Secure Jobs Advisory Committee
May 19, 2015
In attendance: Toni Bator, HAPHousing, Sara Chaganti, Brandeis, Bud Delphin, CareerPoint, Ken Demers, BerkshireWorks, Donna Harris, Franklin Hampshire Career Center, Joanne Lacour, DTA, Lisa Lapierre, Corporation for Public Management, Darlene Morse, CareerPoint, Bob Wojcik, CareerPoint, Pamela Wojtkowski, Corporation for Public MAnagement
April Progress Reports – click here for monthly report and here for comparative analysis among programs
For DHCD Hampden County project:
101 enrollments
65 employed
101 % of enrollment goal
81% of entered employment goal
78% of 1 year job retention goal
Discussion: Fantastic progress over the last 2 months. Congratulations to all for the ongoing effort to meet the challenges and create a truly successful collaboration. Bi-weekly case management meetings in Hampden County made a significant difference, enabling the team to zero in on each client, catching any problems that threatened program enrollment and job placement. Job retention efforts and communication in general both improved dramatically. Great work!
The May cohort is happening now while they are working on filling the June cohort. It is very possible the program will meet all goals.
On referral to placement analysis: 410 referrals total thus far has translated into 101 enrollments, about 4 referrals to each enrollment
Budget review: $605 remaining for Network. Pamela will check in with HAP about allocation of those funds.
Funding for Lisa’s position ends as of 6/30.
Assuming all program funding ends, existing clients will be transitioned to CareerPoint oversight (although additional case management around related issues such as child care, transportation will not be available)
WHEN project (serving all 4 counties) (Commonwealth Corp funding)
Moved from 8 placed in March to 16 individuals placed in April
The majority placed are in Hampden County and Franklin County.
Referrals: 157 translates to 36 enrollments
21 enrollments in Hampden County; remainder in Berkshire/Franklin. All but Hampden have been transitioned to performance based contracts (will bill for placements)
Commonwealth Corp conducted a site visit a couple of weeks ago. It went well. They discussed the billing challenges and the time lag on invoices. It was noted that Career Centers are raising these same issues with CommCorp and Ken Demers will check in with his colleagues later this week to discuss where this intervention is going. It was agreed that our advisory committee should not weigh in further until we hear more from the career centers (let that conversation run its course and evaluate outcomes).
Meanwhile, Darlene’s administrative support on the WHEN project has made a huge difference in billing capacity (thank you, Darlene!).
Fireman project (for Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire)
8 individuals enrolled in the program. We welcomed CPM’s new hire for the Berkshire program – Pamela Wojtkowski – who will be starting in earnest this coming week. It’s very exciting to get devoted staff back on the project.
Referrals: 24 referrals (13 from Berkshires, 11 from Franklin) to 8 enrollments, about 1 in 3
The Berkshire program will be focusing on RAFT clients (a pilot for the whole state). We agreed that we need to take stock of referral/enrollment/placement rate to ensure the three counties can meet goals and determine if any reallocation is in order. As of 7/1, lead agency for Fireman will shift from HAP to CPM and this will be a natural time to take stock.
Fireman budget review: $171,944 remaining.
Overall Secure Jobs management: with the end of Lisa’s position as of 6/30 – and future funding for DHCD program in question – the WHEN and Fireman programs will need continued management (both continue through 2016). It is currently unclear how that will be provided. Lisa awaits further information from CPM management.
State Advocacy Update: Pamela reported that the Senate was debating the Secure Jobs amendment right now; that the programs statewide were working hard on the Senate adoption of Senator Barrett’s amendment to increase funding to $2 million statewide. We will know more in the next day or so.
Evaluation update: Brandeis has received an extension so it can analyze data through June 30. All programs have been asked to collect data on clients’ housing changes. This is very challenging!
Summer child care issues: thus far, all has been quiet on that front, therefore assuming needs are met until further notice.
Next meeting: Tuesday, 6/23, 3:30-4:30, Holyoke Community College to be confirm
