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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-15-1998 - 6a ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda Item No. ~ _ q ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 15, 1998 SUBJECT: Recognition of JTPA Participants DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/1~ lYa-_, BUDGET AMENDMENT: (Y/1~ ' •~a ATTACHMENT(S): I. Update on JTPA and CBA II. Success Stories III. Letter of Appreciation from Participant INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert T. Kittrell, Assistant County Manager TELEPHONE NUMBERS: - -ext. 2300 Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 227-2031 PURPOSE: To recognize the achievements of Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Participants. BACKGROUND: Joint Orange Chatham Community Action Agency (JOCCA) which operates the County's JTPA program has submitted an update of this fiscal yeaz's activities, along with success stories, and letters of appreciation from former participants. Gloria Williams, Executive Director, and Faye Hall, JTPA Director, will recognize the JTPA participants. RECOMMENDATION (S): The Manager recommends that the Boazd receive the update as information. Attachment I DINT ORANGE-CHATHAM CO~T~IUNITY ACTION, jwC. 2 P.O. BOX 27 • PiTTSBORO, NORTH CAROLL'YA 27312 •(919) 542-4781 • Ir.~Y (919) 542-0563 • (ORANGE COUNTY (919) 929-0494) GLORIA M. WILI.IA,~IS Executive Director MEMO RAND UNI TO: Albert Kimell FRONT: Gloria M. Willian~~~ DATE: august 28', 1998 SUBJ: Report on JTPA and Related Pro~ams The Joint Orange-Chatham Community Action (JOCCA) appreciates the opportunity to present a report on JTPA and CBA programs. Enclosed are several success stories that are representative of the employment and training programs we operate in the Orange County area. Geographically we served approximately the same number of clients in the northern and southern Orange County areas. Below please fmd a list of programs, clients enrolled is the programs, results and carry- overs to 1998/99-program yeaz. This list does not include citizens served through referral to other agencies or programs. Program Title Number Employed Continued Moved/~iealth Returned Enrolled In program To School Title III (Dislocated) 20 7 13 II-A (Adults) 40 14 24 2 NCETGP (State) 8 3 4 1 Fran (Storm) 19 16 1 2 II-C (Youth) 6 2 2 ~ SYEP (Summer Youth) 32 '2 CBA (Court Referred) 1 ~ 15 Teen Court Alternative sentencing program scheduled to begin September 3, 1998. ' Extensive recruitment of-adult and youth volunteers underway in conjunction with Juvenile Services, Orange and Chapel Hi1UCarrboro School Systems, and the Sheriff s Department. Gi~Iw/ th Y'~i U u..~c.a way A UNITED WAY AGENCY R~I'vrT Fh P-1 PER Attachment II 3 B. Yarboro was a 23-year old man with dyslexia. His mother had pressured and cajoled him to stay in high school until he ryas 21 to take advantage of all the special classes he could. His work history showed his willingness to work, but even if he made $6 an hour, he never could get a 40-hour week. He wanted so much to earn a living and support for his son. His difficulty with reading kept him from getting better jobs and kept people from taking him seriously. His Career assessment had to be adapted _to his special needs. He gave excellent answers when the questions were read to him. The school we selected agreed to accept B. with these special needs, but without a lot of help and support from his family he would not have been able to have completed his training. We sent B. to a truck driving school. It took him a long time to complete the course. The school would send him home with his workbooks, etc. and tell him to come back when he had obtained permits, was ready to be tested, or had reached whatever stage he needed. Family members read his workbooks to him. We all constantly reassured him or chewed him out. He was so afraid of failing and ruining what he felt was his last chance, it was difficult for him to take a test. We also assisted his family with daycare funds for his son while he was in school and unable to work. He did finish the course, got his license and promptly got a job driving a personnel van for a potiver company. He works 40-hour weeks plus a lot of overtime. He makes $9.88 an hour and with overtime pay his weekly wages average. 