Womens Employment Committee

January 29, 2018: 9:30 AM
Frances Perkins rm, 45 Commerce Dr, Augusta

Women?s Employment Committee AGENDA 1/29/17 9:30 ? Noon Frances Perkins Room, MDOL 9:30 Introductions Program and policy priorities for 2018?please come prepared to share your organization?s top priorities related to women?s economic security at the state and federal level 10:30 Break 10:45 Approval of 9/25/17 and 11/6/17 Minutes Status of WIOA funding/MDOL 11:30 Member updates/priority topics for 2018 meetings

WOMEN?S EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 01/29/18 Present: Gilda Nardone (Chair), Kelly Samson-Rickert, Laurie Glidden, Peaches Bass, Chris Hastedt, Erin Benson (ZOOM), Valerie Carter (ZOOM), Joni Boissonneault (ZOOM), Karen Keim (ZOOM)

Staff: Cheryl Moran, Garret Oswald

*Introductions:

Gilda Nardone opened the meeting with welcomes and introductions.

Erin Benson ? WANTO (Women in Apprenticeship & Non-Traditional Occupations): ? Started in October 2017. ? The Grant is a little over $300,000. ? Covers 3 Counties, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook. ? This Grant helps supports people through training. Since this Grant is tied to WIOA, there was an issue with the Governor tying up the funds. People receiving WIC, LIHEAP etc., we will put them through the Pre-Apprenticeship Program however; those that are ready can go right into employment. Gilda asked Erin if she can provide brochures at upcoming Totally Trades events.

*Program and policy priorities for 2018/ - please come prepared to share your organization?s top priorities related to women?s economic security at the state and federal level:

Gilda Nardone stated that she has reached out to EMPath and hopefully we can focus on this area at some point in the future with combined resources. She suggested that at a next meeting, the organizations that have been implementing aspects of EMPath?s Bridge to Self-Sufficency model share what they are learning (Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, Maine State Housing and Portland Housing, and New Ventures Maine). Karen Keim, Director Maine Educational Opportunity Center & Maine Educational Talent Search Program stated we need to keep an eye on the Prospect Act. This Bill is in the House not Senate. Karen reported that 26 TRIO Programs will be affected. TRIO can only serve low-income or First Generation. When you eliminate grant programs, the middle-class to low-income will definitely be affected.
The Higher Education Act ? we should also be focused on. Education is a way to get women out of poverty. It seems the people that need assistance the most, are the most affected. This really threatens our most vulnerable. Valerie Carter, PhD Research Associate Bureau of Labor Education University of Maine Orono stated she also is appalled by what?s happening. She stated they do not directly have training programs however; they do attend Labor Council meetings. Laurie Glidden, Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator Maine State Housing Authority stated they are working on creating more solid partnerships in 2018. Building Family Futures ? this program includes 10 vouchers for people that are on the verge of homelessness. This program is expanding to Presque Isle. They just connected with FedCap. Most people on her program are women and children. Joni Boissonneault, Program Manager Portland Housing Authority stated she works with single moms and children through age 8. She reported they received a pilot grant from Women United, and the funding is available until the end of March. Chris Hastedt, Public Policy Director Maine Equal Justice Partners provided a handout on LD1774, An Act to Reduce Child Poverty by Leveraging Investments in Families for Tomorrow (LIFT) will create more opportunity and set Maine families and children up for success. This Legislation is being worked on this Session. Parents of Scholars ? She reported that enrollment in the program has declined ? down to about 70 from 900. The pool of people has also declined. LIFT will also increase access to work study jobs for Parents of Scholars students that a college may not offer. Being in school will enable them to continue receiving their SNAP benefits. Pitch: Chris asked members if they know anyone that can testify and tell their story that shows how they will benefit from this program. Karen Keim stated to Chris, make sure MaineSpark knows about this Bill. Kelly Samson-Rickert, Director of Workforce Development State of Maine Office of Information Technology ? Maine Cyber Start: ? Teaches about cyber security. ? Free to students, girls, grades 9 ? 12 and students that are home-schooled. ? What?s available in technology and career availability. ? Starting salary $60,000 Tech Nite is coming up in March. They will be doing the same thing ? expose them to different careers and what they use in the State of Maine. She reported in OIT, 29% of women make up that population group. Gilda Nardone suggested she should hook Kelly into their Totally Trades Conferences. Peaches Bass, Program Manager Ticket-to-Work Bureau of Employment Services MDOL - Peaches provided a handout ?Basic Guide to Disability Etiquette?. She stated she has a lot of brochures left over from her disability grant and would like to give them away. Disability Rights Maine has a staff person that does a workshop on deaf culture and awareness. They can be contacted at www.drme.org. She stated she?s not in any program specific to women. Gilda Nardone, Executive Director New Ventures Maine ? MaineSpark Adult Promise ? Karen Keim and Gilda Nardone are involved. The focus is more with adults that do not have a degree. Gilda stated they put out an RFP for a couple of pilots throughout the State. She stated she is hoping to have more information on sharing and collaboration. There is Legislation pending this Session to enhance the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP). She pointed out that a lot of partners do not have knowledge of what?s available. Areas of concern: ? Matched Savings Program ? Family Development Accounts ? funding was not included in this round of the federal budget; the FDA Coalition is exploring other resources so they can still be able to serve. ? Steps that helps families to economic security has been pulled away. ? Keep a focus on some of the sub-groups (people with disabilities, financial education issues).

