Recast Advisory Board

RECAST ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES Wednesday, September 25, 2024 Third Floor GwMA Conference Room 6:00 PM 70 S. Clayton St, GA 30046 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 6:10, recognizing a quorum. PRESENT Board Member Taheerah Demby Board Member Chanda Floyd-Bryant Board Member Hector Sanchez Board Member Keira Drane Board Member Liliana Pino Board Member Tracy Joseph Board Member Nancy Martin Board Member Winifred Olumba Board Member Michael Davis ABSENT Board Member Constance Brown Board Member Tawny Waltz Approval of Agenda Motion made by Board Member Sanchez, Seconded by Board Member Joseph. Voting Yea: Demby, Floyd-Bryant, Sanchez, Drane, Pino, Joseph, Martin, Olumba, Davis Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes A motion was made to approve minutes from the June 12, 2024 meeting by Board Member Sanchez, Seconded by Board Member Martin. Voting Yea: Board Member Demby, Board Member Floyd-Bryant, Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Drane, Board Member Pino, Board Member Joseph, Board Member Martin, Board Member Olumba, Board Member Davis Minutes from the August 28, 2024 meeting will be considered at the next meeting in October. Board Comments & Announcements Members were invited to share personal updates. Member Pino shared that she would not be seeking board appointment in 2025 due to increasing work commitments. Board Chair Floyd-Bryant shared that she wouldn't be seeking the role of chair during the next term. She looks forward to making room for a new voice at the helm and serving as a continuing board member in 2025. Citizen Comments To participate in the Public Comment part of this agenda, you must register with the Advisory Board Secretary before the beginning of the meeting. Presentations will be limited to two (2) minutes per person and the Board will not respond to comments. No citizen comments were offered. General Discussion Amendment to the ReCAST Board Meeting Schedule Program Manager Marcus Thorne requested a motion to reschedule the October meeting from 10/23 to 10/16 to accommodate his invitation to present ReCAST as part of a panel at the American Evaluation Association's conference in Portland. The motion was made by Board Member Martin and seconded by Board Member Davis. Voting Yea: Board Member Demby, Board Member Floyd-Bryant, Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Drane, Board Member Pino, Board Member Joseph, Board Member Martin, Board Member Olumba, Board Member Davis Behavioral Health Transition Update Marcus led a discussion regarding the transition of ReCAST behavioral health providers from Families First to View Point Health (VPH). The board reviewed existing data and discussed its validity to ensure continuing program soundness. The board also discussed VPH's pending plan to meet SAMHSA metrics and serve Lawrenceville residents well. The board was pleased to learn that a plan is in place to serve Central Gwinnett and Discovery high schools more robustly in Year 4. Program Update: Georgia Center for Opportunity The board heard a presentation from Eric Cochling, Chief Program Officer & General Counsel for the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO). Eric also directs the GCO's program, Better Work Gwinnett (BWG), the employment support provider through ReCAST. Eric's report included data from April through August of this year. Eric shared that BWG received 76 applications, 55 of those applicants becoming actively engaged in the program. Note: BWG makes three or four attempts to reach applicants when necessary and sends additional outreach communication approximately every six months to engage (or re-engage) applicants and ongoing participants. Of the 55 applicants, 14 have secured employment (through August), and an additional five have secured employment so far in September. This represents a 35% (19 out of 55) employment rate for the reporting period, an increase of approximately 3-5% from the prior period. BWG is also working with three new partners (the Latin American Association, Fully Furnished, and Partners in Change), to enhance their employment work. They have held three job events at the Lawrenceville Co-op, serving Lawrenceville residents. They have also started a new program, Jobs for Life -- a 13-week program that includes community-building, soft skills development, increasing network capital, and ultimately greater opportunities at employment. Optional coaching is offered to those who desire it through the program. Additionally, Eric shared two very encouraging success stories of those who persevered toward greater economic resiliency due to the efforts of BWG. The board expressed pleasure at this work and progress. ReCAST Program Update ReCAST Program Manager Marcus Thorne shared updates regarding ReCAST. He discussed ReCAST's Year 4 transition plans and progress, gave a brief update on an immigration article that highlighted Lawrenceville as a prominent destination for new immigrants, and reminded board members to share their decisions regarding reappointment for 2025. He asked the board if he could defer a budget presentation as some Year 4 details are still being solidified. He plans to bring a budget presentation at the October meeting. Marcus shared that, weather permitting, ReCAST is expected to represent at the Cultura: Fiesta Latina event. Lastly, Marcus shared that plans are in place for the Phoenix Engagement Summit, an event to celebrate and engage 50 Phoenix high school students. Former Board Member Alisha Jordan (Phoenix High School Counselor) and Program Manager Marcus Thorne are coordinating the event, with each ReCAST sub-recipient partner contributing substantially. Other Business No other business was discussed. Final Adjournment A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at approximately 7:40 by Board Member Joseph, Seconded by Board Member Pino. Voting Yea: Board Member Demby, Board Member Floyd-Bryant, Board Member Sanchez, Board Member Pino, Board Member Joseph, Board Member Martin, Board Member Olumba, Board Member Davis Voting Abstaining: Board Member Drane (departing early from the meeting at 6:30 PM)