Council for Labor and Economic Growth Holds First Quarterly Meeting

The Council for Labor and Economic Growth held its first quarterly meeting on March 7 in Lansing.  The 75 council members include key leaders from business, labor, community colleges, universities, community-based organizations, local workforce boards, the K-12 educational community and government.  MCB Director Pat Cannon is one of the 75 members, reflecting MCB's role in workforce development and employment.  The council has a majority of private sector members and has been organized to better address Michigan's workforce

development needs.   It meets the mandate of the Workforce Investment Act, which calls for the creation of a state workforce investment board.   Governor Jennifer M. Granholm addressed the group at its inaugural meeting, calling on the council to play a key role in helping match unemployed workers with jobs through the Michigan Opportunity Partnership, which was unveiled during the 2005 State of the State address.  The plan will retool Michigan's job training programs and proactively steer unemployed workers into high-demand career fields, such as health care, with the goal of matching 30,000 unemployed workers with jobs by the end of 2005.

State of DLEG

Director Hollister hosted another “State of DLEG” meeting on March 17, which was well-attended by representatives from the 30-plus DLEG bureaus, including several MCB staff. The meeting continued work on the strategic plan, focusing on the governor’s four “roads” from her 2004 State of the State address: urban revitalization, entrepreneurship, retain and grow business, and workforce development. There was also discussion of the MI Opportunity Partnership, an initiative called for by Governor Granholm in her 2005 State of the State address, and being implemented by DLEG.   The charge to the MI Opportunity Partnership Committee, which includes Leamon Jones and Pat Cannon, is to create 30,000 new jobs in Michigan by the end of this year.   The day’s agenda also included discussion of the fact that Michigan will host the Major League Baseball All Star Game in July and the Super Bowl in February 2006, events which will have a major economic impact on Detroit and the state.

RSA Region V

Leamon Jones and Pat Cannon attended a two-day meeting March 29-30 in Chicago hosted by Region V of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).   Topics included the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which includes the Rehabilitation Act, and the efforts underway in Washington to shut down the 10 regional RSA offices throughout the country which are scheduled to close at the end of September.

Several rehabilitation agencies in the six-state region are having significant difficulty in coping with diminishing revenue and increasing demands for services.  Some agencies are under an “order of selection,” requiring that clients with most severe disabilities are served first, while other clients are placed on a waiting list for services.  In some cases, clients are waiting for services for as long as two years.

MINI-ADJUSTMENT WORKSHOP IN ROMULUS

The Michigan Commission for the Blind held its second Mini-Adjustment Program March 13-18 at the Marriott Hotel Metropolitan Airport in Romulus. The 40 MCB clients who participated in the workshop were introduced to a variety of skills of blindness, such as cane travel, Braille, managing time and money, adaptive kitchen skills and other skills to enhance independence. MCB will conduct five Mini-Adjustment Programs in 2005, with the next week-long workshop scheduled for May 15-20 at the Terrace Bay Inn, Escanaba. Additional workshops will be held this year in Jackson and Saginaw.

Ottawa County Mentoring Luncheon a Success

MCB counselor Shannon Berkin organized a February 11 mentoring luncheon for Ottawa County students at Applebee's in Holland, and six students from around the county attended.  Each student was paired with an adult mentor based on that student's vocational goal or interest.  Students were able to discuss topics including their dreams and goals, the mentor's job duties, accommodations and attending college.  Also in attendance were MCB staff members Shannon Berkin and Sherry Gordon.  The experience was so positive that the Ottawa County ISD has agreed to host the second meeting.  It is hoped to continue getting students and mentors together on a regular basis.

DESCRIBED MOVIES COMING TO MICHIGAN THEATRES

MoPix West Michigan and Jack Loeks Theatres have reached an agreement that will bring enjoyment of first-run movies in the theatre to patrons with vision or hearing impairments.  West Michigan's first MoPix system will soon be installed in one of the auditoriums at Studio 28 in Grand Rapids.

MoPix is a technology developed by Boston public television station WGBH, a longtime pioneer of captioning and video description for those with visual or hearing impairments.  People who are visually impaired use a special wireless headset from which they hear a description of what is happening on the screen. They hear the dialogue and movie sounds from the regular sound system, but they also hear the description carefully inserted between the dialogue. People who have hearing impairments utilize a reflector in the theatre that attaches to the seat. The reflector is positioned so they can see the screen, and also a reflection of a large display board on the back wall of the theatre. This board displays captions for the movie backwards, so they can be read correctly in the reflectors. The movie experience for patrons not using the system is not changed.  Most new films released by the studios are encoded for MoPix.

MoPix West Michigan started as a special project of VIPP (Visually Impaired Persons for Progress), a Grand Rapids affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). The group has expanded and now includes a growing number of members who are blind, deaf, or visually or hearing impaired, and others all working side by side.   MCB has participated in the project with financial support.

