AOT NEWSLETTER

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Objectives

1. Provide continuous flow of information to the Board of Supervisors, CalWORKs Workgroups, Social Services staff and all interested parties.

2. Review in a timely manner any emerging information and programs, work group recommendations and issues.

3. Provide effective delegation of projects, programs, issues and concerns to the appropriate workgroup(s).

4. Meet local, state, and national program objectives.

5. Provide integrated service without duplication.

Mission

To bring together public and private resources in a collaborative effort to eliminate employment barriers and to create jobs.

AUGUST 5, 2009 MEETING

Meeting was called to order at 8:35 am.

Present:    Charlene Reid, Barbara Boggio, Tara Loucks, Sandy Foster, Janet Blackketter, Monte Murphy, Denise Snyder, Clara Osborne, Lisa Matheson, Angie Lyon, Ann Ratay, George Russell, Harold Vietti, Nancy Overall and Dianne Ward.

SOCIAL SERVICES REPORT

Charlene reported that Tehama County Department of Social Services is in the process of doing the analysis of the budget plan so no big decisions have been made. 

Barbara updated the group on the budget impact for CalWORKs.  It was a little worse than expected and we are still in the process of analyzing what all of the impacts mean and who will lose services.  The governor had proposed to eliminate CalWORKs.  While that didn’t happen there will be a lot of changes to the program.  Single parents with a child under two, or a single parent with 2 children under six will be exempt from WTW.  In the past, exempt participants who choose to volunteer have been allowed to participate but because of the massive funding cuts it is unlikely Welfare to Work will be able to support those volunteers with childcare, mileage or school expenses.  This plan will be in place until 2011.  Denise Snider asked that the participants be encouraged to reach out to other partner agencies such First 5 Tehama for knowledge of resources or how to connect families to resources.  Barbara added that there will be a reduction to the grant for households whose parents have used up their 60 month time limit and they don’t meet their work participation rates.  There will be no cost of living increase to grants in the future.  For families that are not meeting the work participation rates they will need to attend a self sufficiency review every six months with their worker.  If they do not attend they will get a 50% reduction to their grant.  Also the amount of time participants can be on aid will change.  Instead of getting a cash aid grant for 60 months (5 years) they will receive the benefits for 4 years, then they will be required to be off of aid for 1 year, then they can get the last year of benefits for the 60 months total. 

Barbara also reported that the TANF Emergency Fund (ECF) will provide the state with $1.8 billion of federal money.  $400 million will go towards basic assistance.  The counties can apply to claim money in the area of one time non-recurring events and subsidized employment.  Any client receiving CalWORKs funding is eligible for these services.  80% of the cost of services would come from this fund with 20% being matched by the county.  Some of the ideas being discussed include supplementing vision and dental for adults if it’s a barrier to employment, relocating families closer to services, basic home repairs or appliance replacement, the back to school backpack program, a midyear money supplement for needs for growing children, and a school fund for extracurricular activities.  Regarding subsidized employment, discussions include taking current unpaid volunteer positions and turning it into a paid worksite, and utilizing private sector worksite slots from the Summer Youth program and turning them into opportunities for the CalWORKs adults. 

Tara updated the group on the distance learning pilot project called KeyTrain which is an online curriculum for CalWORKs participants providing soft skills and career skills.  They complete activities in the program and they have the option of taking the National Career Readiness Certificate through American College Testing (ACT).  They can take the certificate with them to show employers and make them more employable.  Clients can work at home, at eScholar Academy or here at Tehama County Department of Social Services.  Tehama County is a pilot county at this time.  Ann inquired about making Corning a future site. 

Sandy updated everyone on the Work Participation Rates (WPR) for the last three quarters including July 2007 through June 2008.  The chart showed that as of April 2009 31.03% of all families and 37.5% of two parent families were employed.  The group requested that they would be interested in seeing the data for single parent families if possible.  The average number of active cases since March in Employment Services has been 660 total.  As of July 31, 2009 218 participants were employed, 175 were in school and over 100 were involved in Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Domestic Abuse services. 

Lisa reported on the Family Loan Program which is now managed under Social Services instead of Community Action Agency.  Some procedures are being revised to streamline the process.  The workers will present any requests on behalf of clients to Barbara, Sandy and Lisa for review.  As of last month 384 loans have been issued since the inception of the program.  Barbara requested a breakdown of how many loans have been issued per year since the program started.  45 loans are active at this time, 191 have been sent to collections, 128 have been paid off, 7 have filed bankruptcy and 6 have paid them off.  The loans are 3 years at 3% interest and if the payment has been made on time every month for 11 months the 12th payment will be paid for them.

