Upper Shore Workforce Investment Board Youth Council
 September 12, 2001
Minutes

Those in attendance:  Robert Brannock (Voc Rehab & WIB), Royce Sampson (Talbot LMB & WIB), Nancy Shockley (Dorchester LMB), Alvin Bromwell (youth representative), Angela Jones (Congressman Wayne Gilchrest’s office), and Brenda Marzucco (WIB staff)

Barry Smale and Connie Schott of the BenedictineSchool were present as guests.

1. Youth Leadership Program:  Brenda Marzucco announced that applications for the 2002 program were available both on line and through the WIB office.  Nancy Shockley of the Dorchester Local Management Board announced that applications were distributed  to their Local Management Board by their board member Portia Johnson.  Again, eligibility was identified as a problem. 

2. Youth Leadership Program - Junior Achievement’s Exchange City:  Brenda Marzucco announced that the Saturday program has purchased curriculum that will be modified to suite the current program structure.  Staff will be trained by Junior Achievement in Baltimore.  The challenge faced by the staff will be fitting the full curriculum in the 10 hour a month structure.

3. Out of School Youth Update – Chesapeake Career Network (Chesapeake Bay Industries)  At the July 13^th meeting, it was the recommendation of the Council that the Board continue to obligate the existing funds and report back within three months.  Brenda Marzucco noted that one trainee had become eligible with an interest in auto mechanics, and that a suitable program had yet to be identified.  Robert Brannock reported that he had not received any referrals for assessment.   Again, eligibility was identified as a problem.  Also identified was lack of training options (existing programs).

4.  Out of School Youth update – feasibility study:  Brenda Marzucco announced that Vicki Busesgens of SHIFTS Inc.  was currently in the process of conducting a feasibility study for a non-traditional training program for out of school youth.  She will be prepared to meeting with the Council  in late October.

5. Governor’s WIB Youth Council:  Brenda Marzucco announced that she and Mike Clark (Queen Anne’s LMB) will be attending the state council’s planning session on September 20^th in  Baltimore.

6. Benedictine School Presentation :  Barry Smale of the Benedictine Foundation gave a presentation of current services at the training facility in Caroline County.  He informed the Council that the school was currently completing a federal grant application for expansion of services.  It was suggested by the Department of Labor that Benedictine contacted the local WIB with the possibility of partnering with such efforts.  There was discussion as to the possibility of Benedictine expanding current services, with the assistance of WIB funding, to include out of school youth  in need of services.  There was a discussion of the current mission of  Benedictine School , and the eligibility requirements of the developmentally disabled.  It was felt by the Council that the population targeted as out of school youth may not fit with current services with Benedictine.  Benedictine has no current plan of expanding services to those outside of the developmentally disabled.  There was much discussion of future partnership at a different location.

Council recommendation:  It is the recommendation of the Youth Council that a letter be sent from the WIB to Sister Jeannette of the  Benedictine School officially inviting  the institution’s participation with the Youth Council and that it be indicated that the WIB is interested in receiving any requests for proposals regarding partnering in providing training for out of school youth.

G.     Other discussion:  Out of School Youth:  There was much discussion regarding the barriers faced with identifying and serving out of school youth.  

Council recommendation:  It is the recommendation of the Youth Council that contingent upon the results of the feasibility study, the Board  pool the current youth funds available for out of school youth, including those obligated for out of school training provided by the Chesapeake Career Network, and use for the purpose recommended by the feasibility results.