5450.00. His self-esteem is flourishing now that he is able to support his child and himself. S. Snipes was a nineteen year-old single mom with ttivo children. She made only 56 an hour and worked short hours as a Certified Nurse Aid. We decided on the basis of her needs and JTPA assessment the best course was an upgrade to CNA II. We discovered that IJNC hospital paid up to 511.65 an hour for e!tperienced CNA II's with special training. As special training she selected phlebotomy, and pharmacy tech. She is currently working full-time and making 58.50 an hour with state benefits and is looking into further training. She has gone through these courses like Ms. Pacman, making excellent grades. She has been assured of another higher paying position when she obtains all of her certifications after completing her state boards. In Hillsborough we have used this same system with a number of clients allowing each to finish a course and decide for themselves if they were ready to take another course and to select one of their choice within their field. We take advantage of community college courses as much as possible, but go to private school training when necessary to upgrade family welfare as swiftly as necessary. Most of our clients are living on a narrow edge financially. Besides the regular counseling we do, it is necessary to help prevent eviction, get automobiles repaired, find jobs, provide childcare services for emergency situations, keep utilities turned on and administer to bruised psyches. 4 r 5 1~Ir. Carver came to JTPA for assistance with retraining. At ~1 years of age, Mitsubishi had recently laid off him off after nine years of employment as an electronics engineer. Mr. Carver was very depressed because of the less than enthusiastic responses that he was receiving from potential employers. After all, he was accustomed to being respected and admired in his career. G. thought that that he would retire with Mitsubishi, and he did not relish the idea of having to establish himself again. Though G. was intimidated at the idea of returning to school, he realized the need to update his skills to improve his opportunities for employment. Over the years G. became intrigued with the computer field. JTPA staff identified several computer career opportunities for him that would afford him the same earnings potential that he had formerly. G. was interested in pursuing the field of Microsoft Solution Development where he would be trained to design and develop custom software and system solutions using Microsoft tools and technologies. G. was determined eligible for the dislocated Worker program. Objective assessment results indicated that Mr. Carver had the aptitude to succeed in the field of interest. G. began JTPA- sponsored training in March 1998. The accelerated course was quite challenging. There were many times when G. felt like dropping out. JTPA counseling and encouragement helped him weather those difficult times. G. successfully completed his training in August. He rugs delighted to be offered employment as a Software Designer a week later at a yearly salary of $50,000 which is greater than he made after nine years with his. former employer! 6 1~Ir. Carver expressed his appreciation of the guidance, support, and financial assistance that he received from JOCCA/JTP~, which helped to make his success possible. 7 M. Parrish came to the JOCCA office in .Chapel Hill to apply for JTPA assistance so that she could attend Durham Technical Community College to study computer programming. At the time, M. Parrish was a 24 year old single mother with the sole responsibility of caring for her young son. M. Parrish was employed in a low wage job as a child care worker at a local day care center. Since M. Parrish's son attended the same day care, the job met a dual purpose of providing her with needed wages and of allowing her the opportunity to monitor the activities of her son. With M. Parrish's son being older and more independent, she felt that the time was ideal for her to resume her education and work towards realizing her goal of becoming self sufficient. M. Pamsh enrolled in a Bachelor's Degree program at a local university after she graduated from high school. M. Parrish was forced to drop out shortly thereafter when -she unexpectedly became pregnant. M. Parrish had the opportunity to return home to live with her parents, but she refused to do that. M. Parrish was adamant that she would take responsibility for her life and for the consequences of her actions. With the help of DSS, M. Parrish obtained the food stamps, AFDC and Medicaid assistance that she needed to provide for the needs of her family. M. Parrish then devoted her time and efforts to becoming a good mother to her son. Based on M. Parrish's demonstrated sincerity, commitment and positive attitude, JTPA determined her to be a suitable JTPA candidate. Objective assessment results indicated that M. Parrish had above average reading, math and reasoning skills as well as above average clerical perception, visual acuity and manual dexterity. Indications are that M. Parrish has the potential to succeed at her choice of careers. JTPA provided M. Parrish with the assistance that she requested. M. Parrish excelled in her program from the very beginning. In fact, she was invited to join an honor society in her first year of training, but she declined because of a fear that the society's activities would detract from her training. M. Parrish augmented her training with computer networking classes in her second year to increase her opportunities for gainful employment. M. Parrish graduated after two years with an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Computer