CHILD CARE PLANNING COUNCIL

Angie reported that the Planning Council is focusing on is Community Outreach and Education on the importance of child care.  They have been going to the Farmer’s Market and passing out bags for shopping while talking to families about accessing child care.  Angie also showed off mouse pads for employers and Job Training Center.  Barbara requested some for the resource room at Social Services.  Angie also told the group about the Keys to Quality Childcare campaign.  In addition there is a brand new child care center on the corner of Airport Road and Kimball Road in the old North Valley Services building.  The Department of Education also has a new website (the web address was not available at this meeting).

OTHER REPORTS

JOB TRAINING CENTER

Janet reported for Kathy Schmitz.  The Summer Youth program is just finishing up this week.  There were 71 job sites with 129 going to work and 105 completing the program.  12 youth are going to be picked up by the agencies they worked for.  There will be a final celebration on Friday at the new Shasta College campus where the youth will receive their final paycheck, awards and a $75 bonus for the youth who have demonstrated positive work skills and 90% attendance.  The JTC is getting stimulus money they will be utilizing for internships for adults where they will be placed for three months.  There is only enough room for 30 people. 

SHASTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Monte spoke about the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Shasta College Campus that is set for Saturday August 22nd at 10 am at 770 Diamond Avenue in Red Bluff.  The old Shasta College campus on Palm Avenue will house the green and renewable energy classes and projects including wind classes and photovoltaic (solar).  Both start in September and are seven weeks each.  There is a waiting list of 200 students and many are out of state.  Shasta College is only one of three schools in the nation that does this training.  Also Monte shared that the cost per unit at Shasta College is up from $26 from $20.  The dean has applied for a FIPSA grant targeting CalWORKs clients providing training and finding jobs.  The grant would be $650,000 over a three year period.  Regarding the budget there will be severe cuts.  General funds are cut by 1.6 million dollars.  There is a cap on the number of students that can be served and the possibility of no summer school next year.  Also Shasta College will have to cap any money that a CalWORKs student earns against their financial aid. 

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

Barbara has now been assigned to manage Community Action Agency as well as CalWORKs.  She updated everyone that CAA has been busy with grant applications.  They involve capacity building support, a homeless prevention grant, a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) grant and an Earned Income Tax Credit to promote and help people apply for those funds.  Community Action Agency will also be receiving some stimulus money and they are moving forward with Food Stamp outreach and community gardens.  They have helped distribute FEMA funding to safety net providers to provide emergency food and shelter. 

ADULT EDUCATION

Harold reported that eScholar is ready to begin the school year starting August 19th.  Ann spoke about the success of the CalWORKs participants getting their high school diplomas and GEDs.  Child care for the participants has been provided at the site through a federal grant. 

ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE

Clara reported that the CalWORKs office in Corning has moved to 800 West Street which will be better for confidentiality and privacy.  Maggie has been very busy with CalWORKs clients, doing 10 – 20 restraining orders a month.  Every month she goes with 15 – 20 clients to court.   Domestic violence is up quite a bit.  ATV is trying to get donations of food and money.  The canned food supply for the shelter is very low so Clara asked if any group could get food donations from where they work to help with the need.  The annual ATV Trivia Night will be October 17th at 6:00 pm at the Elk’s Lodge and it raises money for Alternatives to Violence.  October is Domestic Violence Month. 

TEHAMA COUNTY CHILDREN & FAMILIES COMMISSION

Denise left flyers about FIRST5 TEHAMA detailing what First5 is, the impact on county services, the relationship with county services, primarily the Health Services Agency and the Department of Education.  She also left the Tehama County Parenting Education Opportunities for the month of October including the Corning Youth Fair, CCRE’s Ooey Gooey Summer, Corning Olive Festival, Latina Leadership and Community Parenting Workshop:  Stress Free Summer. 

CCRE

 No report.

HEAD START

No report.

HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY

No report.

OTHER AGENCY REPORTS

No report.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No comment.

Meeting adjourned at 10:15 am.

Barbara reminded the group about the November 4th Planning Day Meeting from 9 – 12. 

SUCCESS STORY

This story was submitted by a CalWORKs Employment and Training Worker.

Laura is a single parent with 4 children.  When she met with the Employment Training Worker at appraisal she was working for a company that provides care for adults.  She felt it would just going to be a “dead end job” and it wouldn’t be a job where she could advance.  She felt this way because she had no education and no time to attend school.  The ETW encouraged her and told her to do her best everyday as you never know what might happen.  She called the ETW several weeks later stating that they wanted her to fill in as a case manager temporarily.  Her ETW stressed it was her chance to shine and show them she could do this job even if it is only temporary.  She called about a month later to say that she had done such a good job that they offered her the position when the co-worker didn’t come back.  She was so excited.  She grew up in foster care and stated that she is the first person in her family to ever get a job in management.  The company even offered to help with college if she wanted to continue her education.  She is now a case manager for the company with the “dead end job” and going to college.  She couldn’t be happier. 

CalWORKs Employment Services

New attended counts for September 2009