A brief summary of the history, background, structure, and accomplishments of the John J. Heldrich Center.

1. Solutions at Work:
An Overview of the Heldrich Center’s
Mission and Current Projects
Carl E. Van Horn, Ph.D., Director
Kathy Krepcio, Executive Director
John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

2. Workforce Diversity and Inclusion
John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 2
Mission and History
 The Heldrich Center is a research and policy institute
dedicated to raising the effectiveness of the American
workplace by strengthening workforce education and
training programs
 Founded in 1997, the center employs 18 full-time
professional staff and faculty representing an array of
disciplines, from economics and labor relations to
business administration and public policy

3. Workforce Diversity and Inclusion
John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 3
What the Center Offers
 Evaluations of workforce and education programs
 Research on promising workforce practices
 Promotion of workforce and economic development
 Workforce partnerships and solutions

4. Workforce Diversity and Inclusion
John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 4
Accomplishments
 Conducted over 200 research projects and evaluations
 Documented workforce best practices in over 180
publications
 Hosted over 60 major events
 Conducted and published 17 nationwide surveys
 Generated national and international media coverage

5. Workforce Diversity and Inclusion
John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development 5
Workforce Challenges
 Improving productivity by closing the skills and
education gap
 Ensuring economic opportunity by connecting people
to work
 Building workforce and economic development
partnerships
 Strengthening workforce and education programs and
building capacity

6. Edwar d J. Bl oust ei n
School of Pl anni ng and
Publ i c Pol i cy
Sol ut i ons at Wor k: An Over vi ew of t he
Hel dr i ch Cent er
6
Resear ch and Eval uat i on
 Assesses the effectiveness of workforce and education
programs, underscoring best practices in education,
training, and economic development, while also
identifying emerging challenges that employers and
policymakers must address.
 Selected projects include:
– A profile of career and technical education programs in New
Jersey high schools;
– Evaluation of New Jersey’s Customized Training program,
which provides funds to private companies to assist them in
training their employees; and
– Examination of efforts of 10 states to deploy community
colleges in support of economic development efforts.

7. Edwar d J. Bl oust ei n
School of Pl anni ng and
Publ i c Pol i cy
Sol ut i ons at Wor k: An Over vi ew of t he
Hel dr i ch Cent er
7
I nf or mat i on and Wor kf or ce Sol ut i ons
 This group leverages the center's research on labor
issues and its insight into workforce programs to
develop information technology products designed to
empower job seekers and assist workforce program
operators. The center also analyzes industry
workforce needs and how to span gaps between labor
supply and demand.
 Selected projects include:
– The development and maintenance of a New Jersey training
program consumer report card (www.njtrainingsources.org),
which describes training program features and facilitates
searches and comparisons of programs based on the
preferences of job seekers; and
– The creation of a career guidance website for New Jersey’s
high schools (www.njnextstop.org)

8. Edwar d J. Bl oust ei n
School of Pl anni ng and
Publ i c Pol i cy
Sol ut i ons at Wor k: An Over vi ew of t he
Hel dr i ch Cent er
8
Publ i c I nf or mat i on
 Distributes and publicizes research findings to educate
business and union leaders, policymakers, community
members, as well as media and the academic
communities, on critical workforce and education
issues that relate to the emerging global, knowledge-
driven economy.
 Selected projects include:
– WorkTrends surveys of American workers; and
– Heldrich Center website (www.heldrich.rutgers.edu) and e-
newsletter.

9. Edwar d J. Bl oust ei n
School of Pl anni ng and
Publ i c Pol i cy
Sol ut i ons at Wor k: An Over vi ew of t he
Hel dr i ch Cent er
9
Techni cal Assi st ance and Capaci t y-
Bui l di ng
 This group assists frontline staff and managers in
public workforce agencies and community-based
organizations.
 Selected projects include:
– Designing and managing the September 11th Fund’s
Employment Assistance Program, which provided employment
assistance to more than 11,000 workers displaced by the
September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City; and
– Developing a Workforce Information Plan for the City of New
York.

10. Edwar d J. Bl oust ei n
School of Pl anni ng and
Publ i c Pol i cy
Sol ut i ons at Wor k: An Over vi ew of t he
Hel dr i ch Cent er
9
Techni cal Assi st ance and Capaci t y-
Bui l di ng
 This group assists frontline staff and managers in
public workforce agencies and community-based
organizations.
 Selected projects include:
– Designing and managing the September 11th Fund’s
Employment Assistance Program, which provided employment
assistance to more than 11,000 workers displaced by the
September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City; and
– Developing a Workforce Information Plan for the City of New
York.