaware Department of Human Resources (DHR) recently removed the bachelor’s degree requirement for critical positions within the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families and the Department of Health and Social Services, encompassing six Family Service classifications and impacting more than 350 positions.

In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, DHR will focus on related work experience. The department also simplified the application process to expand the applicant pool.

“These important and practical changes will expand our talent pool and give more qualified individuals an opportunity for a career in state government,” said Governor Carney. “By aligning job requirements with professional experience, and placing more attention on the skills of an individual candidate, we will better serve Delawareans.”

Specific changes include:

• Eliminating the mandatory bachelor’s degree requirement for certain state positions.
• Reducing the number of job requirements from five to one for a Family Service Assistant and the Family Service Specialist series, with the first entry-level position allowing for either experience or knowledge to expand the applicant pool.
• Applying an applicant’s experience or education throughout the remaining levels in the career series and reducing the number of job requirements.

“Over the past couple of years, DHR has been reviewing the bachelor’s degree requirement for hundreds of state positions in all state agencies,” said Claire DeMatteis, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Human Resources. “During the 1990s, the state added a bachelor’s degree requirement to dozens of positions, however, our review and practical experience show a bachelor’s degree can be an unnecessary barrier to employing otherwise qualified professionals.”

Since revising the job requirements for Family Service positions, DHR reported receiving four times the number of qualified candidates for these positions.

In addition to the changes for the Family Service positions, the state previously eliminated a mandatory bachelor’s degree requirement for 210 positions in the Probation Officer, Human Resource Advisor, and State Human Resource Analyst series. Overall, approximately 560 positions have been impacted by eliminating the bachelor’s degree. The state continues to conduct regular job description reviews to ensure that job requirements align effectively with the needs of the state’s workforce.

To explore career opportunities available with the state, visit statejobs.delaware.gov. 

DOVER, Del.  — Demonstrating a long-standing commitment to supporting military families, Delaware’s Department of Human Resources (DHR) announces a new program aimed at creating career opportunities for military spouses. The Military Spouse Transition Network (MSTN) project is a partnership between the State of Delaware and the National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE), an organization dedicated to improving the communication and exchange of information among state government personnel executives nationwide.

Military spouses face the challenge of relocating to new duty stations approximately every three years, a hurdle that can significantly hinder their professional careers and financial support for their families. Without proper career assistance, they are often left with no choice but to accept lower-paying jobs, leading to professional dissatisfaction and limited workforce participation.

The program is designed to assist all recognized military spouses employed by state government agencies in NASPE member states. Delaware’s DHR is taking the program a step further by extending an invitation to assist with career placement to all military spouses and their dependents relocating to the state. To reach a wider audience, the State of Delaware has been actively promoting the MSTN program by engaging with different military branches and sharing information at local hiring events. The process starts when the military member receives a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) notice. Upon such notification, military spouses are encouraged to contact the designated MSTN liaison in their home state who will connect them with the appropriate personnel in the receiving state. This process facilitates an information exchange, providing military spouses access to a wide array of valuable career services, including resume assistance, skills translation, and important professional contacts, with the goal of supporting their successful re-employment.

“The State of Delaware understands the unique burdens and challenges military spouses and their dependents face when transitioning to a new state, and it is with this understanding that we started this military spouse transition program to directly address their re-employment challenges,” said Claire DeMatteis, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Human Resources. “We want to go the extra mile to make sure military spouses know that Delaware is a place that values and appreciates their hard work, experience and sacrifice.”

By joining NASPE’s Military Spouse Transition Network, Delaware’s DHR is dedicated to offering military spouses and their dependents a smoother transition and, assisting them in finding meaningful employment within state government. The program also fosters a supportive environment that recognizes and appreciates the skills and resilience of military spouses and families.

For more information, contact Erica Pratz, MSTN Liaison for the State of Delaware, by email erica.pratz@delaware.gov or call (302) 672-5161.

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NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR/DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

CONTACT
Sharon Boland
DOL Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
302.761.8238 (office) or 302.757.6260 (cell)
sharon.boland@delaware.gov
dvr.delawareworks.com
http://dol.delaware.gov/

CONFERENCE TO PREPARE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES FOR FUTURE CAREERS

Wilmington, DE, December 6, 2018 — On December 12th from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., hundreds of local high school students with disabilities will attend an all-day transition conference at the Dover Downs Hotel in Dover, DE, focusing on their future career and employment goals as well as learning what’s current in transition services for youth with disabilities in Delaware.

Transition services include career counseling, work-based learning opportunities, soft skills instruction and preparation for postsecondary choices leading to employment. Now in its 17th year, the “Transition and Self-Determination Conference” plays a key role in helping students with disabilities make informed choices
after high school by providing access to resources and employment information. This one day – parents, educators, vocational rehabilitation staff, and community organizations along with many other stakeholders – come together to provide resources to help students transition smoothly from school to post-secondary education and careers.

Self-determination and learning the importance networking and community participation in the transition planning process are key themes of the event. Self-determination is the process of taking control and making decisions that affect one’s life. The keynote presentation focuses on a mix of these themes and features the writer and cast from “Boundless! A Musical Journey,” a stage performance featuring Delawareans with disabilities based on a famous “Free Our People” March that took place in 2003.

The writer of the show, George Tilson, will facilitate a panel discussion with several of the performers from the show. They will share what they learned about self-determination, employability skills, and even career exploration through the audition process, improvisational workshops, and rehearsals, leading to performances in front of live audiences.

“All students, including those with disabilities need to develop a career pathway leading to successful employment,” said Delaware Department of Labor Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Director Andrea Guest. “The Transition Conference provides tools for self-advocacy and self-determination and the opportunity
for students to learn how to reach their career goals.”

The conference offers 25 workshops for students and adults shaped around the supportive nature of the transition community and important youth topics including employment, soft skills, sexuality, self-determination,
self-advocacy, leading your individualized education plan (IEP) meeting, and work-based learning. Sessions include, “Learn Job Expectations and How to Sustain Employment,” “Leading your IEP Meeting! It’s Important to You and Critical to Your Success,” “Shared Vision + Capacity Parents = Greater Student Outcomes,” and “Transition from High School to College: What Every Student Should Know.” Each workshop will be opened by a Youth Leader who will share their desired career path and what self-determination means to them.

The charge of the day is education, excitement, and empowerment. Participation and sharing are keys and
to facilitate this.

“This type of conference is very important so students learn before graduation about all of the resources available to them,” said DOL Cerron Cade. “Our state may be small in size but we have a tremendous amount of career planning and employment resources for people with disabilities.”

The conference is a collaborative effort between the Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR),
the Department of Education (DOE), Division for Visually Impaired (DVI), and the Division of Development Disabilities Services (DDDS) along with a variety of other agencies and organizations.

The Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is committed to providing individualized services to employers and people with disabilities, developing career pathways that link qualified employees to jobs, resulting in greater independence and a more inclusive workplace.

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