Financial Asset Development
DRAFT Minutes
February 14th, 2019
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn, Cary, NC

Members Present: Teresa Strom (for DSS), Anna Cunningham, Myron Gavin, Dreama McCoy (for DPI), Will Miller, Ryan Rotundo, Dan Smith, Jim Swain (for DVR)

Members Absent: Dawn Allen, Amanda Bergen, Wing Ng, Dave Richard, Kelly Woodall-Beauchamp, 

Guests: Brittany Mangham, Hana Zevgolis

Staff/Contractors: David Ingram, Pat Keul, Marquita Robertson, Travis Williams, Yadira Vasquez

Introduction

In Committee Chair Amanda Bergen’s absence, Myron Gavin chaired the committee meeting and welcomed the members with an icebreaker then called the meeting to order.  Minutes from the November 2018 committee meeting were then reviewed.  Ryan Rotundo made a motion to approve the November 2018 minutes as written. Jim Swain seconded the motion.  Minutes were approved by majority vote.

Updates 

Inroads to Employment Initiative:

Pat Keul updated committee members on the progress of the initiative.  A registered apprenticeship application for an Agricultural Technologist has been drafted by NC Apprenticeship.  Work is ongoing with the business partner Your Local Greens to develop the 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and two classes to provide 144 hours of “classroom” training via a biology/plant science class and a class on soft skills for the worksite.  Disability:IN NC has begun to explore (with NC Works) to create modifications to the Working Smart (soft skills training) to adapt the classes for students with disabilities. Regarding the certified feeding assistant apprenticeship at Well-Spring Retirement Center in Greensboro, the center has budgeted funds to start a feeding assistant pre-apprenticeship in late Spring, 2019.  This spring class will be the second cohort to complete this registered apprenticeship.  Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC is interested in developing an apprenticeship in health care and in furniture manufacturing- with a general target date set for later in 2019. 

Pre-Employment Transition Services technical assistance continues to demonstrate positive progress.  Disability:IN NC assisted Cleveland County Schools (CCS) to write and submit a proposal Pre-Employment Training Services grant to NC Vocational Rehabilitation in April 2018. The proposal was funded and began serving students in January 2019.  Disability:IN NC has started to partner with K-64, the 3 school systems in Catawba County and Catawba Community College to develop the second Pre-ETS services proposal to be submitted to NCDVR by the end of April 2019.  Regarding career mentoring component of this initiative, meetings have taken place with UNC-Charlotte’s student advisory group for students with disabilities to determine potential mentors for program.  Meetings have also taken place with AB Tech Community College in Asheville to discuss developing a mentoring program to align career services with disability services.  Disability:IN NC is exploring a partnership with Cleveland County Schools (CCS) on a high school mentoring pilot with a target start date set for Fall 2019.  Discussions are also underway with Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte and Catawba Valley Technical Community College in Hickory, NC for developing a mentoring program.

North Carolina Employment Collaborative:

Pat Keul reviewed initiative goals and outlined a collective impact approach that will focus on providing technical assistance, coordination, and other support for the efforts of the Unified State Plan Committee to increase the percentage of positive employment outcomes for individuals with I/DD and other disabilities.  A review of areas that show strong potential for impacting the lives of individuals living with disabilities included alternatives to career training, coordination of services among participating agencies, expanding career centers, and increased partnership between the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Public Instruction and the North Carolina Community College System. 

Update on Project Prosperity NCABLE Initiative:

Marquita Robertson reported on the progress of initiative, stating that several planning meetings have taken place to discuss the roles of participating partners. North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation will provide space for in-person training with the participation of business service representatives and benefits counselors.  NCDVR will also assist the contractor with making connections to Exceptional Children Program partners. A final outline of NCABLE curriculum should be finished by Department of State Treasurer staff by June 2019.  North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation will provide space for in person training, support with training of their business service representatives and benefits counselors, and work with the contractor to make connections with NCDVR Exceptional Children program partners.  Marquita also shared the strategy to leverage former trainers and master trainers that participated in Upward to Financial Stability and plans to add a NCABLE module to the curriculum.

Financial Updates

Yadira Vasquez provided an update to the committee members.  She also covered a new simplified version of the quarterly reports she will be including in the committee packets, as well as the traditional report format.  Input from the committee members was requested to assess the new simplified version of the quarterly reports.  There were no questions from the members.

Wrap up and Reminders 

Myron Gavin reminded committee members that the next Council meeting will be held in Carolina Beach, May 9^th and 10^th, 2019 at the Courtyard Marriott.

Anna Cunningham made a motion to adjourn.  Dan Smith seconded the motion.  Myron Gavin adjourned the meeting at 5:00 pm.