Program Initiatives

Program Initiative Summary

Prepared for the Board of Directors

November, 2008

ECONOMIC ENGINES

WORKFORCE

Project

Update

Work/Life Academy                                     Wendy

Partnership of COCC, COIC, the Partnership, ESD, Latino Community Association, Employment Dept, and Employers to raise English Literacy and prepare people to pass the GED exam and go on to family economic sustainability.(n=30,000 in the region) Navigator program coaches participants to family wage jobs and career pathways.

Business/ School Alliance                               Wendy

Increases workforce pipeline to include secondary school students in partnership with businesses.Focusing on manufacturing and health occupations.Navigator program coaches students to jobs and careers upon graduation.

GED & ELL in all major communities in the region, including Warm Springs. Plaza Communitaria now in Redmond and Bend schools.

Navigator in place for Bend/Redmond with 22 active clients

Karen and I are working on an application to Meyer Memorial Trust for Navigators for Madras and Warm Springs (3 year funding), after a successful meeting with them in Portland.

Brought in consultant from Portland Community College to work with COCC and Latino Community Association regarding Latino Business Advisor for Navigator Clients who want to start their own small business.

Steering Committee formed, including Crook County: Chamber of Commerce, EDCO, Prineville City Councilor, high Desert ESD Vocational Training Coordinator, Region X Workforce Investment Board Staff, and the Partnership. Case Statement formulated. Next Step: Obtain funding for coordinator for Crook County as a demonstration project.

Opportunity Cars for Work                            Wendy

Car purchase program for working low-income people, including assistance in obtaining loans, financial education and discounted car repair.

Completed Pilot Program. 27 cars sold; 17 cars repaired.

Discussing transition to a nonprofit that can include case management (met with Lutheran Community Services and Neighbor Impact). Agreed to continue discussions in January.

Regional Transportation                               Wendy

COIC led program using call center to provide shuttle service from home to work; Partnership investing in DHS riders.

17,313 rides provided to low-income riders

23% or 4,012 rides were to and from work: Cost of each ride to PEP was $4.11

All of these rides plus all ridership will leverage to ODOT funding next year.

Culinary Technician Certificate Training
Wendy

Partnership with COCC, School Districts and Voc. Rehab. to provide training for developmentally disabled young adults to move them to work and greater independence.

6 students currently enrolled. First Quarter: Basic Safety, Basic Hygiene, Dining Room Preparation, Hosting, Bussing & Serving

If PEP Board members have contact with Restaurants, Convention Centers, Hospital Food Service, etc, who may want to send someone into the classroom for this program to discuss these operations, the coordinator would love to have contact information

Warm Springs Digital Inclusion
Wendy

One Economy in partnership with Tribal Leadership, Partnership and Warm Springs Community Action Team re: computers for tribal youth that lead to learning, & asset building. Eagle Tech receives technical assistance for connectivity, and then Education and Workforce Development would lead future applications.Focus on youth.

10 Warm Springs young people graduated from summer program. Created an Asset Map for tribe, and a Community Digital Blueprint. Coordinated by Tribal Council and One economy with help from am Americorps coordinator and an OMEN Vista volunteer. Special section on the Beehive for tribal members. Computer purchase program sponsored by One Economy.One Economy consulting to Eagle Tech and Ventures. Program completed.

FINANCIAL ASSETS

Project

Update

EITC
Sarah

Earned Income Tax Credit for low income families.

Dates being set. 21 dates set thus far.

Communication opened with Bend- La Pine Schools

15 volunteers signed up thus far

Safeway will begin counseling all new employees about the Advanced EITC

IDA
Sarah

Individual Development Accounts for low income people: housing, education, on-the-job training, continued education, mobility devices, specialized computers and workforce certification.

Presented to COCC ABE instructors

Officially accepted into VIDA collaborative

Beginning list of interested participants

Beginning partnership with Heart of Oregon

Financial Education calendar & curriculum created with Neighbor Impact & Housing Works

Rural Business Services-
Wendy

Support for rural micro enterprise and cooperative business models

Made at the Kitchen Table and Cooperative Small Business support for low income people.

Funded by Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and USDA Rural Development Community Program grants

The final report was submitted to Rural Development, USDA (RCDI Grant). Staff will make a report to the Board in December.

Warm Springs                                           Karen

Partnership investment in the Warm Springs Community Action Team to create:1) Community Development Financial Institution & Small Business Development Revolving Loan Fund; 2) Individual Development Account (IDA) Program for adults and youth; 3) Earned Income Tax Credit and tax aide; 4) adoption of a Uniform Commercial Code for the Tribe.

Lonnie James processed 5 IDA applications and continues to recruit participants. Financial education classes in conjunction with the IDA Program begin next week. Lonnie is developing the Warm Springs Economic Summit with the intent to foster an alignment of tribal policy, operations and enterprises with a focus on a more supportive environment for small business growth and economic development. Lonnie attended IRS training in Portland, and Oregon Microenterprise Network's Summit on Entrepreneurship, and presented Warm Springs potential to Oregon Community Foundation Regional Initiative Forum.

HEALTH CARE

Project

Update

Health Services for Underserved                  Wendy

Following Partnership investments and outcomes in:Ochoco Health Systems, Volunteers in Medicine.

Facilitated Annual Board/Senior Staff Retreat for Mosaic Medical; set priorities for next two years.

Health Matters of Central Oregon                 Wendy

Health Collaborative dedicated to finding solutions for unmet health needs of low income families:affordable health insurance for working people; coordinated care for children with special needs; workplace health promotion; chronic disease management.

Attended Community Health Collaboratives for Change Conference in Portland on 11/13/08. Represented Health Matters as member of the Board. Presentations from board chair, Mike Bonetto, Exec. Dir. Alisha Hopper, and Exec. Comm. Member Chris Telfer were well received. Business models for Three Share Insurance product are already in existence and have been proven to be sustainable.

