Women's Employment Committee

March 1, 2021: 1:00 AM

Join ZOOM meeting at: https://zoom.us/j/5130375395?pwd=Rnl5aERHc1Z0c29rSG1qOEVCT3NiUT09

Contact information: Cheryl Davis at cheryl.a.davis@maine.gov

WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 03/01/2021

Present: Gilda Nardone, (Chair), Joni Boissonneault, Peaches Bass, Kelly Rickert-Samson, Darylen Cote, Kathy Despres, Erica Watson, Laurie Glidden, Erin Benson, Joy Gould, Destie Hohman-Sprague, Sherry Tompkins, Susan Holleran, Ann Danforth, Mufalo Chitam, Karen Keim

Staff: Josh Howe, Cheryl Davis

Brief Introductions Gilda Nardone opened the meeting at 1:02pm with welcome and introductions asking each member to state how long they have been involved with the Womens Employment Committee.

Gilda - Keep focus on the impact of COVID 19 on women. At Policy Level. How it unfolds and economic development.

Updates on policy and program priorities in 2021 (state and federal) - Destie Hohman-Sprague There are over 200 bills. Keeping track of the schedule. Need to focus on bills that are female dominated. LD 447 "An Act to Require Equivalent Paid Parental Leave for All Parents Employed by Companies Offering Paid Parental Leave" Make family status a protected status, may end up folding. LD 296 "An Act to Provide a Tax Credit for Family Caregivers" Up to $2000 in care giving, went forward last year but folded. LD 1565 "An Act to Strengthen Maine's Agriculture, Food and Forest Economy" LD 283 "Resolve, To Address Inequities for Certain Direct Care Workers" LD 600 - "An Act to Require Insurance Coverage for Certified Midwife Services" Most direct care bills do not have an LD yet, but we are on top of the list that have LD numbers. Additional bills came up that are in the works. Non-disclosure agreements. Couple of bills to address minimum wage/tips. Childcare/Workforce. Earned Income Tax Credit. Restore 3% surcharge on income tax. Paid Family Leave. Childcare Workforce Bill being presented by Representative Fecteau is just an LR number right now. Quality and availability of childcare presented by Senator Jackson. Workforce support by parents. Gilda stated the Governor mentioned childcare in her budget address. This issue is getting more exposure. Reach out to Destie if you find anything that has a gender component attached. Destie stated anyone can put in a bill but not clear which ones will move forward. Destie provided a link: https://www.mainewomen.org/mwl/about

Updates from DOL/SWB Josh Howe Committees have been around for a long time. Committees have not really connected with the SWB. Auta Main has left the Department. Chaplain Andy Gibson has taken over. Joe Tatem is the new SWBVEC Chair. We are working with the DECD and the Governors 10-year plan. Chris Quint and Kim Moore have been chairing one of those committees (Grow Local Talent). SWB meeting next week, March 12. Will be talking about Disability Employment Bootcamp. Meeting is open to the Public. Better salary and education. Doing research, looking at different options. How do we share information within the System? Sarah Griffen has been helping the SWB. How do we better serve employers People with Disabilities (PWD)? Disability Employment Bootcamp 6-month initiative. Need to educate our own employment staff on People with Disabilities (PWD). Education outreach on People with Disabilities (PWD) diversity training? What is the whole strategy? A new added committee Immigrant Committee dealing with licensing and cultural training. Chris Quint is leading this and wants to make sure we have good representation across the State and within the immigrant community.

Approval of 11/2/20 and 1/11/21 minutes Peaches Bass motioned to approve the 11/2/20 and 1/11/21 meeting minutes. Darylen Cote seconded. 11/2/20 and 1/11/21 minutes approved unanimously.

Vision for Equitable Maine Ann Danforth Initiative officially launched last week. Build something better post COVID 19. Healthcare. Democracy reform. Housing. Public Safety. Legislature can sign on at any point. Highlight a few of Legislation equity: o Racial equity bills LD 2. o Access to Medicaid immigrants were left out. o Adult dental benefit in Medicaid. o End practice of full family sanctions TANF program. o Implement of feasibility to create income stability. o Waive fees for 12 months federal extended. Gilda Asked everyone to think creativity when we meet because we would love to have Ann attend. Erica Watson MDF Meeting with upcoming convening navigators, disparity impact of COVID 19 on women and youth 400 statewide. 10-year Economic Development strategic plan developing concept as they go. Have done crosswalk between the Economic Recovery Report and the ED Plan with Chris Quint and Kim Moore DECD have put out a call for proposals to strategic partners to join. https://www.maine.gov/decd/strategic-plan/join-us Asset mapping will come out of this. Can send out invitation on becoming MaineSpark Adult Promise Navigators.

Updates from WEC members Joy Gould Career Pathways how we help people move from entry/frontline healthcare worker on up (Specialty Training). Recognize foreign trade healthcare professionals and how to move them quickly having conversations on this. Kelly Rickert-Samson Monitoring Chamber of Commerce in Portland. $18.00 per hour on hazard pay. A lot of workers have started to move outside of Portland due to rents have been losing people due to this. Peaches Bass Healthcare pathways issues funding. MaineGeneral in Augusta has apprenticeship in nursing/CNA. Great way to climb the ladder. Apprenticeships can help subsidize some of the training. Joy stated they are working on building a tool because a lot of people do not know where to start. Peaches stated send people to the CareerCenters because we know of resources to assist. Erica Watson Onward Maine, site development by the State. Scheduled to launch March 3rd. Maine will be like Colorados. Search for education and searching for jobs, help with basic needs and you can do a general search where you do not need to do a Login. MaineSpark and Adult Promise, help spread the word. Darylen Cote Permanent Commission on Status of Women. Did not have very good information/data anywhere near their fingertips. Open seat on PC. Vacancies have been for a while. Looking for recommendations to send to the Governor. Joni Boissonneault Maine Working Communities Challenge applied for grant. Focus on access to equality, affordable childcare. Was awarded grant Cumberland County. United Way took on a lead will keep you updated. Laurie Glidden People on subsidy can still apply rental assistance. Susan Holleran Impressed with group. Her personal passion is helping women enter the workforce. Mufalo Chitam Working with United Way issues tied with daycare. 30-million-dollar package came in with childcare need to share with their childcare providers on how the money is being managed. Joy stated she will look into who the person at DHHS is that Mufalo can connect with. Karen Keim Just finished writing grants, now hurry up and wait game. Priority MEOC project support systems. Food and housing insecurity can add to this Pandemic. Equal pay and childcare have not changed at all. Pandemic has added to this. Wish our narrative could change. Gilda Nardone Focus on Totally Trades. Will be virtual this Spring, late April early May. Tracking some legislation Labor and Housing, Gilda testified. Senator Vitelli Cash Maine. Trying to get state funding that the feds do not supply. Retirement bill has carried over last session. Taxes can be done for free.

Priorities for remaining 2021 meetings A particular focus for next meeting, let Gilda know. Interest in supporting girls or any other topic, areas we have touched in the past. We can communicate between meetings. Membership The list on the SWB website needs to be updated. Will send out as follow-up. Anyway, this committee can help advance your work. Next Meeting Topic Services for Girls.

Meeting adjourned at 2:47pm.

Next Meeting May 3, 2021 from 1:00pm 3:00pm. Via ZOOM

Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Davis

Attachments WEC Agenda