Financial Asset Development
DRAFT Minutes
August 10, 2017
3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Hilton Garden Inn, Cary, NC

Members Present: Karen Armstrong, Amanda Bergen, Teresa Strom (for Wayne Black), Anna Cunningham, Bryan Dooley, Myron Gavin, Beverly Colwell (for William Hussey), Alex McArthur, Jim Swain (for Tara Myers), Paula Woodhouse

Members Absent: Senator Valerie Foushee, Will Miller, Dave Richard, Kelly Woodall

Guests: Douglas Stoll

Staff/Contractors: Jennifer Bosk, Donna Gallagher, Pat Keul, Michael Roush (on the phone), JoAnn Toomey, Yadira Vasquez, Travis Williams

Introduction

Committee Chair, Amanda Bergen, welcomed the members and called the meeting to order. She asked the members to participate in an ice-breaker where each member was asked to think of a theme song to go with the FADC RFA.

MOTION: Anna Cunningham made a motion to accept the minutes from the May 11, 2017 committee meeting. Jim Swain seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

The members were updated on the “Cross-Collaboration” recommendation from the May meeting. It was referred to the Communications and Member Development Ad Hoc Committee and staff were asked to draft an action item agenda for the next ad hoc meeting scheduled for August 24, 2017. They also were reminded to review the easy to read version of the NCCDD by-laws that was included in the mailout and to review the NCCDD Impact Statement that is in their committee folders. Anna Cunningham asked who to talk to about adding information to the Impact Statement. Travis Williams told her to let him know and he will get the information to Chris Egan. Chris did send the Impact Statement to the Administration on Community Living (ACL) and it is also on the NCCDD website.

She asked the members to participate in an ice-breaker where each member where each member was asked to think of a theme song to go with the FADC RFA.

Initiative Updates

Upward to Financial Stability Initiative
Michael Roush of the National Disability Institute (NDI) called in. Donna Gallagher of The Collaborative was present at the meeting. Donna said that The Collaborative is based in Raleigh. Donna passed out the hand-out for Michael to discuss with the members. Since the last time he shared information, he said it’s very important to share the impact of the work from this initiative - trained over 490 individuals for train the trainer at this time. They have trained over 700 individuals – meaning over 1,000 people have been trained.

He had 88 people in attendance at the final webinar on August 3rd. Over 180 people have participated in the webinars. To continue the excitement, they are continuing to have calls for the trainer support network and have also created an on-line community. This is where the trainers can have discussions with other trainers and will also be able to share any events that might be coming up.

Michael Roush then discussed the lessons learned and potential next steps for the Council to address. This included the need for accurate benefits planning information and access to benefits counselors, more in-depth education on integrated services, enhancing the knowledge of NC ABLE with diverse partners, training additional Master Trainers, translating the curriculum into Spanish and increasing education and awareness on competitive employment. There will also be a four-part webinar series.

Donna Gallagher added that The Collaborative has already started outreach to the Latino community throughout the state. This is through Raleigh’s Latino community and other community centers. This will hopefully provide them with better attendance at the next sessions where they will have Spanish materials. They have tentatively scheduled a FDIC Economic Inclusion meeting for November 6th at the World Center Conference Center but will let everyone know the place and time. Michael said that the work they have done with FDIC is to specifically look at people with I/DD and their saving behaviors and they have found that individuals may not be using the traditional venues but are more relying on pawn shops, pay day loan centers, etc.

Lengthy discussion occurred regarding this initiative and the members thanked Donna Gallagher and Michael Roush for their update.

Expansion of Employment Opportunities for People with I/DD Initiative

Employment Services Coordinator Pat Keul updated the committee with a progress report on the initiative. She has enjoyed the time working on this initiative that will be ending September 30, 2017.

Pat discussed paid apprenticeships and individuals that have started working in the feeding assistant program in the Charlotte and Marshal areas. She also shared with the members how this program started and how the Council has assisted in strengthening the program. She is also looking into the idea of I/DD Peer Mentor Apprenticeships. She did say there is not a lot of demand for it – yet. There will be meetings scheduled in August and September regarding IT/Data Entry. Micro-breweries and senior services outreach is also being discussed.

Pat also discussed Project SEARCH– and how there will be continuation beyond NCCDD funding. There are now 14 Project SEARCH programs in NC. Wake County Schools are also in discussion to begin Project SEARCH in 2018. NC DVR will also participate with the Wake County Schools site schedule to start in 2018. Cincinnati Hospital will be doing more training in Asheville later this year.

She also shared information about the State Employment Coalition/Partnership with Project SEARCH bringing “Thought Leaders” together to solve problems that are barriers to employment services and other new coalition focus areas.

She shared the slide with the quote by Steve Jobs: “Everyone here has the sense that right now is one of those moments when we are influencing the future.” Pat said that she felt privileged to have been a part of this initiative.

The members thanked Pat Keul for her update.

Fiscal Report

Yadira Vasquez gave the fiscal report to the members and introduced a new, more detailed report on each initiative funded out of the Financial Asset Development Committee. Several questions were asked regarding the available funds and if there was a process for funding micro-enterprises. It was answered that there is – and it has been done in the past.

Draft RFA and Research Updates

Amanda Bergen asked the members to review and discuss the proposed release of the Innovative Employment RFA that was included in the May mailout in a sealed envelope. Anna Cunningham recused herself from the discussion and left the room. Jim Swain also recused himself and did not participate in the discussion or vote on the motion.

Lengthy discussion occurred regarding who could apply for the RFA and if any of the members knew of any agency or organization that might apply. They also discussed what could be done if there weren’t any good candidates or qualified applicants for the RFA. There was a question from the presentation earlier in the day if there was going to be a concrete plan to engage in the community college system and if this would lead to some applicants coming with plans to include that system. Some of the wording in the RFA may need to be changed or moved around. Component 3 was discussed to be modified.

MOTION: Teresa Strom made a motion to grant NCCDD staff authority to release the Request for Applications (RFA) regarding the Innovative Employment: Making Inroads to Long-Term Success through Apprenticeships, Pre-Transition Partnerships, and Post-Secondary Monitoring initiative, in an amount up to $100,000 per year with required minimum of 25% non-federal matching funds for Year 1 (of up to 3), beginning March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019. Approval to fund will occur at the November 3, 2017 Council meeting. Myron Gavin seconded the motion. The motion was approved by majority vote.

MOTION: Paula Woodhouse made a motion to rescind the following motion from the May Council meeting:

MOTION: Paula Woodhouse made a motion for staff of the Council to further research the potential of an in-house initiative regarding an I/DD Employment Resource Guide initiative in collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation and other possible partnerships, for approval of funding at the August 11, 2017 Council meeting. Eric Chavis seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote

Anna Cunningham seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

NEW MOTION:

MOTION: Anna Cunningham made a motion for staff of the Council to have authority to draft the RFA regarding an I/DD Employment Resource Guide initiative in collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation and other possible partnerships, in an amount up to $75,000 per year with required minimum of 25% non-federal matching funds for a period of up to three years, for approval to release the RFA at the February 9, 2018 Council meeting. Teresa Strom seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

The motion for staff of the Council to research the creation of an in-house initiative regarding an “Access to Assets” Digital Lookbook initiative, or to include the digital lookbook in the NCCDD Communications initiative, in an amount up to $50,000 with required minimum of 25% non-federal matching funds (match requirement only if included in an external initiative) for a period of one year will be rescinded tomorrow at the Council meeting and combined with the revised NCCDD Communications initiative motion.

Wrap Up and Reminders

Myron made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Amanda Bergen adjourned the meeting at 5:15 P.M.