Younger Workers Committee

May 16, 2019: 9:30 AM
Penobscot Job Corps, Bangor, ME

YOUNGER WORKERS COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA 05/16/2019 PENOBSCOT JOB CORPS 1375 UNION STREET, BANGOR 9:00 - Welcome & Introductions 9:30 10:30 Youth in Recovery, Bangor Area Recovery Network 10:30 10:45 LEAP Presentation, Nikki Williams 11:00 Job Corps Overview & Tour, Mike Camire, Center Director, Penobscot JCC 11:30 Wrap Up NEXT MEETING September 19, 2019 Frances Perkins Room 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta 9:30am 12:00pm


YOUNGER WORKERS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

05/16/2019

Present: Robin Doody, Susan Cerini, Kaylin Kerina, Mercedes Pour, Tammy Richardson, Joan Dawson, (Phone), Mike Jordan, (Phone), Melissa Williams, (Phone), Nikki Williams, (Phone)

Guest: Leah Gulliver, Kayla Kelel, Joanna Russell, Ashley Smith, Edie Smith

Staff: Chris Quint, (Phone), Cheryl Moran

Welcome & Introductions/Approval of the 03/21/19 meeting minutes Robin Doody, facilitated for Tracey Cooley, (Chair) opened the regular meeting at 9:34am with welcome and introductions. Robin called motion for approval of the 03/21/19 meeting minutes. Mercedes Pour motioned. Kaylin Kerina seconded. Minutes approved unanimously as written.

Youth in Recovery, Ashley Homestead, Tiffany Pedro Ashley and Tiffany provided a PowerPoint presentation on "Creating Recovery-Ready Communities". Highlights: How addiction and recovery effects the workforce. Employers do not know how to handle the situation. The stigma is hard to break. Substance abuse effects all walks of life...does not discriminate. Recovery does not necessarily stop and start. Vision Get resources in the hands of people suffering with substance abuse disorder. Focus: Employment Education financial literacy Housing Advocacy on state and local levels Treatment Prevention Recovery messaging Chapter events: Workshops All recovery meetings Recovery messaging Pro-social activities Age group servicing as young as babies and as old as grandparents. What matters is seeking recovery and an ally. Trainings on recovery messaging being cognizance of words such as addict. Have compassion, not be judgmental. How does a person find out about Young People in Recovery? YPR sticker, word of mouth YPR stickers and BARN information are posted in the Legislature's office where they can refer Overall YPR: Strong sense of community Empowering young people in recovery Building professional skills Reducing stigma

Bangor Area Recovery Network (B A R N), Sharon Fickett, Robert Fickett Sharon opened her presentation by stating the B A R Ns mission is to provide a sustainable and reliable community recovery center that supports the needs of people affected by addiction. The four pillars they stand on are: 1. Recovery is a process 2. There are many Pathways to recovery 3. Recovery Overcomes shame and stigma 4. Supporting recovery is a community responsibility She stated they work with organizations such as A4TD, FedCap, Job Corps, Probation Offices She explained there are many ways to help: Committee volunteer Marketing committee Operations Development fundraising because they do not receive any state or federal dollars, all through donations Volunteer behind the counter The facility is opened 7 days including holidays The facility does not have much food to offer however; they have a career closet of donated career clothes/shoes for job interviews, which is a new addition. They also have a childrens room. To be a volunteer, you do not need to commit to a certain number of hours.
The B A R N has a Board of Directors ranging from police officers to people in recovery.
You do not need to be in recovery to come to the B A R N. If you are affected by a family member, you are still welcome. Sharon strongly stated if you do not have a roof over your head or being able to pay bills, its very hard to stay in recovery. Joanna Russell, Executive Director of the Northeastern Workforce Development Board stated there are recovery centers all over the State of Maine not just in Bangor. Recovery coaches can really help students in college and starting a new job. Mercedes Pour stated YPR and the B A R N will be showcased(piloted)throughout all the Community College System. Sharon announced in June, they will be conducting a 2 on 1 training that will be opened to the Public. Most fear comes from not knowing.

LEAP Presentation, Nikki Williams Nikki provided a PowerPoint presentation on Maines Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) initiative & MyBestBets Customization. Highlights: This initiative was part of 10 Local Partnerships across the country and was launched in 2016 Gateway to Opportunity turned into a Tool Kit In Maine, they implement Jobs for Maines Graduates (JMG) (Classroom Model) and Back on Track (BOT) (Post-Secondary Bridging) & (First Year Supports) Is a statewide initiative Age group: 14 21 They work with all Maine providers What do they need in their lives to continue or start on a Career Pathway? Goal: To provide youth with support, incentives and milestones MyBestBets is an on-line self-assessment that has 60 questions and takes between 20 30 minutes. Students will receive a set of work personality traits as a result of completing their assessment. The six personality types are: 1. Realistic 2. Investigative 3. Artistic 4. Social 5. Enterprising 6. Conventional Nikki stated there are on-line platforms throughout the state and would like to have these systems talk to each other.

Job Corps Overview & Tour, Mike Camire, Center Director, Penobscot JCC Mike provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Job Corps. Mission: To set highly motivated young people on a pathway to education and training for successful careers in the nations fastest-growing industries. Age group: 16 24. All students are expected to be drug-free when they arrive and remain drug-free while they are enrolled. In Maine, there are 2 centers; Penobscot and Loring. Tours are conducted every Thursday at 10:30 but can do them anytime. The program starts every Tuesday and there is no waiting list. A student can start within 2 3 weeks. The Job Corps is 100% federally funded. Follow-up services are provided up to 12 months. A student will be contacted when they start work. Outcome goal: Produce work-ready adults.

Wrap Up Mike Camire, Center Director provided a tour of the Center.

Meeting Adjourned at 12:00pm

NEXT MEETING September 19, 2019 Frances Perkins Room 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta 9:30am 12:00pm

Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran


Attachments