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Womens Employment Issues Committee
February 29, 2016: 9:30 AMFrances Perkins Room, MDOL Commerce Drive, Augusta, ME
Women?s Employment Issues Committee AGENDA 2/29/16 9:30 ? Noon Frances Perkins Room, MDOL Introductions Approval of 12/7/15 Minutes 2016 Committee Priorities and Process ? Review/further input to Policy & Program priorities list ? Determining priorities for 2016?areas of alignment with the WIOA Plan or other policy issues, areas we want to learn more about, areas that need a gender spotlight, opportunities for coordination ? Process?how can we most effectively communicate and coordinate with/within: o Our Committee o Other Committees o State Workforce Board o Key Strategic Partners Update on WIOA, SWB, DOL Member Updates/Resource Sharing Upcoming Meetings?9:30 ? Noon, Frances Perkins Room, MDOL ? Wednesday April 20 ? Tuesday, June 7 ? Tuesday, September 13 ? Monday, November 7
State Workforce Board Women?s Employment Issues Committee February 29. 2016
Present: Gilda Nardone, Auta Main, Kelly Samson-Rickert, Joni Boissonneault, Laurie Glidden, Kelly Osborn, Nicole Evans, Chris Hastedt, Darylen Cote, Karen Keim, Christie Daggett, Valerie Carter Absent: Kathy Kilrain del Rio, Christie Cross, Amertah Perman
Gilda Nardone, committee Chair opened the meeting with welcomes and introductions followed by the approval of the 12/7/5 meeting minutes (unanimous). Gilda also reviewed the comments she had submitted to the WIOA Steering Committee on behalf of the Women?s Employment Issues Committee regarding Maine?s Strategic Workforce Development Plan. Next on the agenda was a follow-up discussion regarding the committee?s policy and program priorities. The priorities are divided up into four areas; Education & Training, Employment & Business Ownership, Financial Education & Asset Ownership and Barriers to Women?s Economic Security. Nicole asked about specific language related to the minimum wage and suggested that we use the term income ?that meets basic needs? and ?living wage.? The committee felt that program data is still a very important issue and that there should be a comparison to the same indicators for males as well as established baselines for assessing progress. The committee would be interested in both qualitative and quantitative data and having a translation of the words and measures. Chris Hastedt asked if the customer satisfaction surveys could be used for both program evaluation and strategic planning (ie determine the real needs of participants). Chris then asked about how we could measure what we mean when we talk about ?quality jobs? and could we better measure the things like women?s wages and women?s employment as they relate to priority issues of importance to the committee. The committee expressed concern about the recent DHHS RFP for TANF services. There is the potential for a new provider with no knowledge of Maine or its current service providers to be selected, and they would be starting from behind. The committee had a discussion about bringing the voice of the participant into the program and policy discussions as a way to inform decision makers about the consequences of their actions. The committee wanted to make sure Youth (girls) are included. Kelly Osborn spoke about the Crittenton Women?s Union?s Bridge to Self-Sufficiency model in Boston, MA and other resources they offer. The committee members agreed it was a promising practice that could be replicated in Maine. The committee asked about having analysists from the Center for Workforce Research & Information, Maine Development Foundation and Maine Center for Economic Policy come in and speak about what data they are using regarding women?s employment. It was suggested that we have all three as a panel discussion. Gilda and Garret will extend the invitations for 4/20/16. Committee members than gave brief updates; Laurie G ? Family Self Sufficiency project is expanding. Working with Career Centers and others across the state. Nicole E ? working on Greater Portland (Cumberland County) Goal Setting Process. It is a collaborative process with a ten year view. Joni B ? Portland Housing building additional housing units and working with FSS program. Chris H ? Bills in legislature to expand CSSP enrollments by increasing staffing at CareerCenters, Expansion of Medicaid and to reform TANF. Kelly R ? Just used CSSP AND Vets program for first time ? would like to do more. Also working on a Tech-Hire Grant. Auta M ? Vets committee is looking for a new Chair and a SWB member. New Vets web portal should be live on 4/1 and the recent Cabin in the Woods legislation will build 21 new housing units on the Togus campus by 2017. Kelly O ? submitted letter of intent for the DHHS TANF RFP. Expanding the Jobs Connection model with a new program in Manchester NH. Working with CCWI on the pre-release employment project for incarcerated felons. Darylen C ? working a Ed Talent Search grant Karen K ? working on EOC grants. (25TH Anniversary for EOC grant and 50th for Ed Talent Search grant) Valerie C ? will be on the lookout for other good data related to women?s employment issues.
Next meeting ? 4/20/16. Minutes respectfully submitted by Garret Oswald.
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