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TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD YOUTH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

HEMPSTEADWORKS CAREER CENTER

October 24, 2007

Attendees:

Rosa M. Amaya, Parent Gregory Becker, Town of Hempstead Department of Occupational Resources (DOOR) Dr. Richard E. Dibble, Chairperson, New York Institute of Technology Lt. Frank Edwards, Incorporated Village of Hempstead Police Department Ana-Maria Hurtado, DOOR Edward Kenny, DOOR Joann Lukas Von Stein, DOOR Alan Nachman, Diversified Microsystems, Inc. Paola Nappo, New York State Education Department Office of Vocational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) Jaonta Scarlett, Youth Participant Ella Strzepa, Alutiiq Professional Services, LLC. (Job Corps)

1. Welcome and Introductions

The meeting was called to order at 9:35 A.M. Dr. Dibble welcomed several new representatives. He directed the attendees to review a copy of the Youth Council Mission Statement. The members introduced themselves and described their respective organizations.

2. Review of Minutes

The meeting minutes from June 12, 2007 were reviewed and approved.

3. Youth Performance Report

The Council was provided with a summary of the changes to performance standards that are now in effect as a result of a revised policy issued by the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). Edward Kenny explained that the Performance Measures established under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 had been replaced until June 30, 2009, by the Common Measures established by the United States Department of Labor, pursuant to a waiver issued to NYSDOL by USDOL. In addition to the Common Measures, NYSDOL has added statewide System Improvement Indicators. The Council examined the Common Measures for Youth and the System Improvement Indicator for Increased Services to Out-of-School Youth. Mr. Kenny reported that the work of the Education and Assistance Corporation (EAC) and The Paxen Group, Inc., over nine (9) to ten (10) months, has resulted in greatly improved recruitment of Out-of-School Youth. From the inception of the EAC and Paxen contracts through the present, the contractors have recruited a combined number of seventy-one (71) Youth. During the same amount of time, in the previous year, only nineteen (19) were recruited, meaning that almost four (4) times as many Out-of-School Youth have been recruited by Paxen and EAC. Increased enrollments, combined with early positive outcomes of the EAC and Paxen programs, are good indicators that the performance outcomes of our youth will improve significantly during Program Year 2007, which covers the period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.

The Youth Program performance for Program Year 2006, covering the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, was described by Mr. Kenny. Prior to 2006, the Older Youth Earnings Gain measure had been particularly problematic. This standard was passed in Program Year 2006. The following measures, pertaining to Older Youth, were failed for the same period: Entered Employment Rate, Employment and Credential Rate, and Retention Rate. The Youth Program Operator has submitted a Corrective Action Plan to the Local Workforce Investment Board regarding these outcomes. For the most part, the corrective action consists of the work of EAC and Paxen, whose activities did not impact on the participant cohorts for the time period where failures occurred.

The Council was also informed that formula funding for Youth was reduced to our Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) by approximately thirty-five percent (35%) for Program Year 2007. Dr. Dibble asked how many Youth had been served this year. He was informed that in Program Year 2007, which began on July 1, 2007 and will end on June 30, 2008, one hundred and thirty-three (133) Youth participants have been served. Of that number, seventy-one (71) are Out-of-School Youth and sixty-two (62) are In-School Youth.

Dr. Dibble also asked Janota Scarlett to evaluate the Paxen program, based upon her participation. Ms. Scarlett stated that she loves the Paxen program and that she tells potential applicants about its benefits, particularly in the Roosevelt area. Lt. Frank Edwards suggested that the following organizations be contacted as sources of recruitment: Pat Brown Social Worker at Hempstead High School and Sergio Arquetta of the Uniondale Violence Prevention Coalition and also of S.T.R.O.N.G. Paola Nappo suggested that youth with disabilities be recruited from and referred to VESID, as appropriate. Joann Lukas Von Stein and Ella Strzepa explained how Job Corps participants are being referred to the HempsteadWorks Youth Program.

4. Out-of-School Youth Proposal Review

Dr. Dibble directed the members to review two proposals for Out-of-School Youth Services to determine whether they should be recommended to the Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) for approval. The two proposals were submitted by The Paxen Group, Inc. and by EAC. Dr. Dibble requested that the proposals be reviewed and voted upon separately. A motion was offered by Lt. Edwards for the Youth Council to recommend to the LWIB to approve the EAC proposal. The motion was seconded by Alan Nachman and approved by the Council.

2 A motion was offered by Lt. Edwards for the Youth Council to recommend to the LWIB to approve the Paxen proposal. The motion was seconded by Ms. Scarlet and approved by the Council. The Council agreed that these contractors should be assigned to specific geographic territories within the Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA).

5. Connect LI Update

The Council was provided with an excerpt from the NYSDOL Request For Applications Number 13-N, which is entitled Regional Economic Transformation Strategies (RETS). Mr. Kenny summarized how the Connect LI initiative had developed from the Workforce Innovation through Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant solicitation process. He explained how the initiative led to the Connect LI Symposium and how it had placed the Long Island Region in an advantageous position to respond to the RETS RFP. Three proposals were submitted from organizations in Long Island in response to the RFP. NYSDOL has informed each of the applicants that they must agree to a lead organization and submit a single application. If this cannot be accomplished, then the three (3) local workforce investment boards must select the applicant. Ana-Maria Hurtado stated that it was important to continue this initiative to coordinate economic development and workforce resources.

6. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 A.M.