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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-01-1997 - 6a � 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda Item No. 4_q ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 1, 1997 SUBJECT: Recognition of JTPA Participants DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) BUDGET AMENDMENT: (Y/1S) ` ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Update for JTPA and CBA Albert T. Kittrell,Assistant County Manager Sucess Stories TELEPHONE NUMBERS: -- ext. 2300 Letters of Appreciation from Participants 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 year'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 Board receives the update as information. 2 r UPDATE FOR: JOB TRAP41NG PARTNERSHIP ACT (JTPA) COMMUNITY BASED ALTERNATIVES (CBA) For the past nine(9)years the Joint Orange-Chatham Community Action agency (JOCCA)has operated employment and training programs in Orange County through the JTPA and CBA programs. During this period of time several hundred people have accessed the program to receive training. Since July 1, 1997 JOCCA staff has enrolled 103 Orange County residents in the programs. Approximately seventy(70) additional applicants will be enrolled before the end of the fiscal year. The following programs are currently serving the majority of the participants: • Specialized training classes ai community colleges universities. and private training facilities. This may consist of a single class or up to two years of training for full curriculum and certification. Approval for the classes is based on a combined computer and interview assessment for suitability, interest, and capability. Some of the areas of training are: Nursing, Computer Programming and Networking, Industrial Maintenance, Insurance Encoding, Auto Mechanics,Nurses Aide,Early Childhood, Business Administration, Graphic Design, Civil Engineering, Animal Science, Animal Grooming, Truck Driving, and Human Resource Development. Females are encouraged to take non-traditional classes that will prepare them to compete for some of the better paying jobs. (Women trained as truck drivers are having particular success.) • The Sumer Youth Employment Program is designed to provide on-the-job training to economically challenged youth. 1421 year-old youth are placed with public and non-profit agencies to gain work experience and increase job readiness skills. Workshops on completing applications, interviewing, attaining competencies, attitudes in the work place, time management, civic responsibility, and other related topics are held in conjunction with the training. r 3 • Other methods are used as indicated by the assessment to include: Work experience, On-the-Job Training, Human Resource Development, Job Development, Resume Preparation and Referral to Other Agencies. • The CBA program is offered to Court referred youth and is operated in much the same manner as the Summer Youth Program. We have applied for funds to operate the program year round and to provide additional service that would address restitution. • The Federal Government set up a program to alleviate the Fran storm damage and to provide employment for people who have lost their jobs due to the storm. Since very few Orange County residents lost their jobs because of the storm other people qualified under the Dislocated Worker Program. Since October 1996, we have enrolled 11 people to work in this program. Seven homeless people have been hired, provided safety clothing, shoes and equipment and other support services. The work has been performed at the Town of Chapel Hill, the North Carolina Park System (Umstead Park and Jordan Lake) and UNC Botanical Gardens. These people have been paid wages comparable to wages paid by the people they are working beside. Average wage has been 8.00 per hour. Funds are limited so it is essential that all resources are utilized. Therefore, coordination and linkage are of primary importance. Linkage agreements have been pursued with other human resource agencies that include: Vocational Rehabilitation, Employment Security, Department of Social Services, Community Colleges, School Systems, Educational Opportunity Center, Day Care Services, and Juvenile Court Counselors. 0 « o > ƒ � O � ¥ 9 & � . kk <_ %n C4 2k k . 2 . AS « %0 � . z o k ¢ 2 � cn ' . $ . # � © . U � o C4 oo $ ® /W n / rq o q 7 0 � • � p � � PA k � 0 � tn � �� � . � S Success Story CHRIS is a young man with four young children from pre-school to elementary school status. The wife has completed a training program in fast food management and is the wage earner of the family. CHRIS attends school studying automechanics and is the primary caretaker of the children. CHRIS has developed a truly wondrous ability to meet school buses and pick up children from assorted schools according the necessary schedules. Because of a severe back injury,CHRIS has been unable to work in the field of his former employment. He is attempting to become an automobile garage manager, which will involve little lifting and more management. His grades have been consistently high. He has been able to partake of all the courses offered except welding,from which he is excluded. Because of his having only one eye and the depth perception problems incurred from that he was unable to complete that class. CHRIS and his family were selected by Habitat for Humanity to receive a house of their own. Chris really understands sweat-equity. He worked on other houses so much that he had most of his hours in before his house was started. The family moved into their new house(it is perfect!)on Christmas week. Their financial situation has improved so much since they have made this change that their benefits from social services are now just a small amount in food stamps. Chris should complete his course work this summer and will be ready to rejoin the work force. 