Drop INs

Each school year there are a number of children who are at risk of dropping out of school. Due to circumstances such as needing to work to support the family, disinterest, academic difficulty, absenteeism, or homelessness, students must make difficult decisions regarding whether finishing high school is right for them. The Kansas Drop Ins program from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is looking to address this issue on a multi-level front. This program involves the students, the parents, the community, and businesses in ensuring that students make it through school. Your Kansas and U.S. Governments are offering many choices to help students prepare for the next step in their lives.

Home page of the Kansas Drop-Ins program
http://www.kansasdropins.org/summit_info.htm

Resources offered by the Drop-Ins program
http://www.kansasdropins.org/resources.htm

Kansas Statistics relating to drop outs:

You can search for your school district's drop-out rate and many other useful statistics at:
http://online.ksde.org/rcard/index.aspx

Kansas Kids Count data regarding the drop-out rate
http://datacenter.kidscount.org/Databook/2009/OnlineBooks/StateProfiles/AEC189%20profile_Kansas.pdf

Title I and II and at-risk student program fact sheets
http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=3784

Resources for students struggling with the decision whether to drop out:

Flint Hills Job Corps
http://flinthills.jobcorps.gov/home.aspx

YouthBuild- Alternative education that helps youth obtain GED's
http://www.doleta.gov/youth_services/youthbuild.cfm

Kansas Board of Regents GED site including the testing schedule
http://www.kansasregents.org/adult_ed/ged.html

Article contact: Kim Harp
(Check out recent additions to our collection here)

New employment information

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks a huge amount of information related to the workforce and the economy. This office just released new numbers last Thursday. Good news: the unemployment rate was 9.4 percent, which changed little for the second consecutive month. As a nation our unemployment rate may be leveling out. Even though in July, the number of unemployed persons in the U.S. was 14.5 million, the job loss rate for the Kansas reigon has slowed. The Kansas City area has registered seven consecutive months of over-the-year employment declines. It is so good to live and work in the midwest!

Learn more about the labor outlook for the Kansas area and which industries are faring best at:
http://www.bls.gov/ro7/ceskc.htm

See the states ranked by unemployment rate at:
http://www.bls.gov/web/laumstrk.htm

See the graph depicting the U.S. unemployment rate at:
http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS14000000

Manhattan Kansas ranks 2nd in lowest metropolitan unemployment rate! See the rankings at:
http://www.bls.gov/web/laummtrk.htm

Bureau of Labor Statistics allows you to compare salaries of various positions. See the 2008 table:
http://www.bls.gov/oes/2008/may/oes_ks.htm

Learn more about the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at:
http://www.bls.gov/

The State Library of Kansas has reports on Kansas Labor Force Estimates from the Kansas Department of Labor:
http://lib.wuacc.edu/search~S8?/o26377760

Posted by Kim Harp, Reference Librarian at the State Library of Kansas
(Check out recent additions to our collection here)

Financial Literacy Education

There is an old curse of disputed origin which says, "May you live in interesting times."

These are indeed interesting times for many of us as we deal with shrinking pocketbooks, budgeting difficulties and financial planning headaches. Because of this, understanding the workings of personal finance, financial planning, lifestyle flexibility and locating helpful services become important tools in not just surviving, but thriving in difficult times.

Below are some online government resources that may be helpful in educating and informing all of us in weathering these "interesting times."

KANSAS INFORMATION

Thriving in Tough Times: Financial Resources
http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/page/Finances
(Information provided by Kansas librarians through the State Library of Kansas)

Financial Literacy Resources
http://www.kansasstatetreasurer.com/prodweb/financial_resources.php
(From the Kansas State Treasurer's Office)

Financial Literacy Resources
http://www.kcua.coop/Financial_Lit_Resources_147.html
(From the Kansas Credit Union Association)

Kansas Financial Literacy Education Law
http://www.kansasstatetreasurer.com/prodweb/press/column_3.php
(Statement by State Treasurer Dennis McKinney on a recently passed law on teaching financial literacy in Kansas schools)

Kansas Council on Economic Education
http://www.kcee.wichita.edu/
(The KCEE is a non-profit, business-education partnership dedicated to helping Kansas' K-12 teachers teach economics and personal finance)

KTKA and WIBW News
http://www.ktka.com/news/2009/jun/02/financial_literacy_education_now_law_kansas/
http://www.wibw.com/political/headlines/46769327.html
(Two news stories about the Kansas Financial Literacy Education Law which will require financial literacy education in Kansas schools)

US GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

Mymoney.gov
http://www.mymoney.gov/
(MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are planning to buy a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401k, the resources on MyMoney.gov can help you do it better.)

Paying for Education
http://www.mymoney.gov/education.shtml
(A list of resources supplied by MyMoney.gov)

Responding to Life Events
http://www.mymoney.gov/life.shtml
(Birth, death, marriage, divorce, illness, foreclosure, job loss, re-education, etc.)

Retirement Planning
http://www.mymoney.gov/retirement.shtml
(Information on pensions, health benefits, savings, Social Security, etc.)

MyMoney for kids
http://www.mymoney.gov/kids.shtml
(Web resources for children on finance and budgeting supplied by US government agencies)

Who is... The Department of Commerce

This is the start of a series that will shed light on government agencies, boards or commissions. We hope to highlight state and federal executive, legislative, and judicial departments to exhibit who they are, what they do, and how the everyday functions of that department affects you the citizen.

The first department we'll feature is the Kansas State Department of Commerce:

Department Head: Secretary David Kerr

Synopsis: As the state's lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity. To this end, the Department comprises various programs and services that create jobs, attract investment, provide workforce training, encourage community development and promote the state as a wonderful place to live, work and play.