Programming. Based on JTPA leads, M. Parrish applied for employment with UNC as a Networking Administrator. M. Parrish was offered the job by UNC shortly thereafter at a salary of $26,600 with excellent benefits. M. Parrish continued to take computer classes at DTCC to keep her skills current. Two years later M. Parrish learned of a need for an instructor in the computer department at DTCC. M. Parrish applied for that position even though she felt that her chances were slight. M. Parrish was ecstatic to team that she had been selected for the position at a salary of $35,000 with handsome benefits. M. Parrish began the new position in August, 1998. M. Pan-ish is deeply moved when she considers how markedly her life has improved over the past few years. Formerly, M. Parrish was a struggling minimum wage worker who lived in public housing and was ,dependent on welfare. M. Parrish now has a prestigious job with advancement opportunity and has recently purchased a new home in Durham. Above all else, M. Parrish is proud of the fact that she is no longer in need of welfare. M. Parrish credits a measure of her success to the financial aid, moral support and career guidance that she received from JOCCA/JTPA without which she feels she would not have succeeded to this 8 y level. 9 Gregory, atwenty-eight year old resident of Chapel Hill, came to JOCCA in June 1997 in immediate need of employment. Gregory had been unemployed for over three months due to lack of transportation and job skills, and a poor work record. During this time, Gregory had barely managed, with help from his family, to provide for his wife and four young children. At that time, Gregory had recently accepted welfare assistance for his family which greatly distressed him . Gregory asked JOCCA for an opportunity to demonstrate his strong desire to work to build a better future for himself and his family. Gregory was referred to the JOCCA/JTPA FRAN Disaster Relief Project for employment. Gregory was interviewed by FRAN staff and hired to train as a debris clean-up laborer with the FRAN Project.. JTPA Counselors committed themselves to providing Gregory with encouragement, guidance and support services that he needed in order to succeed with the FRAN Project. Gregory quickly distinguished himself from fellow FRAN workers by manifesting a superb attitude and by fully investing himself in the FRAN training. In time, Gregory was chosen to work on a special FRAN Project at Chapel Hill Public Works. Not surprisingly, Gregory was well received by Public Works Staff. Before long, Public Works administrators began to voice interest in hiring Gregory permanently. In December 1997, after training and working with the FRAN Disaster Relief Project for 6 months, Gregory accepted a permanent, full-time job with considerable benefits with The Town of Chapel Hill Public Works Department. One year later, Gregory remains happily employed with Chapel Hill Public Works. Attachment III I was first introduced to JTPA in 1994. I was a.single parent on welfare and living in public housing. I wanted to improve my life and my son's. JTPA helped me do this. For the next 2 years, JTPA provided tuition and money for books and supplies for me to attend Durham Technical Community College. JTPA also provided additional funding for me to attend Novell networking classes at Accelerated Computer Services in the RTP. The funds that JTPA provided was important but not as important as the constant encouragement and support given to me by Sheryl Andrews. Sheryl was there for me from the first day we met up to the present. She was there to offer professional and personal support. I definitely would have given up if it were not for her. I graduated in 1996 with a degree in Microcomputer Systems Technology with a 3.9 G.P.A. and a diploma in Applications Software with a 4.0 G.P.A. I was also a Certified NetWare Administrator for Novell's network operating system. After graduation, I went to work for Orange County Government as a temporary summer employee in the Information Systems Department. JTPA was still there supporting and encouraging me. Within three months of graduating, Ibegan atwo-year career at ZINC-Chapel Hill as a Computer System Administrator. I can not emphasize enough how much JTPA has helped me in the last 4 years. They have always been supportive, constantly encouraging me to do my best and to reach higher. I hear other people say that there is no way they can afford to return to school or they don't know what career they would be interested in. I always refer them to 7TPA. JTPA is able to offer financial assistance but once again more importantly, the counseling and encouragement that is needed. With JTPA's help, I no longer receive any type of public assistance. I have tripled my salary in the past two years. Finally I have come full circle and am a full-time faculty member at Durham Technical Community College as an Information Systems Instructor. Thank you Sheryl and JTPA! 10 Michele Parrish August 27, 1998