Goals: ? To align financial literacy with second chance Pell at the Maine Correctional Center and Southern Maine ReEntry Center. ? Keep our connection with new immigrant women and invite them to sit on our committee. Announcement: This Thursday, February 1 will be the Alliance for Maine Women?s day at the State House. The Alliance will be paying attention to certain Legislation.

*Approval of 9/25/17 and 11/6/17 Minutes:

Gilda Nardone asked for approval of the 9/25/17 meeting minutes. Peaches Bass motioned. Laurie Glidden seconded. 9/25/17 minutes approved as written. Gilda Nardone asked for approval of the 11/6/17 meeting minutes. Peaches Bass motioned. Laurie Glidden seconded. 11/6/17 minutes approved as written.

*Status of WIOA funding/MDOL ? Garret Oswald-

Garret reported what transpired with the court case that was filed by Coastal Counties. He stated the court case has worked its way through. The case was awarded to Coastal Counties. The Law states when states receive federal funds, they need to be disbursed in a timely manner. That is what the Judge understood. The LWBs are submitting their budgets to BES and turning them into contracts. Then they will go to the County Commissioners for approval.
PY17 money of which 2 out of the 3 (LWBs) contracted for 1/3 of the money except Coastal Counties because they were the ones that filed the Lawsuit. Gilda Nardone asked what is the timeframe? Garret stated 2 weeks is what he has heard. And the Attorneys need to work things out.
The WIOA funds have a 2-year lifespan. PY17 will end June 30, 2019. PY18 start July 1, 2018. At the December 1 SWB meeting, the SWB had a conversation and carried the motion by Senator Amy Volk in reference to the Training Expenditure Policy: 45% PY18, 60% PY19 and 10% could come from case management. On Friday, January 26 we were going to review what occurred in December but the Governor came to the meeting. He is a SWB member. The Governor called for an amendment to the December?s proposal: 70% PY18, 70% PY19 and included the case management piece and all the additional activities (Transitional jobs, Adult work experience, English language acquisition, Work Ready/occupational skills training, and Integrated education and training). The Governor also asked for a penalty if they do not make it after the first year. Policy however; allows for a waiver if they do not make it. In the past, a waiver was allowed. Once PY17 monies are released, the funding is good until June 30, 2019. Gilda Nardone asked for an update in regards to layoffs in the field. Garret stated yes, this has been a big disruption. Hopefully some of the layoffs will be re-called. Staff will need to adjust to the funding restrictions. CSSP is state funded not federally funded assisted WIOA Title 1B funding customers so they could complete their training. There were only a few people that were unable to transition into CSSP. Joni Boissonneault asked if the WIOA funds are available to all the LWBs? Garret responded, the court case was specifically awarded to Coastal Counties. Laurie Glidden asked who is Jeff Sneddon?s replacement? Garret responded, Jim Trundy, General Manager of WMCA is the person that is trying to get that Board back into business and is up to speed with what is occurring and needs to happen.

*Member updates/priority topics for 2018 meetings ?

Next meeting to include on the agenda: How as a committee, we want to be more visible on the issues we discussed at this meeting? Focus on the EMPath model and invite the partners to share that. Karen Keim suggested since women make less money than men, also include this topic on the agenda. Peaches Bass ? women respected and safe in the workplace and how is our System handling this. Gilda Nardone suggested to bring in people with expertise.

*Meeting adjourned

NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 5, 2018 FROM 9:30 ? NOON IN THE FRANCES PERKINS ROOM, CMCC AUGUSTA.

Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran

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