The Open Unemployment Insurance Initiative (Open UI Initiative) Webinar, held on Thursday, February 22,2024, covered the Open UI Initiative which aims to support the modernization of UI systems across the nation by fostering an ecosystem of open and modular solutions for more flexible and resilient IT systems.
The Open UI Initiative is being led by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies’ (NASWA) UI Information Technology Support Center (UI ITSC), in collaboration with the Beeck Center, and with support from the Department and funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Open UI initiative, announced in December 2023, is a key part of the Department’s IT modernization strategy for building sustainable state UI technology systems.
The webinar included the following:
Jim Garner, Administrator of the Office of Unemployment Insurance, Employment and Training Administration gave opening remarks, encouraging attendees to ask questions and engage with presenters and panelist. Andrew Stettner, DOL - Office of Unemployment Insurance Modernization’s Director for Policy, kicked thing off with a presentation and served as moderator of the event.
The presentation was followed by a presentation from Alyssa Levitz and Ben Peirce from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). Afterwards, Andrew Stettner led Chief Information Officer’s from state Unemployment Insurance agencies, key stakeholders from NASWA, and the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation in a panel discussion on how to continue moving towards modular/interoperable system development ideas championed through the Open UI Initiative.
List of Presenter and Panelists
Jim Garner, Administrator, Office of Unemployment Insurance, U.S. Department of Labor - Employment and Training Administration
Alyssa Levitz, Unemployment Insurance Modernization Initiative Lead, Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Support Center, National Association of State Workforce Agencies
Brett Flachsbarth, Director, Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Support Center, National Association of State Workforce Agencies
Ben Peirce, Vice President, Technology Services and Programs, National Association of State Workforce Agencies
Chris Henderson, Chief Information Officer, Indiana Department of Workforce Development
Sue Anne Athens, Chief Information Officer, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
Brett Richard, Chief Information Officer, Information Technology, Idaho Department of Labor
Aaron Snow, Faculty Fellow, Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation
For more information about the Open UI Initiative, read the full announcement on the DOL website or email UIMod@naswa.org.