Town of Hempstead Workforce Investment Board

Town of Hempstead Workforce Investment Board WIT Strategic Planning Team Meeting Minutes HempsteadWorks Career Center September 22, 2005

Attendees:

Ivy Chang, Abilities, Inc. Aurora Berman, HempsteadWorks Aurora Farrington, Chairperson, VESID Grace Guerrero, New York State Department of Labor Division of Employment Services (NYSDOLDoES) Edward Kenny, HempsteadWorks Joann Lukas Von Stein, HempsteadWorks Yvonne Morrissey, HempsteadWorks Jennifer Sulmonte, Abilitities, Inc.

I. Welcome and Introductions

Ms. Aurora Farrington, called the meeting to order at 10:10 A.M. The attendees introduced themselves.

II. Review of Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting were reviewed and approved.

III. WIT Project Update

Ms. Farrington asked the members to review a report describing the project outcomes to date. Mr. Kenny explained that this report was intended to facilitate our discussion regarding sustainability of the WIT Project beyond the period funded by the Customized Employment Grant (CEG). He also repeated his comments from the March meeting in which he indicated that the report demonstrates some areas where enrollments and performance demonstrated that the WIT Project is achieving a positive impact on the system, including the total number of individuals with disabilities (IWD) served, the number of IWD shared by the One-Stop partners, the number of IWD served who are eligible under the CEG, and the number of IWD who are both eligible under the CEG and entered employment. He also identified areas of concern, particularly the number of IWD in the cohort that did not specifically meet the CEG eligibility and entered employment. Another concern is that while enrollment increases are substantial from Year 0 (the year before the project was implemented), through Years 1, 2 and 3 (to date), they do not compare as favorably with Years 0, –1,and -2 combined. The Team agreed that enrollment and entered employment statistics must increase by comparison in order to validate the system change effectuated by the grant.

Ms. Young indicated that several outreach initiatives will be implemented to increase the enrollments. Ms. Farrington suggested that outreach be conducted at college placement offices.

IV. Sustainability Planning

The Team reviewed the Sustainability Plan developed during two sessions facilitated by Elena Varney of the National Center for Workforce and Disability Adult. The attendees described how their respective organizations will perform the tasks cited in the Plan. Ms. Lukas Von Stein described the staff training that is being conducted to support the sustainability efforts. Ms. Young described the IBM Web Adaptive Technology and the Windows Accessibility Features. She suggested that arrangements be made for One-Stop staff to be trained on the IBM software at the Kornreich Center. It was agreed that additional training on the I-Communicator would be conducted as well. The members reviewed the One-Stop Resource Matrix that is being updated by Ms. Chang. Ms. Farrington suggested that projects such as the Resources Matrix should be developed as marketing opportunities, with a cover letter to clearly explain the project, etc.

V. Fiscal Issues

Mr. Kenny explained that USDOL/ODEP has indicated that budget modifications to the grant must be made during the grant period. He also advised that the Year Two Modification Request was in jeopardy due to this policy. The Team agreed that the policy would require actual and timely projections and billing for expenditures. Ms. Young indicated that the grant would be reduced to an 80% funding level in Year 4 and to 60% in Year 5.

VI. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 A.M.