Younger Workers Committee

April 28, 2016: 9:30 AM
Commissioner's Room, MDOL Commerce Drive, Augusta, ME

Younger Worker?s Committee AGENDA April 28, 2016 9:30 ? Noon Commissioner?s Room, MDOL Introductions Approval of 1/20/16 Minutes Update on WIOA (Unified Plan), SWB Information forms ? group discussion 2016 Committee Priorities ? Determining priorities ? moving forward, setting goals Membership/Member Updates Upcoming Meetings ? 9:30 ? Noon, Frances Perkins Room, MDOL ? Tuesday, June 28 ? Thursday, September 15 ? Thursday, November 17


Younger Worker?s Committee 04/28/2016

Present: Denise Smith, Dave Wurm, Rachel Knight, Meg Harvey, Tammy Richardson, Mary-Anne Saxl, Ginny Carroll, Mike Jordan (phone)

Absent: Anne Wheeler, Tracey Cooley, Jaime Grover, Janie Small, Kristen Chandler, Lisa Hartnett, Pam Richards, Scott Good

Staff: Cheryl Moran, Garret Oswald

• Denise Smith opened the meeting with welcomes and introductions.

Approval of 1/20/16 Minutes • Denise Smith asked for approval as written. Rachel Knight motioned. Tammy Richardson seconded. All approved the minutes as written.

Update on WIOA (Unified Plan), SWB • Cheryl Moran reported, the WIOA State Unified Plan is completed and was submitted on time (April 1, 2016). As of last week, USDOL has started reviewing the Plan. They will notify the State Workforce Board if any adjustments are needed. Once approved, we will be committed to develop a dashboard to track progress (program performance) and will be working on implementing strategy and develop a process. • Ginny Carroll ? stated in reference to the dashboard, this will be a real opportunity to implement inter-agency collaboration. She also stated that the Rules (WIOA) will not be out until June. • Cheryl Moran ? We are in the process of filling Paul Leparulo?s position and that person will be the Project Manager that will be developing the dashboard. Garret is very confident that Maine will be allowed to receive the WIOA money as of July 1st. The Plan is accessible in PDF and Word on the State Workforce Board website at http://www.maine.gov/swb. Twenty-two comments were submitted including praises during that allotted time period. Each comment submitted was reviewed by the Plan Steering Committee, who decided if suggested edits to the document were appropriate. Some comments were specific and recommended revised language related to sections of the Plan. Other comments were general in nature and suggested additional emphasis be placed on Plan sections, objectives or services. We received acknowledgement that our Partners, Goodwill Industries of NNE and Job Corps are doing a good job. Education and Economic Development have been a great partnership. • Garret Oswald ? we do not see this Plan as a disruptive exercise or document. In the Plan, there are things external to WIOA that is valued to Maine. • Meg Harvey ? stated that she appreciates the amount of work and thoughtfulness that went into this Plan. • Mary-Anne Saxl ? stated employers are asking to have work done without a buy-in. • Denise Smith ? there has to be some commitment (engagement) from employers. • Meg Harvey ? suggested a Board of Industry Partners (sub-committee) where the standard can be set of what criteria the employer is looking for to recruit. • Garret Oswald ? stated that this Committee can make recommendations at any time and the recommendations should go to the State Workforce Board, other Committees etc.

Information forms ? group discussion • Denise Smith ? pointed out what she gathered from the 5 questions that the Committee members answered on the information forms. She stated that we had so many similarities and passions which we can use to create priorities of our Committee.

2016 Committee Priorities ? Determining priorities ? moving forward, setting goals • Denise Smith provided a draft copy of the Committee Priorities covering areas such as: Best Practice Sharing (this is what we all learn from each other and will address at each meeting), Education & Training, Data, Hiring Practices, Youth Barriers ? Limited Access to, and Passions. She stated that to create goals and priorities, she will need some help. Hiring Practices ? Reforming hiring practices for offenders ? remove check box for conviction/common sense background checks, Denise wished we could do this. • Garret Oswald ? suggested this may be out of scope for this Committee. Passions?. ? Helping employers recognize the value of hiring/mentoring youth, Garret stated that this is part of what the Veterans Committee worked on (Hire A Vet Campaign). This can be a main focus of what this group can figure on strategy. Career Exploration: The group discussed how most high school students are not able to determine exactly what career they would like to pursue beyond high school. Many students have been drilled from a very young age that they ?must? go to college either by their parents or guidance counselors. And if they have an entry-level job, it is of little value. • Meg Harvey ? Career Exploration ? would like to start as early as 3rd grade. • Rachel Knight ? would like to have a conversation with guidance counselors. • Mary-Anne Saxl ? all work is valued and seeing value in all work. We need to change people?s way of thinking. • Denise Smith ? we definitely need a conversation. 5 Career Exploration Questions: As a start, the group decided to put together 5 Career Exploration Questions to answer and discuss at the next meeting. The questions are as follows: 1) What tools do you use for Career Exploration? 2) What panels or Industry do you use for Career Exploration? 3) What soft skills do you teach/use and how are they connected to occupational choices? 4) Of all the tools you use, what has the best return on investment? 5) Other?

Membership/Member Updates • Meg Harvey ? advised that LD 1627 ? An Act to Implement Certain Recommendations of the Maine Proficiency Education Council passed and was signed by the Governor on April 19, 2016. It is going to change all Maine education and allows a youth to really explore a Career Pathway. She also mentioned that there is a second piece of Legislation that is not a Bill that will be a re-write of Standard #1 that requires Statute MRS 6209. Meg stated that she will provide information for the group in reference to this information. Next meeting Tuesday, June 28 9:30 ? Noon, Frances Perkins Room, CMCC MDOL • Denise Smith ? stated that the agenda at the next meeting will cover: 1) The 3 Local Areas; asking Joanna, Jeff and Mike the employer groups that they currently have so we will not re-create. Dave Wurm said he will check into that.
2) Group discussion on the 5 Career Exploration Questions.

Meeting adjourned

Minutes respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran


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