Cresc board of Directors Meeting July 18, 2013, 1: 30 pm to 2: 45 pm

P. O. Box 10563 Harrisburg, PA 17105 www.reentrynow.org

CRESC Board of Directors Meeting

July 18, 2013, 1:30 PM to 2:45 PM

1. 
   CRESC Chair Vladimir convened the meeting at 1:30 pm with the following Board Members present: Amber Borreli, Larry Coleman, Barry Nazar, Amanda Price, Jim Cavenaugh, John W. Jackson, Keith Sultzbaugh, Bill Peterson, Jeff Woodyard and Stephen Scanlon. GUESTS: Steven and Gary
   

2. 
   Approval of Minutes: Stephen Scanlon made a few corrections to minutes. Larry Coleman moved to approve minutes, John W. Jackson seconded. Bill Peterson abstained.
   

3. 
   Update of Old Business:
   

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  501c3 status update: IRS Status still pending. Option of utilizing TFEC as the umbrella agency or a member agency, such as CRAM. As there is not a current need for funding to support operations, and a strategic planning session is currently being scheduled, the issue of utilizing an umbrella agency was set aside pending the strategic planning session
  

4. 
   Committee Updates:
   

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  Workforce Development Committee: Amanda Price submitted a written report (attached). A follow up from the chamber breakfast, with an employer focus. The agenda will include a round table discussion of issues facing employers hiring ex-offenders. Tentative date is November 8^th at the Linglestown Giant. Amanda also visited Lancaster RMO meeting and tour Careerlink. They were very inclusive. Of specific interest was a report sent by each provider with success rates.
  
• 
  Mentoring Committee: Larry Coleman submitted a written report (attached). An update was received from the York group. They have a new name “York Mentoring and Safer Communities Coalition”. The committee is in the process of identifying individuals to begin a statewide mentoring task force.
  
• 
  Communication Committee: Barry Nazar provided instruction on utilizing the blog on the CRESC website. Jim Cavenaugh created a blog posting.
  
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  Membership Committee: Stephen Scanlon provided an update. There is a core of 23 individuals who attend regularly, with highs and lows of attendance reported.
  
• 
  Housing Committee: Keith Sultzbaugh submitted a written report (see attached). Mission of the committee more solidly defined as, “Connecting ex-offenders with suitable housing”. The committee, in following this mission, has created an inventory survey and will be conducting it with housing providers and are seeking to catalogue this information for use of the coalition. The committee made a request to the executive board to purchase software that will assist with creating a listing of ex-offender housing. This could then be expanded to cover other services for ex-offenders and list qualifications. This would be a website with a database engine at a cost of $150 for the program, which is self-contained, with a $100 per year fee per year for web hosting. There is a 30 day test period. Larry Coleman made a motion that the committee begin the process of prototyping the program for the trial period of 30 days and if it meets the needs of the group we will continue with payment of $150 one-time cost and $100 for each year of web hosting, which will be reviewed in August. Jim Cavenaugh seconded the motion and all were in favor.
  

5. 
   New Business
   

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  Vladimir asked that all be present for the board meeting to 1:15pm to make time to conduct all required business prior to the start of the coalition meeting.
  
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  Future presentations were discussed and several interesting presenters are on the horizon.
  

6. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Board will be the regularly scheduled meeting at 1:15 pm on Thursday, August 15, 2013.
7. Meeting Adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted: Amber R. Borreli, Secretary

Workforce Development Committee

Capital Region Ex-offender Support Coalition

July 9, 2013- 3:00pm-4:00pm

South Central Workforce Investment Board

4201 Crums Mill Road, Suite 200, Harrisburg, PA 17112

Attendees: Larissa Bailey, Tim Whelan, Terri Kauffman, Jan Careback, Janeen Christ, and Amanda Price

1. 
   Welcome
   
2. 
   Chair replacement discussion: After discussion, committee attendees agreed for Amanda Price to pick up the Chair responsibilities at this time.
   

1. 
   Jennifer Berkish expressed interest in co-chairing and Randy Loss expressed interest for the future (both were not able to attend the meeting but expressed interest after the meeting through email)
   

3. 
   Discussed recommendations from the board for next step for committee:
   

1. 
   Vladimir Beaufils:
   

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  mitigating barriers to employment for ex-offenders
  
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  educating employers on the benefits (Planning another Employers Breakfast with the Chamber)
  
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  facilitating a "third party" that could advocate for and represent the ex-offender when necessary (The development of either a new entity or a new division of an existing entity that could promote the hiring of reentering citizens)
  
• 
  advocate for ex-offender employment with the understanding that recidivism is reduced and there are less potential victims in society as well as the families that will benefit
  

2. 
   Larry Coleman: Follow up Employer Event
   
3. 
   Stephen Scanlon: Lancaster RMO Report and Recommendations for follow up (Terri Kauffman announced that Lori Ranck, who played an integral part in the Lancaster RMO program, was recently hired to the SCWIB)
   

4. 
   Committee attendees agreed that a follow up Employer Roundtable Event should be our next step.
   

1. 
   Tentative Date is Friday, November 8, 2013 8:00am-9:30am
   
2. 
   Terri Kauffman is checking with the Linglestown Giant for use of their Community Center
   
3. 
   Committee agreed that this event will be a Employer exclusive event
   
4. 
   Recommendations for invitations aside from employers were: Representative from CRESC, Representative from Probation and Parole, Representative from the DOC, Representative from Careerlink/SCWIB, and Representative from Labor and Industry
   

5. 
   Adjourn and discussed next meeting date of September 3, 2013.
   

Report, Mentor Committee

To: Capital Region Ex-Offender Support Coalition (CRESC)

Date: July 18, 2013, Larry L. Coleman, Chair

Our next Mentor Committee meeting will be August 1^st, 2013 at Dodge City Restaurant.
Mentoring is continuing in the “Uptown Group” at 5^th and Camp Streets (Wesley Union AME Zion Church) on Tuesdays 2:30-4 p.m., 917 Gibson Blvd., Steelton (County Parole Office) on Thursdays 6-7:30 p.m., and in York Thursdays, 1:30-3:00 p.m. and at New Covenant Life Center, 701 W. King Street, York, PA. A second group has started in the evenings in York at the New Covenant Life Center and is held at 701 W King St. at the New Covenant Life Center.
The York committee has done some planning, has established name for its own coalition and is soliciting suggestions for a logo. Anthony Sease, current chair, reports that they plan to maintain the integrity of the Successful Ex-Offender Mentoring Support Group.
A task force has been established to develop plans for “steering committee” or body for the Successful Ex-Offender Mentoring Support Group to evolve and maintain the integrity of the model as it is replicated.
We continue to seek additional successful ex-offenders interested and able to “give back” by facilitating or participating in our Successful Ex-Offender Mentoring Support Groups. Applications are available on line and on the registration table. While reviewed on a case-by-case basis, they must have established stability, have references and someone recommending them.
MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING TRAINING class was held July 12-13, 2013 at Temple University, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA with Luis Rosa as the trainer. There were 18 persons in the class held 6-8 p.m. Friday and 9 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Certificates will be provided.
The next offering of our “First Fridays” Mentoring College will be August 2^nd at 6 p.m. at Temple University, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg and will be a workshop on working with Parole with Tim Kinsinger from County Parole and a representative from State Parole (if possible). Contact Carolyn Pertusio at 717-838-5820 or [e-mail] to register.

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