HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1965.09.20 - 19632474(rj September 20, 1965
TO: County Board of Supervisors
FROM: Carl Ingraham, Chairman, Oakland County Economic Opportunity Commission
SUBJECT: Current Status of Economic Opportunity Act Proirams in Oakland County
The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 provides for a variety of programs to
attack the many bcets of poverty. For administrative purposes, a much rule
eligibility under the Act are families earning less than 03,000 a year. In Oakland
County there are approximately [6,000 families which meet this criteria. The
following programs have been funded and are now in operation In Oakland County:
1. Funded and Operative Programs
A. Operation Headstart:This program has provided nearly 1,000 children In
Oakland County with six to eight weeks of pre-school training, to prepare them for
entry into school this fall. Ten school districts participated in this summer
program. Five school districts are drawing up proposals for a winter pre-school
program.
Number of Approx. No. Approx.
Sponsor Classes of Children Cron
School District, City of Ferndale 5 55 9,207
Oak Park School District 3 60 10,755
South Lyon Community School I 20 3 ,30 9
Farmington Public School District 2 40 3,420
School District of Hazel Park 4 5C 14,595
School District, City of Pontiac 40 600 84,407
Southfield Pubtic .School District 2 30 6,058
Madison Heights District Public Schools 4 60 6,807
Avondale School District 3 A'-; ., 7,I00
Olarenceville School District .-1 1.6_ 4,375 ,,...----
(-7 ,IS 47 7 12 $150,078
-2-
B. School Community Action Programs: Programs funded under Title of the Act
are also underway in four school districts. The Act states that 060 funds cannot be
used for general aid to education and specifies that school programs should be for
"Special remedial and other non-curricular activities". Thus the underlying theme of
all the present School Community Action programs is a reaching out to the student to
draw him into the school, either through individual contacts with school community
aides and tutors or through special programs such as clubs and field trips designed
to promote the self-motiviation of the culturally deprived student.
Four school districts have been granted $192,357 in Federal Funds to run until
November 30, 1965 for a variety of school programs. An extension of these programs
for 1965-66 is being planned.
Ferndale: Counseling and study centers; summer remedial, tutorial and enrich-
ment project ($43,227).
Hazel Park: School Community Action Project; visiting teacher services; exp,77,,nsion
of school diagnostic services; remedial reading and school orientation center; a
community school evening library and study program. ($53,222)
Oak Park: Summer educational enrichment; a study center; a family liaison ocursela
exploratory clubs and field trips ($66,572).
Pontiac: Counseling services; a school community action program; remedial redir-10
project ($29,336).
Ii .Work Training Program
Under Title V of the Economic Opportunity Act, the CEO is authorized to transfer
• funds to the U.S. Dept. of Health Education and Welfare for training programs for
unemployed fathers and mothers who are on public assistance and need to improve their
employable skills.
Oakland County youths had left for work centers; 26 ications had been aocrevod r'sfl
Oakland County Commission on Economic Oppor y, specificall for Oakland County
-3-
Oakland County has received $271,000 under this section of the Act which will
be administered by Miss Ora Hinkley, Supervisor of the Oakland County Bureau of Social
Aid. Approximately 300 persons in Oakland are economically eligible for such training.
There are now 135 enrolled in this program. Eighty enrollees are currently being
evaluated for placement; fifty are now participating in the courses. One of the
courses, teaching basic literacy, has been arranged by Miss Hinkley's staff and is
located in the Bureau of Social Aid Offices.
Ill .Youth Programs .
The purpose of Title 1 of the Economic Opportunity Act is to prepare young men
and women between the ages of 16 and 21 for employment and civic responsiblimes 3y
providing them with education, vocational training and useful work experiences.
The Job Corps offers job training through residence centers, located throughout
the U.S. This program is run directly from 'Washington; recruitment in Oakland County
is through the Michigan Employment Security Commission. As of September 15, eleven
the Oakland County MESC and were pending assignment in Washington, and 20 were current
being processe'd by Oakland County MESC offices.
The Neighborhood Youth Corps offers job training for enrollees in state, county,
municipal and private non-profit agencies. Jobs must consist of work whic hdt
normally be performed by regular employees.
Recruitment is currently going on for a state-wide Neighborhood Youth. Corps
program, under the work-sponsorship of the Department of Conservation. There are
openings available to Oakland County youths under this program. Recrui -H- is t
the MESC. Plans are now underway for the deyelopmant of an NYC program under tne
residents. Twenty-six public and private agencies have expressed Their interest
becoming a Neighborhood Youth Corps Project sponsor.
-4-
IV. Commu nity Action Center Proposal
On April 13, 1965, the Oakland County Economic Opportunity Commission woo
granted $77,331 to develop 0E0 programs in the County. Eased on the planning
already involved in the Program Development Grant, a proposal for the establishment
of two Community Action Centers, located in the •north and south ends of the county
is presently pending final approval in Washington, D.C.
More than 1200 individuals have been involved In various aspects of this
proposal. Six task forces have been actively engaged in planning and research.
The basic program established under this grant will be a network of 20
Cr,! izers. to identify problems in the neighborhoods and mobilize community self-
help to effectively solve unmet needs. Neighborhood organizers will be chosen
- they
for their close knowledge of the area Fn which/serve, and for their proven ability
and interest in attacking community problems as demonstrated by participation ln
church, civic, or fraternal organizations.
Each neighborhood will estabMsh its own priorities and organize Neighborhood
Committees. These Neighborhood Committees will then send delegates to Area Adviso
Councils who will present specific suggestions to the Area Centers for programs,
based on both groups and individual needs.
Council representatives will serve on the Commission and recommendations com.lng
from these Councils requiring major changes or additional budget allocations will
be presented to the commission for their official action.
Two Action Centers, located in the North and South end of the County will serve
as a focal point for the group activities of the Area Councils and also as centers
a Michigan for direct services to individuals. Direct services will include:
Employment Security Commission Team, Consumers Service, Medical and Dental
Public Health Nurse, a Psychiatric Screening Team and a Family Service Social Con
Thirty-tWo area residents, employed as Counselor Aides in the Action Centers
-
will link the Neighborhood Organizers, the applicants and the direct services
available at the Centers.
It will bethe Combined responsibility of the Neidhborhoori Crgani7ersahri
Counselors to follow through on referrals to make sure that the individual needs
of the applicants are met with practical help. A counselor aide would arrance
for babysitting service to a young mother seeking work training or accompany a
young girl on a job interview, simply to offer moral support, if this seemed
indicated. Counselor Aides will be trained under monies available throuch the
Manpower Training & Development Act.
Oakland University, Mott Center for Continuing Education is assisting in
the development of a Volunteer Corps to work under the supervision of the Area
staff to provide special services for projects which the Neighborhood Councils
may develop.
The legaJ community is helping develop legal programs in the Centers to
assist applicants with legal problems;
The Commission has from its inception depended on substantial volunteer
help from both individuals and agencies not located geographically in the areas
of a high incidence of poverty. It is hoped that the levels of volunteer assist-
ance will be increased as specific procrams develop. For example, the Commission
will lean heavily on skill contributions from the business cof.unity in offering
management training to applicants who may apply for loans unde ,- Title IV of
Economic Opportunity Act which provides for loans from the Small Business
Administration to needy individuals who might be able to develop their own
businesses. The total Federal grant requested for the two Action Centers is $730,91,