HomeMy WebLinkAboutReports - 2022.09.01 - 37606
AGENDA ITEM: Special Project Sponsor the Center for Employment Opportunities' (CEO) Barrier
Resolution Fund and Advanced Economic Mobility Opportunities for Returning
Citizens
COMMITTEE MEETING: Board of Commissioners
DATE: Thursday, September 1, 2022 6:00 PM - Click to View Agenda
ITEM SUMMARY SHEET
DEPARTMENT SPONSORED BY
Board of Commissioners Angela Powell, Charles Cavell
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Summary of Proposed Project
The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is interested in establishing a “Barrier Resolution
Fund” at our new CEO Pontiac office that will be designed to provide direct assistance to returning
citizens to overcome barriers that might prevent them from advancing in their careers. Furthermore,
a portion of these funds will also be utilized to invest more deeply into longer-term career pathway
training and upskilling efforts - including in IT and transportation career pathways.
What is the estimated cost of this project?
$50,000
Are there any possible funding partners or matching funds available? If so, please explain.
Potentially the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) who has provided general
operating funds through the state budget.
What is the purpose of this project?
The purpose of this project is to launch a CEO Pontiac Barrier Resolution Fund pilot initiative and
establish additional career pathway training opportunities.
For the Barrier Resolution Fund: CEO often works with individuals who face barriers that could be
overcome with modest funds. Participants may, for example, want to enroll in CEO but lack the
funds to have their birth certificate or ID reissued which would make them I-9 compliant. Others
may be interested in joining a training opportunity, such as Commercial Driver’s Licensing (CDL),
but have an outstanding fine or fee that prevents them from accessing their license. Others may get
a job offer but are unable to accept the position because they can’t cover childcare in the first few
weeks or lack a short-term transportation solution. Government grants and contracts often
disqualify these types of expenses or make them difficult to access because it can be challenging
to predict the exact type and volume of need. Having a flexible fund that can be distributed at
CEO’s discretion is a critical component of helping Oakland county residents succeed post-release.
CEO Barrier Navigation Fund would provide resources to accomplish the following:
1-Help individuals access legal documents like birth certificates and IDs
2-Pay off fines & fees that hold individuals back from career advancement or stability
3-Access emergency housing or childcare
4-Purchase work and interview clothing when donations are not appropriate or high quality
5- Pay for transit or rideshares to reach interviews or needed appointments
6-Other expenses that may hinder success in employment
Furthermore, CEO’s social and economic mobility focus has been to connect returning citizens to
longer-term career pathway training and upskilling efforts - specifically in industries 1) where
individuals may earn a higher wage and 2) that are friendly to hiring returning citizens. In-house,
CEO is improving our digital literacy classes. We are also focusing on career pathway
programming. This will include bridge programming to established advanced skill providers, offering
customized training curricula (and sessions) from these providers for CEO, and the development of
in-house training pathways in in-demand sectors like transportation (e.g. CDL) and IT services. We
want to correct for both the lack of accessible training content and also a training field that is not
geared towards the contextual realities of returning citizens. We will also expand our job
development function to target employers in our in-demand sectors, modeling a best practice
among other advanced training providers.
Who will benefit from the project and how?
CEO Pontiac participants will benefit from this project. CEO exclusively serves individuals returning
to Oakland County with justice involvement - especially those recently released from incarceration.
We work closely with local parole, probation and community corrections (Step Forward) who
provide referrals to our program.
What is the expected duration of the project?
FY2023 (from October 2022 to September 2023) - or until funds are all utilized.
Will the project/cost fall within one or multiple budget cycles?
One budget cycle (FY2023)
Will there be a need to organize support from any Oakland County Departments or outside
agencies?
If so, please explain.CEO will work in partnership with the MDOC, and Oakland County’s correction
offices to ensure that eligible returning citizens who are referred to the CEO’s vocational program
will be partakers of the funding if approved by the board.
Does this project fall within the scope of the Board of Commissioners’ authority?
Yes
Will you be involved in this project; how so?
Yes. Oluwatosin Martins (Regional Director, CEO), Commissioner Cavell, and Commissioner
Powell will assist CEO in- fostering connections to local partners as needed.
What is the proposed timeline for this project (start/completion)?
As soon as funds are distributed, CEO will begin offering their “Barrier Navigation Fund” and
upskilling training opportunities for eligible and interested CEO participants.
https://ceoworks.org/locations/michigan
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: No
Committee members can contact Michael Andrews, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at
248.858.5115 (office) or andrewsmb@oakgov.com, or the department contact persons listed for
additional information.
CONTACT
Angela Powell, Commissioner
Charles Cavell, Commissioner
powellan@oakgov.com, cavellc@oakgov.com
ITEM REVIEW TRACKING
Board of Commissioners Created -
Board of Commissioners
Executive's Office
Clerk/Register of Deeds
AGENDA DEADLINE: 09/01/2022 6:00 PM
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2022-08-24 Finance - recommend to Board
2022-09-01 Full Board
ATTACHMENTS
1. BOC Special Projects - Sponsor the CEO Barrier Resolution Fund Schedule A
September 1, 2022
REPORT
2022-1984
Special Project Sponsor the Center for Employment Opportunities' (CEO) Barrier Resolution Fund and
Advanced Economic Mobility Opportunities for Returning Citizens
Sponsored By:
Angela Powell, Commissioner
Charles Cavell, Commissioner
Chairperson, the Board of Commissioners recommends the following Board action:
MOTION TO approve the one-time appropriation of $50,000 from non-departmental transfers General Fund
Special Projects to Board of Commissioners General Fund Special Projects line-item budget to sponsor the
Center for Employment Opportunities' (CEO) Barrier Resolution Fund and Advanced Economic Mobility
Opportunities for Returning Citizens; further, approve the budget amendment as described in the attached
Schedule A and that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners approves and authorizes the Chairperson of
Board to execute the required Interlocal Agreement on behalf of Oakland County upon final review and
approval by Corporation Counsel.
Chairperson, the following Commissioners recommend the adoption of the foregoing Board action: Angela
Powell, Charles Cavell.
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2022-08-24 Finance - recommend to Board
2022-09-01 Full Board
VOTE TRACKING - Board of Commissioners
Motioned by: Commissioner William Miller III
Seconded by: Commissioner Angela Powell
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Eileen Kowall, Christine Long, Philip
Weipert, Angela Powell, Thomas Kuhn, Chuck Moss, Marcia Gershenson, William Miller III, Yolanda
Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Penny Luebs, Janet Jackson, Gary McGillivray, Adam Kochenderfer (18)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: (0)
Passed
ATTACHMENTS
1. BOC Special Projects - Sponsor the CEO Barrier Resolution Fund Schedule A
Oakland County, Michigan
Board of Commissioner Special Project - Sponsor the Center For Employment Opportunities Barrier Resolution Fund
Schedule "A" DETAIL
R/E Fund Name Division Name
Fund #
(FND)Cost Center (CCN) #
Account #
(RC/SC)
Program #
(PRG)
Grant ID
(GRN) #
Project ID #
(PROJ)
Region
(REG)
Budget
Fund
Affiliate
(BFA)
Ledger
Account
Summary Account Title
FY 2022
Amendment
FY 2023
Amendment
FY 2024
Amendment
E General Fund Non-Departmental FND10100 CCN9090101 SC731822 PRG196030 730000 Special Projects $(50,000)$-$-
E General Fund Board of Commissioners FND10100 CCN5010101 SC731822 PRG180010 730000 Special Projects 50,000 --
Total Expenditures $-$-$-