Community Development Advisory Committee

CDAC MINUTES DRAFT April 19, 2012 – 4:00 P.M. 23 Union St. – Basement Conference Room Members Present: Les King, Democles Angelopoulos, Robert McKeon, John Mathieu, Brian Eckenrode, Lynn Norris Members Absent: none Others Present: Gary Evans and Susan Goldman Chairman Les King called the CDAC meeting to order at 4:01pm. 1. Norwich Human Services – $43,000: Norwich Works Lee-Ann Gomes & Ray Hulten This grant proposes to train residents in primarily healthcare fields while simultaneously addressing barriers to employment, such as childcare and transportation... Not all clients that access the program are enrolled in a training program. Some are assisted with resume writing, job placement or referral to a GED class. Although the Department of Labor offers similar job training programs, their income levels for qualification are significantly lower. Program has a comprehensive approach and screened clients have access to all of the services that Norwich Human Services provides. Ed Derr inquired about classes offered at Three Rivers. One person is enrolled in a Pharmacy Tech Training class. One semester classes are preferred as most people are either presently working and don’t have time to commit an entire year or unemployed and need to find employment as quickly as possible. Les King commented that a large percentage of the funds requested were going to be used for general assistance type activities as opposed to job training activities. Ms. Gomes was asked what type of outreach is done to publicize the program. She explained that they get referrals from social workers, soup kitchen and training facilities refer people that are unable to afford private programs. 2. Norwich Human Services - $30,500: Hospitality Center Lee-Ann Gomes With homelessness on the rise the Hospitality Center provides a vital service. The shelter provides the following services: Shelter Diversion for clients whose current housing situation can be salvaged; comprehensive assessment of needs; sheltering of homeless residents; dinner; case management provided by individual agencies; medical services provided by Generations Family Health Clinic in the Backus Mobile Van which is parked outside of the soup kitchen; on site psychiatric assessments provided by the Southeastern Mental Health Authority and Employment and Training Opportunities. In CDBG Program Year 2011 68% of the participants found permanent housing. Thirteen people were enrolled in along term treatment and only 2 went back to living in the woods. The Norwich shelter runs an excellent program. Twelve grant applications were submitted to other funders thereby not relying solely on CDBG dollars. Of the money requested $18,500 is for staff salaries, $4,500 to the Soup Kitchen to defray the cost of the utilities and $7,500 for the rent/diversion component. Through the use of another grant the shelter provides employment and training opportunities. A one week, paid employment skills program is offered by CT Works. If job sites are available, shelter guests may be placed in a 6 week paid work program where they will be re-introduced to the workforce with the hopes of becoming hired. . 3. Norwich Youth & Family Services - $21,500: Norwich Juvenile Justice Alliance Case Manager Angelo Callis, Joanne Zenowitz, Officer McKinney The Juvenile Review Board members are the Norwich Police Department, Norwich Youth and Family Services, Norwich Public Schools, Norwich Fire Department, Norwich Free Academy, Waterford Juvenile Court, Department of Children and Families, Uncas Health, United Community and Family Services, Thames River Academy and Norwich Board of Education. The grant would provide a case manager that would serve both the Juvenile Review Board (JRB) and the Families with Service Needs Board (FWNS) and would provide intensive 4 – 8 weeks of case management for all diverted youth and their families, including monitoring, referrals, and school and home visits. Attend all JRB and FWNS Board meetings and monitor one, two and 12 month follow-up. School personnel report that they lack the capacity to do the family engagement piece necessary to increase success, particularly with regard to the need to do home visiting. This grant would support efforts to divert Norwich youth from the Juvenile Justice System. Diversion plays a key role in improving positive outcomes for youth. It reduces recidivism, stigma and cost to the community. Funding for this existing program will help increase capacity, improve data collection and data management and provide more intensive, consistent coordinated care. 4. Big Brothers Big Sisters of SE CT - $4,000: One-To-One Norwich Mentors Joseph Petroff The Big Brothers Big Sisters Norwich Mentors is a continuing program in collaboration with Norwich Public School’s BRIDGES and SPROUTS programs. The grant will be used to partially fund the Norwich Case Manager. The program serves children and their families through outreach, a formal home assessment of need, information and by providing volunteers who guide and support at-risk children on a one-to-one consistent basis. Research shows that Littles who meet with their Bigs regularly for one year are: 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to start using illegal drugs, 27% less likely to start drinking alcohol, more likely to get along with their family and peers and more likely to get better grades and feel better about school. 