Financial Asset Development
FINAL Minutes
August 8, 2019
2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Hilton Garden Inn, Raleigh, NC

Members Present: Amanda Bergen, Anna Cunningham, Kathie Trotter (for Chris Egan), Myron Gavin, William Miller, Ryan Rotundo, Dan Smith, Jim Swain, Teresa Strom (for DSS), Beverly Colwell (for Sherry Thomas)

Members Absent: Dawn Allen, Wing Ng, Dave Richard, Kelly Woodall

Guests: Ms. Taylor (DSP for Will Miller)

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

Introduction

Amanda Bergen called the committee into session and reviewed the agenda and May meeting minutes.  Dan Smith made a motion to approve the May Committee meeting minutes. Jim Swain seconded the motion.  Will Miller and Anna Cunningham abstained.  Motion passed.

Updates

North Carolina Employment Collaborative Year 1:

Beth Butler provided an update on the North Carolina Employment Collaborative initiative.  Updates this quarter includes formation of the Business Advisory Council (BAC).  Key Partners on the BAC include business leaders and self-advocates, government agencies, Post-Secondary Education, and Workforce Development representatives.  Beth Butler shared with the committee that an initial review of the Unified State Plan has been completed and that major partner organizations and representatives have been identified and were engaged through surveys.  Collected data is currently under review to identify gaps/ barriers, and to aid in strategic opportunities for mission alignment of activities among North Carolina Employment Collaborative partners. 

Inroads to Employment Year 2

Pat Keul presented to the FADC an update on the three components of the Inroads to Employment initiative.  For the apprenticeship component; apprenticeship one, that covers the Your Local Greens apprenticeship in Burlington NC, the following was shared:  In January 2019, partners drafted the curriculum for hydroponics lesson plans/modification of horticulture lessons.  In April 2019, Disability: IN North Carolina (DI-NC) received permission to add supplementary training to NCWorks Working Smart Curriculum.  From May to August 2019, the contractors projected to finish lesson plans and conduct student recruitment. Full apprenticeship will start in early 2020.  Regarding apprenticeship two; the feeding assistance apprenticeship at Well Spring Retirement Center, three candidates have been identified and at least two candidates will be hired this month.  Activities planned for 2019-2020 related to apprenticeship two include seeking a CNA program to register with NC Apprenticeship.  Regarding apprenticeship three; Disability:IN North Carolina is currently in discussions with an automotive accessories company and is meeting with the NC Apprenticeship representative for Charlotte Mecklenburg, and Central Piedmont Community College about a potential apprenticeship in electrical automotive services.

Regarding component two; Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Program 1, DI-NC assisted Cleveland County Schools (CCS) to write and submit proposal Pre-Employment Training Services grant to NC Vocational Rehabilitation in mid-April 2018.  This proposal was funded and began serving students in January 2019.  So far, approximately 60 students have received Pre-ETS services through the CCS READY Program.  Surveys were distributed to evaluate student’s perception of the impact of the READY program.  CCS is preparing to serve over 100 students in the READY program in 2019-20. 

CCS READY program survey results include:

• 1% students surveyed responded that they learned more about my possible career choices
• 1% students surveyed responded that they learned what to expect from a job

Concerning Pre-ETS program 2, DI-NC is currently providing technical assistance to K-64 at Catawba Vocational Community College (CVCC) in Catawba County to draft a Pre-Employment Training Services proposal that was submitted to NC Vocational Rehabilitation in June 2019.  The proposal will serve 3 public school systems:  Catawba County Schools, Hickory Public Schools, and Newton-Conover City Schools.  If awarded, funding for this program will start in January 2020 and will serve 50 plus students.  DI-NC surveys will also be distributed on this program to evaluate student’s perception of the impact of the program. Statistics will be gathered on the post-secondary outcomes of these students as they exit high school.

Regarding component three; college mentoring, DI-NC will be partnering with CommunAbility.  CommunAbility is a mentoring program that matches business mentors to students or young adults with disabilities for mentoring sessions that take place throughout their senior year in high school, technical training, college or university. DI-NC is currently recruiting business mentors for CommunAbility program.  This component is not scheduled for implementation until 2020.

Financial Updates

Yadira Vasquez provided a fiscal update to the committee members.  There were no questions from the members.

Project Prosperity NCABLE Initiative Year 1:

Marquita Robertson reported on the progress of this initiative stating that several planning meetings have taken place to discuss the roles of participating NCABLE Project Prosperity partners.  Marquita outlined four core opportunities for promotion of NCABLE including live presentations or trainings, live and on-demand webinars, literature and leave behinds, and overview vignettes.  Other highlights included plans to update the Upward to Financial Stability Curriculum to include a full module on NCABLE.  Marquita highlighted plans to mainstream NCABLE, using outreach activities with transition services, financial institutions, Exceptional Children’s Programs, and conferences and conventions. Marquita also shared that an LMS training module is completed by the Department of Treasurer and North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation, and both departments will be working together to disperse LMS training to VR staff across the state.

New Initiative Research Discussions

Amanda Bergen transitioned the conversation into a review of the Future Investments research completed by Council staff since the May Council Meeting.  Travis Williams review research completed and answered questions on the following topic areas:

• Benefits counseling expansion
• Research and evaluate community college programs for students living with I/DD that emphasize the following areas: job specialized training, life skills, communication and soft skills
• Research the potential feasibility for a parent peer workbook that emphasizes resources for students living with I/DD that are transitioning from non-college track courses of study and addresses education of parents regarding increased expectations regarding competitive integrated employment.

Dan Smith made a motion to have North Carolina Inclusive Post-Secondary Consortium, College Transition Lookbook Project, and College Transition Demonstration Project referred to Council staff for further research.  Anna Cunningham seconded.  Motion carried unanimously.

Anna Cunningham moved to have the Benefits Counseling Expansion Demonstration Project moved forward for RFA development.  Ryan Rotundo seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Wrap up and Reminders

Amanda Bergen reminded committee members to turn in their travel forms and that the next Council meeting will be held on November 6^th - 8^th, 2019 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cary, North Carolina.

Anna Cunningham made a motion to adjourn.  Myron Gavin seconded the motion.  Amanda Bergen adjourned the meeting at 5:10 pm.