6 Success Story JP was struggling to pay for the expenses of nursing school at Durham Tech when a fellow student told her about JOCCA/JTPA. JP was a 40-year old single parent of two teenagers. She relied on food stamps,AFDC and housing to provide for the needs of her family. JP was very dissatisfied with her station in life. She knew that she was capable of so much more. JP set a goal to break free of welfare and show her children that education is the key to having a satisfying and profitable career and future. JP's sincerity and commitment were manifest by the excellent grades that she had earned her first year at Durham Tech. JTPA began assisting JP with her educational expenses in September of 1995. JP continued to excel in her training. In June of 1996 JP completed the Durham Tech RN Nursing program and was scheduled to take the exam for licensure in August 1996. JP learned she had passed the board exam in September 1996. In October 1996 she accepted employment with Wake Medical Center as a surgical nurse. She earns$20 an hour plus retirement and benefits and is happy to say that she is now self sufficient. MP was referred to JOCCA/JTPA by her JOBS caseworker. At that time,MP had recently dropped out of college at UNC-Ch due to an unplanned pregnancy. MP choose to apply for government assistance to support herself and her baby rather than to return home as a burden and disappointment to her family. MP was determined that her welfare dependency would be short lived. With the assistance of JOBS and JTPA,MP entered DTCC in the fall of 1994 seeking a degree in computer programming. With the ` responsibility of caring for her son and working a part time job. MP managed to make the Dean's List that first quarter and every quarter thereafter. In recognition of her academic excellence,MP was inducted into the Gamma Beta Phi society in May of 1995. In June of the same year,MP was privileged to be elected secretary of the honor society. In lieu of the changing technological needs of the work force, MP changed her major from Computer Programming to Microcomputer systems support. To maximize her career opportunities,MP augmented her DTCC training by pursuing Certified Novell Engineering training at Accelerated Computer Education. MP earned an Associate Degree in Microcomputer Systems Support and became a Novell-certified Engineer by the end of the Summer quarter of 1996•-In August of 1996 MP was hired as a computer administrator by UNC-CH at an hourly wage of$12.73,plus an extensive reteirement benefits package. Today MP and her 4-year-old son are completely independent of welfare assistance. Success Story Sylvia and her daughter were made homeless when she returned home from the hospital after surgery and her Significant Other turned them out of the house. As soon as she was physically able she got a$6 an hour job and applied to us. She began studying Commercial Art at Alamance Community College. It was like setting off a rocket. She was so very good that when she became ill,the head of the department called several times asking us to make provision for her to work at home. "Don't drop her—she is too talented." Sylvia was diagnosed as having Lupus. At first she was able to keep up with her work coming in when she was'able and handing in work that she completed at home. One of the teachers cut her grade considerably because she missed so many classes. She took as many classes as she could by video. The department did not think of her as a handicapped person whom they were required to make special provisions for. They have since apologized for that. She became so ill that she called and asked us to remove her from the program. Her efforts to keep up were adding to her stress. Her condition had reached the stage of severely hampered arm movement. While housebound Sylvia became involved with the internet and found a job in Norway. They were aware of her health problems but believed she could work at home when incapacitated and assured her their disability plan was excellent. She sold everything and moved to Denmark. She stays in touch with our office. She called her former counselor recently to say she was planning to marry soon, is having a private art showing in a local gallery soon, is walking everywhere and has not been in a car for three months. She thanked us for our help and remains in close touch. 8 1"wMa0wai evokw s Maclawos Corperadpn P.O.6ou 12193 Rmatth Trot"Park.NC 27709 MSMb 19,1997 To the Orafte County Covustbiion; I wood time to take tens opportwoky to ny thank you and to share wft you the ,impact that JOCCA has Lad on my CUM. Wbeet I was laid off firoat My previous job,dw to down-sh ft and t'aertinM b%s MOW WOrand tae of JOCCA,and I applied for dwe fwsdbg the fodtwing day. I first spoke with W Faye EE24 who was very profesdom& Ms.NO expbbwd to me that I world need to qua>dy for faadift and to correspond with Mrs.Sheryl Andrews. I was very Impreaed with Mm Andrews'attewtlon to dotal and hew-abilby N worh WWb peoples JOCCA bas beett a Catalyst in my career,and I am proud to be Ak to live back to this p regram. I hope dtit ietber wil slow way g:t a for On program,and In staff members. I have been employed wkb IIIM(W the pest sevetrteea wponths suppolfag Networks tbrougboat the United Stabs need Canada. I as sebeduled for ntlr second promedon in May of*k year. This opperts"y can be tad to JOCCA's fmdft wbith slowed we to Mend Network Spelt of Rslelgh. Unforttnw uty,I an tenable to slesre my grat hWk in person,but if you ever and a spokesperson for JOCCA,fed fret to cat at any bate. Thm&yon. Keith Soft UpwTarft Mobile ** TOUL PAGE.02 ** 9 North Carolina Botanical Garden The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CB* 3375, Totten Center Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3375 Phone: 9`19-962-0522 Fax: 919-962-3531 March 07, 1997 Dear Sheryl Andrews, The North Carolina Botanical Garden is very fortunate to have two good workers from the JOCCA program, Phillip Perry and Ryan Shaw. Since starting Tuesday,March 04,they have both proven to be an asset to our organization. With good spirit and cheer, they have tackled the most arduous tasks. This