CONSUMER SERVICES REPORT

The Consumer Services staff continue to be active in providing services to its constituents, working with community rehabilitation programs to increase opportunities for employment outcomes.  The Employment Readiness Seminar held in Romulus at the March Mini-adjustment program was a success with more than 18 job ready consumers in attendance.  Efforts are continuing to improve this program and on-going consideration is being given to extending the program beyond one day.  Seminar participants were able to participate in mock interviews with staff and employers.  The Detroit office will be developing a program which will require more than one day.  This program will be developed in conjunction with the Michigan Works and other community agencies as well as employers to provide more employment related activities, with emphasis on employer participation, and to make the experience more meaningful and realistic for consumers.

MCB will be collaborating with MRS regarding the National Employment Network Initiative.   MCB’s liaison to the National Employment Network, Shawnese Laury-Johnson, will have an opportunity to receive additional training regarding the single source contact.  Tutoring will be provided to the liaisons by the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services prior to the one day training in Atlanta, Georgia in June. 

Staff from Consumer Services and the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) are collaborating on the implementation of an internship program for high school and college students.   The internship program will provide students with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience and will also promote the Business Enterprise Program as an employment option.  This program will begin in June and conclude in August with possible sites in the Southeastern area, Lansing and Grand Rapids.  Discussion is under way with Michigan Works to secure funding for youths in this program. 

Some consumer staff persons are participating in site reviews with the Center for Independent Living (CIL) organizations in order to help develop meaningful associations with the CILs.   Through dialogue and collaboration, improved relationships have resulted in the development of cash match agreements with some of the agencies.  These activities will serve to enhance MCB’s program visibility.  In some areas, vocational opportunities have been expanded. 

The Community Collaboration Transition Initiative (CCTI) program is a result of collaborative effort on the part of Oakland County School Special Education, Community Mental Health, United Cerebral Palsy, MRS and MCB to provide vocational services to the severely and multiply disabled students in school.   MCB counselors will be able to increase participation of blind students in the fall of 2005 in this program.  These are students that would otherwise be unlikely to receive vocational exposure until they have graduated.  The CCTI objective is to coordinate all services to assure that these students receive opportunities to participate in vocational training and ultimately job placement. 

The Detroit Public School Special Education Department will provide a Choices Fair for all disabled students from eighth through twelfth grades.   The fair will showcase a variety of vendors, community agencies, community colleges, employers and rehabilitation agencies and provide an opportunity for students to develop their vocational goals in the future labor market.  MCB will participate by providing information and assisting in obtaining employers to participate in the fair.  Blind and visually impaired students will have an opportunity to receive information regarding college programs, vocational school information, and employer expectations regarding employment requirements. 

MCB and MRS are working together to develop a partnership meeting to identify critical shortages in employment outcomes.  This partnership initiative will involve numerous community rehabilitation agencies, community mental health and the Michigan Works! agencies which will employ mapping techniques to discover the critical gaps in service delivery and assessments and provide strategies to eliminate these shortages in employment outcomes.  Three meetings scheduled for May, June and October will be facilitated by the Region V Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP) staff.  The goal of the meeting is for each stakeholder to take ownership and report on the progress of each objective.

The Michigan Commission for the Blind is participating in the Governor’s MI Opportunity Partnership for the purpose of securing 30,000 new jobs and developing 35,000 employer contacts this year.  The partnership will target the employment categories such as healthcare, construction, trades and apprenticeships and cable installers.  Through MCB’s participation and collaboration with the stakeholders, this initiative will serve to increase MCB’s ability to network with stakeholders and employers to provide information and technical assistance regarding accommodations and job modifications.  MCB will also make available job ready consumers to assist employers with their employment needs.

The Independent Living Program Managers meeting, held in Washington D.C., March 21-23, 2005, was attended by two Consumer Services supervisors who shared information on some of the current initiatives taking place in the older blind program.   One initiative includes streamlining some of the data reporting criteria.  Changes will be implemented as soon as guidelines are shared with the staff. 

The State plan has been updated and submitted for approval.  MCB’s proposed improvement in areas of concern resulting from the standards and indicators are: (1) Greater participation in activities resulting in increased employment outcomes as well as increased benefits and wages; and (2) A defined outreach program focusing on minority participation and MCB’s programs that will increase service delivery as well as employment outcomes.   Staff participated in the MCB Cultural Diversity Committee meeting and received a commitment from the committee to assist in the outreach efforts to minorities.

The Youth Low Vision task force is developing and revising the policies and procedures regarding service delivery for youths.  Leamon Jones and Pat Cannon met with several low vision practitioners regarding their participation in the Youth Low Vision program and on the policy task force.  The task force will continue to meet to review current practices and will make recommendations regarding the outcomes.  It is anticipated that a meeting will be established to allow all interested partners, providers, parent groups and staff to be represented.

The College Preparatory program has been in existence since the mid 1980's and will continue this year, in partnership with Western Michigan University, to assist potential college students in preparing to attend college classes.  Initially, College Prep students took only one Western Michigan University class, however, students now take three additional classes.   These include a class titled "Empowering Yourself in Your College Experience"--where students are informed about different aspects of college life and how to address different situations; a Communications class which assists students in working with instructors and peers to obtain services they need; and a vocational exploration class where students learn more about the work world and also participate in a work experience.  Students must complete an application and participate in an interview before they are "hired" for this work experience.  The average size of the College Prep program has been 8-10 students.  Potential college students are encouraged to either participate in the College Prep program or get a job and obtain work experience during the summer, prior to beginning college during the fall semester.

