Veterans Employment Committee

November 28, 2018: 10:00 AM
Frances Perkins rm, 45 Commerce Dr, Augusta

AGENDA State Workforce Board (SWB) Veterans Employment Committee (VEC) – STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION November 28, 2018 (9:30am – 12:30pm) Location: MDOL, Commerce Center, Frances Perkins Room 9:30am Meeting Begins Jonathan Farr, SWB Chair Welcome and Opening Remarks Jonathan Farr Around the Room Introductions Jonathan Farr/ALL Approval of Meeting Notes from September 5,2018 Jonathan Farr/All Seeking Feedback – Exploring New Nonprofit for Veterans 10:00am SWB VEC Strategic Planning Session 2018/2018 Begins Peaches Bass, Facilitator, Program Mngr, BES, MDOL ? Welcome/Introductions/Ground Rules ? Review Agenda ? Review 2016 Goals/Priorities/Outcomes ? Brainstorm New Outcomes You’d Like to See ? BREAK ? Goal Setting – New and Consolidating ? Individual Interest/Commitment ? Wrap-Up/Thank-you! 12:25pm Miscellaneous All Dates for 2019 SWB VEC Meetings, Frances Perkins Room, MDOL ? January 23, 2019, March 6, 2019, May 22, 2019, July 24, 2019, September 18, 2019 and November 20, 2019 Jonathan Farr/ALL Adjourn


Meeting Minutes from SWB Veterans Employment Committee MDOL, Commerce Center, Frances Perkins Room November 28, 2018 (9:30am – 12:30pm)

Member Attendees:, Mark Cafiso, LVER, Portland CareerCenter, Mark Cater, Director, Veteran Employment and Strategy, Military Talent Source, Leo Deon, LVER, Lewiston CareerCenter, Robin Doody, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Northern Light Health, Jonathan Farr, Owner, J.R. Farr Handyman, and SWB VEC Chair, Mike Gray, HVRP Project Coordinator and Military and Veterans Services Director, Easterseals Maine, Darren Henry, Deputy Director, Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, Debbie Kelly, Maine Director, Veterans Employment and Trainings Services (VETS), David Richmond, Acting Director, Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, Steven Roy, LVER, Augusta CareerCenter and MHAV Campaign Coordinator, David Stearns, President, Dale Carnegie Maine, Joe Tatem, Executive Director, National Guard Employment and Support Program

Guests & Interested Party Attendees: SWB Staff: Cheryl Moran, Labor Program Specialist, State Workforce Board

Staff: Auta Main, MDOL BES Veterans’ Program Manager

SWB VEC Chair, Jonathan Farr: Welcome & Opening Remarks

SWB VEC Chair, Jonathan Farr: Round the room introductions.

SWB VEC Chair, Jonathan Farr: Approval of notes from September 5, 2018.

SWB VEC Chair, Jonathan Farr: Prospective New Vet Organization – Discussion/Feedback - REBOOT social organization for modern veterans – filling the gap for younger veterans who have been less interested in activities of older organizations like VFW and American Legion. A Veteran Focused Social Organization.
- Younger vets are trying to fit-in. No structure, no rank, no procedure, no mission, no purpose. One of the aims of REBOOT is to get veterans together to help them to “fit in” – familiar type environment. - Envisions a space/structure similar to one like a BRAVO Company, for example. - Jon has spoken to many stakeholders in the veteran community and is seeking feedback as he continues to explore and take next steps SWB VEC MEMBER FEEDBACK - Would it be possible to take your idea and ask the VFWs and American Legions if they could expand to do something like this as they are seeking to MODERNIZE, as well, to attract younger veterans? You could work directly with them to expand? Only issue with VFW is that not all veterans are veterans of foreign wars. - One member said – LOVE this idea. This seems to compliment the role of the VFW and Legions. - Team Red, White and Blue does some of this, too. Jonathan had spoken to them, as well. - More to come in 2019!

SWB VEC STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION – 2018/2019 Facilitator: Peaches Bass, Program Manager, BES, MDOL o Review of 2016 Goals/Priorities and Outcomes ? Marketing, Education, Membership, Veteran Friendly Employer Award - The group reviewed the 2016 goals/priorities and agreed they would like to continue with a similar focus AND some new projects under each of these goals

*See below – for overview of what emerged from activities SWB VEC members participated in at the planning session for 2019. Many THANKs to Peaches Bass for providing excellent facilitation and keeping us on track!

GOALS/PRIORITIES 2018-2019, Primary Contacts for Each

GOAL #1.