week,Phillip and Ryan have cleared Japanese privet in our nature trails,transplanted shrubs in the Coker Arboretum on the UNC campus, stained lumber for a new fence in the Herb Garden, and pruned shrubs outside the Garden's soundwall. As their supervisor, I am very pleased with their performance and hope that they will continue to impress us with their abilities on a daily basis. Thank you for finding and hiring these great workers! Sincerely, Stephen Keith Asst. Curator a research, educational and public service facility of. the university Recycled Pepe 10 ' Kathy Bennett 6714 Lakeview Road ' Mebane, NC 27302 March 13, 1197 _ Joyce Windsor JTPA Orange-Chatham Community Action Agency P. O. Box 27 Pittsboro, NC 27312 Dear Ms. Windsor: r This long over due letter is to thank you, Faye Hall and your organization for the financial assistance and guidance I have received enabling me to earn my AAS in Accounting. In December 1995 I was hired at Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation as an Accounting Technician I could not have secured this position without this degree. I would not have been able to earn this degree without the assistance from JTPA. When I was laid-off from my former job due to reorganization and down-sizing I was devastated, scared, and very insecure. Even though I had ten years in good standing with this company, I was ill-prepared to compete in today's job market. I came to MA expecting to be turned away, instead I was accepted in the program, provided with encouragement, guidance, and most of all I knew someone(other than my family)believed me and my abilities. I enrolled at Alamance Community College and began my studies knowing that you and your associates at JTPA were available to assist me financially. What I did not know at the time but soon came to know was you were there to provide me with moral support, much needed guidance and encouragement. The trend of mergers, down-sizing and reorganizations that is prevalent in today's business world will put more people in the competitive job market. The JTPA program is vital to people who find themselves in this situation as I did. If I should fund myself laid-off again, I will be able m compete and my prospects for securing employment will be greatly enhanced. A simple thank you does not really express how appreciative I am for the opportunities I received from your programs. This thank you comes from deep within my heart. Sincerely, Kathy Bennett 11 April 5, 1996 a good way to gain professional experience, I've applied for a job co-op. I will be beginning an internship working for ACC's Commercial Art Ms. Faye Hall Department updating JPTA Director, JOCCA P P g P romotional material, P.O. Box 27 such as, recruitment booklets, flyers and Pittsboro, NC 27312 perhaps a multimedia piece. This Dear Faye: internship will at the very least require knowledge of 3- or 4 software computer Thank you for the invitation to write- graphic packages; layout and design; up my experiences with you,your staff, and possibly photography and possibly an your agency. I'm happy to do so—for all of animation package. you have made a positive impact on my life. The past ... Because it was a requirement to As you know, this sort of career continue receiving the last few weeks preparation isn't possible to somebody like remaining on unemployment compensation, P am very me without help. T v I showed up for my first contact with y aware that I JOCCA. an outreach meeting in January, could not have gone from yesterday's point 1995. I wasn't in the mood. I had been A (which now seems like a bad dream) to unemployed for a long time. point B, charged up and looking forward to Therefore, I showed up for the a new life after graduation. meeting and without any enthusiasm but followed recommendations that I pursue 'ham you for allowing me the opportunity what JOCCA had to offer. I dutifully to help you prove the merit of underwent eligibility testing and complied JOCCA/JPTA's mission to others. with all the other red tape. By early February, 1995 I qualified for job-retraining. By late February, I began work on my Sincerely, Associates Degree at Alamance Community College with a major in Commercial Art and Audiovisual Technology. The present... Here's a small glimpse as to what JOCCA sponsorship and JPTA funds have enabled me to do: It took me a quarter to adjust. On M. Kay Hicks the other end of the spectrum, was last 655 Friendly Pooch Lane quarters display of overconfidence. (I shouldn't have signed up for an upper level Pittsboro, NC 27312 course. ) Along the way, I've acquired an impressive array of skills and my artistic talents have been sharpened. I find PS - I've attached some of my school work myself putting in"overtime,"before and after class ends. for you to use in your presentation. Please call when they are ready for pick-up. Because cooperative educational experiences tend to drive home theory, and 12 ' r Faye Hall PO Box 27 Pittsboro,NC- Dear Faye: My four year old child Josie and I want to say thank you so much, I appreciate all that was done for me and her during my two years at CCCC. The financial support that was given through JTPA is greatly appreciated. Without this program I could not have attended CCCC. The help and guidance that you as a person gave to me is also well appreciated. Having this program is a need in our community. There are a great deal of people in our community that need this kind of support and financial help, so that they may further there education. When I talk with people about furthering their education I refer them to you,because I know you will try and help them in as many ways as you can. I am currently the Administrative Assistant for the Chatham County Partnership for Children(Local Smart Start Agency). Without your agency's program I would not be filling this position. It has also enabled me to provide a better for Josie. I am now self sufficient and doing very well.. Again thank you for offering such a program as JTPA. Sincerely, V Aimee Walsh