5. Norwich Adult Education -$10,000: Community Development Through ESOL Cheryl Egan & Wendy Yagarich In the past several years programs were held at Norwich Adult Ed at night and Madonna Place during the day. This year the funds requested will be used only at Madonna Place. Sessions will be held twice a week for two full semesters. Having the availability of childcare at Madonna Place makes it easier for families with children to attend. It offers a safe secure setting for many families that come from foreign countries. Training is focused in the areas of parental empowerment/school participation, career exploration/job preparation, and health, safety and community integration. A committee member asked about the capacity of the Adult Ed location on Hickory St. He was told that the after the initial fall registration Norwich Adult Ed had a waiting list for the ESL classes. It was also mentioned that the facility did not have a large enough room to hold big events and assemblies. Another question was posed regarding the demographics of the ESL classes. Most participants are Asian, Spanish or Haitian Creole. 6. Opportunities Industrialization Center - $25,000: Project Employment Liz Binger Since 1970 OIC has provided job training and other self sufficiency services to low income and low skilled adults. OIC is the only organization that provides comprehensive education, training, case management and supportive services for ex-offenders. OIC is the Department of Correction contractor for these services in southeastern Connecticut. The Norwich satellite office opened in 2010 and is staffed 3 days per week. Project employment provides 25 – 75 hours of support and training. Services provided include: employability and life skills workshops, in-house food pantry, clothing closet and transportation vouchers. OIC’s staff are highly trained and experienced in working with this population and provide supplemental supports to maximize outcomes. It was mentioned that some of the services provided for Norwich residents are run out of the New London Office. A committee member asked if transportation to the New London office was provided. He was told that transportation vouchers were provided. 7. Literacy Volunteers - $10,000: Norwich English Help Jerry Sinnamon Literacy Volunteers has received CDBG funding for a number of years. In the current program year Rosetta Stone network software was purchased for three computer stations in the Literacy Volunteer office at the Otis Library. Funding for three more units is requested in this application. This upgraded version of Rosetta Stone has the capability of tracking the progress of learners and creating assessment tools. While Adult Education also provides a similar service, the LVEC approach offers access that can be tailored to the learner’s individual schedule. In addition there is 1 to 1 tutoring available along with small discussion groups. As literacy in English increases there is an improvement in education, health status, health costs, employability and civic engagement. Each time another member of the community improves their ability to speak, converse in, and write in English the whole community benefits. The Women’s Center of SE CT - $5,000: Norwich Domestic Violence Response Team Cathy Zeiner Program Year 38 Funds will be used to create a part-time Crisis Counselor position to be located in Norwich. The counselor will work two days/week in Norwich at a location to be determined. Restoring services in Norwich is a high priority. There is no counseling office presently available in Norwich and it is hard for Norwich residents to get to the New London location. Crisis counselors provide immediate support and intervention services. The Norwich Domestic Violence Response Team (NDVRT) consists of Family Violence Victim Advocates (FVVAs) in the Norwich court a Victim Advocate Law Enforcement (VALE) Advocate in the Norwich Police Department, weekly support groups currently held at Madonna Place and Crisis Counselors previously located in a Norwich walk-in office, now located in New London and on 24-hour hotlines. A committee member inquired about services offered for the victim’s children. Ms. Zeiner responded that Women’s Center has a full time family services advocate that does safety planning with kids. They make a big investment in prevention. Every 7th & 8th grader participates in a violence prevention workshop. Committee deliberations were set for Monday, April 23rd at 3:00 pm in the basement conference room of 23 Union St. Adjournment Motion was made by Demo Angelopoulos, seconded by John Mathieu to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The CDAC meeting ended at 5:56 p.m.