Goal/Priority 2018 Status 2019 Status/To Do Assigned To MARKETING
Resource web portal DONE Continue to check-in each meeting. Update as needed. MBVS Dave Richmond, Darren Henry, Sarah Sherman New website for Maine Veterans DONE (Adria, Dave, Laura) Continue to check-in each meeting. Update as needed. MBVS – Dave Richmond, Darren Henry, Sarah Sherman Social media outreach from all SWB VEC partners DONE Needs more discussion – add to meeting agendas All SWB VEC partners – SWB VEC Group Paid advertising/outreach DONE Continue to check-in each meeting about new strategies being used MBVS, MDOL, Easterseals ME, Other Maine Hire-A-Vet DONE Develop website 2019 – continue to check-in each meeting MDOL, Steve Roy & MHAV Partners NEW: Wider partnerships for marketing resources to Vets More … Ideas for expanding outreach Auta Main, Darren Henry, Sarah Sherman NEW: Educate local boards, WIOA providers, CareerCenters RE: increasing WIOA and CSSP veteran enrollment More… Could be under marketing or education. Want to increase enrollment of vets, especially in WIOA programs statewide Auta Main & JVSG Staff NEW: Promote MMCN regional meetings More … Ideas for increasing outreach and visibility of MMCN groups? Leo Deon will lead

GOAL #2.

Goal/Priority 2018 Status 2019 Status/To Do Assigned To EDUCATION -For EMPLOYERS
Military Culture 101 and 202 Both done & Videotaped on YouTube (soon for 202) Continue to check-in each meeting. More Andy Gibson, Auta Main, Steve Roy NEW: Military Culture 303 NEW Develop outline for Military Culture 303 Auta Main, Andy Gibson, Jon Farr, Mike Gray, Vet Reps PsychArmor Online Trainings DONE – shared with MHAV employers Continue to check-in each meeting, increase outreach to expand access to ME employers Auta Main, Vet Team, MHAV EDUCATION – For VETERANS
One-on-One process/intake trainings for veterans DONE! SWB VEC members each have training intake process for veterans Check in if needed All SWB VEC members Civilian 101 For Veterans – A one to two-day training focused on assistance with employment services for veterans In the works! A template curriculum has been developed by Dale Carnegie and some SWB members Still a lot of passion to make this happen. The issue has been funding to pay for curriculum and to train the trainers. We’ll definitely revisit in 2019! David Stearns, Mark Cater, Auta Main, Mark Cafiso, Steve Roy and others NEW: WIOA Enrollment – Increase number of veterans enrolled Worked with Coastal Counties Workforce Board and Goodwill in 2018 to improve enrollment #s of veterans Would like to see a higher % of veteran enrollment in WIOA in 2019. Continue to work with/educate WIOA board and providers statewide Mark Cafiso to take the lead with Auta Main NEW: Financial Literacy for Veterans NEW Explore existing curricula and figure out how to deliver courses (or share info) in person or online Debbie Kelly, Joe Tatem NEW: Customized Hands-On Training for Employers - SAME as Military Culture 303 or something different? N/A A training to assist employers with DD214 interpretation, O’Net transferability of skills and more … Leo Deon, Mark Cafiso, Mike Gray (Andy Gibson) NEW: Checklist for Veteran Friendly Employers NEW What does it mean to be a veteran friendly employer? Creation of a checklist to guide employers Robin Doody, Auta Main

GOAL #3.

Goal/Priority 2018 Status 2019 Status/To Do Assigned To VETERAN FRIENDLY EMPLOYER AWARD OPTIONS Explored in 2018. Didn’t take next steps except for outreach to employers regarding the new USDOL HIRE VETS Medallion Program Compare variety of options and select one or two to move forward with - SWB VEC Vet Friendly Employer Award - HIRE VETS Medallion USDOL - Best Places to Work in Maine – special program for Vets? - Other Auta Main, Cheryl Moran, Debbie Kelly, Mark Cafiso

Mark Cafiso

OTHER

Suggested Other Next Steps and To Dos 2018 Status 2019 Status/To Do Assigned To NEW: Increase visibility of SWB and its committees - HIGHER on RADAR of New Governor and Legislature NEW Introduce/Educate about SWB and Committees to New Governor, Cabinet, Leaders and Legislature Josh Howe and Cheryl Moran NEW: Seek Small Amount of FUNDING for SWB VEC and Other SWB Committees NEW Looking for possibly $1000 a year per committee to host meetings and possibly more for special projects Josh Howe, Cheryl Moran and SWB All Chairs NEW: Fundraising for SWB VEC Related Initiatives NEW Explore grants and other funding to support the development and roll-out of Civilian 101 for Veterans, MHAV & other. Possibly SWB $ ?? Jon, Easterseals, MDOL, MBVS, NG Employment and Support Program and other partners SWB VEC Membership Ongoing Clean-up. Add/remove members as needed. Possibly more diversity of occupation, of demographic, of businesses. Ongoing. SWB VEC Members

Mark Your Calendars for SWB VEC Meetings 2019 January 23, 2019, March 6, 2019, May 22, 2019, July 24, 2019, September 18, 2019 and November 20, 2019

The meeting adjourned at 12:30pm


Attachments