Previously this department was named Kansas Department of Economic Development and Kansas Industrial Development Commission before that

Has 5 divisions:

Business Development - promotes the Kansas economy through job growth and attracting business

Rural Development- helps to develop rural communities and promote agritourism

Trade Development- helps Kansas businesses export their services or products

Travel and Tourism- promotes travel opportunities and community events in Kansas
http://www.travelks.com/

Workforce Services- has resources for employers looking for a strong workforce and for workers looking for jobs and training. Includes a job directory called KansasWorks! https://www.kansasworks.com/ada/

Publications accessible online:

Kansas! magazine
http://www.kansasmag.com/

Kansas Visitors Guide- come play in Kansas!
http://www.travelks.com/s/VisitorGuideE.cfm

Kansas Business Incentives- A guide as to why you should relocate your business to Kansas
http://www.kansascommerce.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=UjVnGWOq4CE%3d&tabid=72

Every time you, the Kansan, go to dine at your favorite hometown restaurant, you are benefitting from the services of the Kansas Department of Commerce. If you are in the market for a new job, you can benefit from KansasWorks! If your business is looking to expand overseas, you can benefit from the services of the Department of Commerce.

The Department of Commerce can be contacted at (785) 296-3481 or you can email them at http://www.kansascommerce.com/Contact/tabid/75/Default.aspx

Thriving in Tough Times

Are you looking for information to help you weather the recession? Chin up! The State Library of Kansas has assembled resources to assist you! Whether it's finding a new job, figuring out how to refinance your home mortgage, where to turn if you've lost health insurance, or just how to weather current economic conditions, you have a place to turn to. The State Library has a new wiki to help you find the assistance you need at

http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/

There are resources on:
Employment and Training http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/page/Employment+%26+Training
Managing your finances http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/page/Finances
Housing assistance http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/page/Housing
Resources for families http://kslibinfo.wetpaint.com/page/Families
Under construction: Look for the soon-to-be-added resources that details how your local public library is helping your community.

If you know of a valuable site or resource that isn't on this website you can start or join discussions and add to the pool of resources. Let's help our fellow Kansans weather this storm!

NBAF

NBAF stands for the National Bio-Agro Defense Facility, a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This facility would research and develop solutions to some of the world's most complex human and animal diseases. Your Kansas government officials have worked hard to bring this facility home to Manhattan, Kansas in hopes that it would create jobs and economic growth. Kansas was selected out of five finalists to become host to this research based facility.


Read more about this new facility at
http://www.nbafinkansas.org/pdfs/fact_sheets/NBAF_Fact_Sheet.pdf and

http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/editorial_0762.shtm

Why the need for a new facility?
http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/gc_1171470811292.shtm

What would be studied at NBAF:
http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/gc_1181073261627.shtm

What will it look like?
http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/gc_1181072257904.shtm

Read about safety issues addressed for this facility:
http://www.nbafinkansas.org/pdfs/fact_sheets/NBAF_safety.pdf and

http://www.nbafinkansas.org/SafetyAndSecurity.aspx

Environmental impact of NBAF:
http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/gc_1187734676776.shtm#1

Read more about the final decision at
http://www.nbafinkansas.org/pressroom/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?id=134

Task force who worked to bring it to Kansas:
http://www.nbafinkansas.org/task_force/

This effort was supported by the Kansas Bioscience Authority, Governor Sebelius and Senator Pat Roberts
http://www.kansasbioauthority.org/Default.aspx

www.governor.ks.gov

http://roberts.senate.gov

Kansas Economics

Kansans are feeling the pinch due to recent events in the nation’s economy. Below are some of the tools that our lawmakers use to predict events and write laws pertaining to Kansas’ labor market and economy:

Kansas, Inc.: Kansas, Inc. provides a respected forum for business and industry, local leaders, and state executive and legislative officials to debate issues directly with one another
http://www.kansasinc.org/index.shtml

KTEC: The Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) is a private/public partnership established by the state of Kansas to promote technology based economic development.
http://www.ktec.com/

Kansas Economy at a Glance- developed by the U.S. Department of Labor
http://stats.bls.gov/eag/eag.KS.htm

2008 Kansas Economic Report- developed by the Kansas Department of Labor
http://www.dol.ks.gov/LMIS/economicReport/2008/economic_Report_2008.pdf

Economic Development Report- developed by the Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit
http://www.kslegislature.org/postaudit/audits_perform/08pa06a.pdf

Kansas Labor Market Information- developed by the Kansas Department of Labor
http://www.dol.ks.gov/lmis/lmis.html

2008 Kansas Wage Survey- developed by the Kansas Department of Labor
http://www.dol.ks.gov/LMIS/wagesurvey/ws2008/wagesurvey_2008.html

Kansas Economic Incentives from the Kansas Department of Commerce
http://kdoch.state.ks.us/public/resources/businesses/list.jsp

Employment and Economy Statistics from the Kansas Department of Commerce, Business Development
http://www.thinkbigks.com/EconomicIndicators.aspx

2007-2008 Data Book from the Kansas Department of Commerce
http://www.thinkbigks.com/Documents/databook_all.pdf

The Governor's Economic and Demographic Report
http://budget.ks.gov/ecodemo.htm

Labor Market Information

Looking for the latest information on labor statistics in Kansas? Take a look at the Labor Market Information page on the Kansas Dept of Labor website:

http://www.dol.ks.gov/lmis/lmis.html

The web page includes Kansas employment and unemployment statistics as well as information for employers and job seekers. Statistics are also available for educators and researchers in the field of human resources breaking down workforce, wage and industry stats into helpful charts, maps and tables.

(This information supplied by Peter Haxton of the Kansas State Data Center).