TRAINING CENTER REPORT

Two outreach activities were conducted by MCBTC staff.  Jim Baird worked with a client of Shannon Berkin for a total of nine hours of training, six of which were on the job site of a building complex where the client works as a vinyl siding installer. Three hours were at MCBTC building jigs and fixtures for the client to use for his job. The client was involved in the design and making of the jigs which will enable him to continue producing jigs independently as they are needed in the future.

On Friday, March 18, Dave Greenwald met with one of Kim Kennedy's consumers who needed assistance with techniques for addressing behavioral issues involving a guide dog.  Dave was able to observe the interactions of the consumer and the dog.  He gave the consumer strategies to avoid social infractions involving the guide dog.

On March 29, members of the technology team and other MCBTC staff met with representatives from the Michigan Department of Management and Budget and Paradigm Design Inc. to outline the process for developing the technology center within MCBTC.  Paradigm Designs will also look at the BEP training area, the MCBTC library and the dormitory capacity.  It is anticipated that a plan will be ready for distribution by June.

On March 29 MCBTC staff participated in a chili cook-off.  There were two first-place winners:  Jim Baird and Will Droll presented a Texas chili and Marcia Parks made a Hoosier chili.  The winners will now move on to the next stage in the culinary competition at the Planning and Quality meeting, which will take place on April 25.  Congratulations to the MCBTC chili cook-off winners!

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES REPORT

The Administrative Services Unit has been busy finishing the installation of new computers and upgrading the systems with new software and operating environment.   Over one hundred computers were installed and/or rebuilt throughout MCB.   Staff from the Department of Information Technology (DIT) staff performed all of MCB’s email conversion and moved all of the stored data from one server to another.  DIT staff worked at least five weekends to ensure that the transition was successful with minimal disruption and most offices only experienced one day of down time.  MCB will be sending a letter of appreciation to the DIT staff who worked so diligently on this project. 

The Department of Labor and Economic Growth is required to complete a self assessment audit every two years.   Each bureau has to complete audit worksheets regarding workflow, security, processes and procedures, as well as a summary document.  The MCB report was due by April 4 and was submitted in a timely manner. 

MCB is also required to complete yearly performance management plans and assessments on all employees.  These plans are accessed and completed via an online system which has not proved very screen-reader friendly.  With assistance from MCB, Civil Service has been working diligently to ensure that the performance management system is accessible for MCB staff, as well as the Self-Service website, which gives state employees access to all of their human resource information.

The Administrative Services Section is getting closer to having web enablement of System6 and the BEP data system.   Work has been ongoing with Libera, the system developer, and DIT to begin testing the online system.  MCB has also been cleared for integrating financial transactions from System6 directly into MAIN.  Integration and testing will span the next six weeks.  Completion of this upgrade will eliminate duplication of effort and save administrative service staff much valued time. 

In order to assist the administrative support staff to better understand the purchasing process and to streamline their work, advanced MAIN training has been scheduled, provided by DLEG finance staff.   Other training includes two training sessions for staff to become more familiar with the new email system, Outlook, one in Lansing and another in Detroit, conducted through Professional Technologies Development/Lansing Computer Institute (PTD/LCI).  A further session is planned soon for the west side of the state. 

In other activities, fifteen staff attended a program focusing on Personality Disorders, presented by Dr. Gregory Lester, and sixteen staff are registered to attend the MAER conference in Livonia, April 21-22.

MCB’s newest employee is Amber Pike, secretary in the Lansing Regional Office.  On April 11, Stephanie Tucker-Lwanga will begin working as a rehab counselor in the Detroit Regional Office. She comes to the Commission from FIA where she worked in Children’s Protective Services.  Interviews are in process of being scheduled for the secretary vacancy in Detroit and the rehab counselor vacancy in Escanaba.

The third and final mailing went out to MCB clients of a survey being conducted by Song Jae Jo, a PhD student at Michigan State University, who will be analyzing the data.  MCB expects the final report in May.

Business Enterprise Program REPORT

The Business Enterprise Program’s 2005 training program is underway.  There are seven students from all parts of the state.  The classroom portion of training will end the first week in June.

Plans are complete for the annual BEP workshop that will be held at the Kellogg Center in Lansing, April 8-10.

The transition of operators at the Fountain View Cafeteria is complete and successful.  The new operator is Carol Duff, who was very successful in her training sessions at Pizza Hut and Subway.

MCB DIRECTOR TOSSES FIRST PITCH IN TIGERS’ OPENER

The Detroit Tigers opened the 2005 major league baseball season in Detroit, April 4, hosting the Kansas City Royals.  Pat Cannon, MCB director, threw out the ceremonial first pitch in the traditional pre-game ceremony.  While it is customary for the Michigan Governor to throw out the first pitch at Tiger opening day festivities, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm asked Pat to do the honors for her.  Pat, who also serves as the Governor’s disability policy advisor, gladly obliged with his not yet famous sinking change-up!