HOUSING

Project

Update

Ten Year Strategy to End Homelessness          Cindy

A Regional strategic plan (the first of its kind in this region) to put an end to homelessness.A partnership of governmental, social service and private partners.

Ben Westlund, Tammy Baney, Alan Unger, Bruce Abernathy, Chris Telfer, and other public servants gathered at the opening ceremonies of Project Homeless Connect to publicly lend their support to the beginning process of the 10 Year Strategy

Crook County endorsed the implementation of the 10 Year Strategy, we are waiting for Jefferson

The State Council on Ending Homelessness is working on medical liability limitations for volunteers as well as release of armories and granges for Projects to operate in should it be necessary. This is important for the eastern side of Oregon.

Manufactured Home Park Cooperative
Jim

Using a cooperative ownership model, this project will prevent the dislocation of low income residents from a manufactured home park that was slated for development.

Plans are progressing. Residents (n=51) and orgainzers are working with Deschutes County and the City of Redmond to work out a plan with the Redmond Humane Society.

LEADERSHIP

Project

Update

211                                                              Jim

Establish phone and web based information and referral (housing, health care, emergency services, food, shelter, counseling, etc.) for low income families in our region.

Oregon Community Foundation awarded $25,000 for the launch of 2-1-1 contingent upon report. Soft roll out January 2009 and hard roll out February 11, 2009. A multi-agency team developing the marketing plan.

Project Homeless Connect                                            Cindy

Patterned after successful projects around the country, a project culminating in an event in the fall (at the fairgrounds) for organizations and the community to deliver services to low-income families at one time.Financial, employment, medical and dental care, housing assistance and referral, employment opportunities, IDA and asset building, plus much more.



1838 guests attended the Project

400 guests received medical care, with an estimated savings to local emergency rooms of over $11, 000. The free dental provided had a value of $10,478. Two hundred and forty five immunizations were given with a value of $8, 328. Guests received free prescriptions worth $1,254 dollars.

152 haircuts were given, 80 hot showers taken, 31 people registered to vote, and 60 animals were immunized.

52 people had credit pulls along with credit counseling. Over 60 families were given access to housing assistance.

We received the “Glass Slipper” Award from the Source for the Project, as well as very good press throughout the region.

The date for the next PHC will be Saturday, September 19, 2009

Communication Plan
Jim/Sarah
Power Point presentation for service clubs/community organizations

Closing the Gap Film Series
Sarah
Opening up community dialog about poverty

Wendy Presented to the Bend Sorptomist Club in October

Two screenings of first film in November. Two more the first week of December in Madras and Prineville

65 people attended the first screening in Bend

80 people attended the COCC screening

100% found the film interesting (4 or 5 on 5-point scale)

93% said they would recommend the series to others ((4 or 5 on 5-point scale)

95% said they would attend the next film in the series (4 or 5 on 5-point scale)

91% said the venue was appropriate (4 or 5 on 5-point scale)

Fund Development                                       Karen

Works with Partnership Staff to apply for grants and partnerships that support program financial sustainability and financial leverage.

NWAF Reports                                             Karen

Gathers data from Partnership staff and develops first drafts for review for many required reports

Evaluation                                                    Karen



Meyer Memorial Trust has invited the Partnership to submit a full proposal for the Navigators for Warm Springs and Madras. Wendy and Karen met with Barbara Gibbs, Senior Program Officer, in Portland on October 21st and answered detailed questions about the proposal. Meyer representatives will be paying a visit to the Partnership in November.

Cynthia Addams, VP of Collins Foundation, is considering our initial inquiry for a Navigator in La Pine.

Staff met with Meyer Memorial Trust, Collins foundation, Oregon Community Foundation and the Murdock Charitable Trust on November 20th and 21st. Our purpose was to distinguish who we are now, our accomplishments and our initiatives since our restructuring. The staff learned about the intersection of the foundation strategies and our own.

Our partner in 211, the United Way of Deschutes county received notification from Oregon Community Foundation about the award of $25,000 to launch 211. Additional news at the board meeting on Nov. 19th.

Staff is researching with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council for grants to promote the Business/School Alliance.

Staff is researching a model for the Al Jubitz Foundation. Al Jubitz is a philanthropist with whom we are conversing about a major grant. We are still waiting to hear from the Jubitz Family Foundation about the Youth Individual Development Account Proposal.

Fundraising trends in the current economy:
The Partnership has received letters from several funders notifying us of some changes due to the economic downturn. For example: Samuel Johnson Foundation is taking a fiscally conservative position and will be working with existing grantees only, and not taking on any new projects. More trends from reliable sources such as the Foundation Center say that Foundation giving priorities will remain consistent during the economic slowdown, that corporate giving is expected to remain flat and that philanthropists are increasingly focused on policy advocacy. Non-profit leaders are speculating the role of non-profit sector for advocacy in the Obama Administration.

Karla Miller of the NWAF told us that a sustainability plan is not due at this time.

Annie Armstrong, our Evaluator, will be visiting in early December to continue assessment of organizational outcomes.

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ECONOMIC ENGINES
WORKFORCE
Project	Update
Work/Life Academy Wendy Partnership of COCC, COIC, the Partnership, ESD, Latino Community Association, Employment Dept, and Employers to raise English Literacy and prepare people to pass the GED exam and go on to family economic sustainability.(n=30,000 in the region) Navigator program coaches participants to family wage jobs and career pathways. Business/ School Alliance Wendy Increases workforce pipeline to include secondary school students in partnership with businesses.Focusing on manufacturing and health occupations.Navigator program coaches students to jobs and careers upon graduation.	GED & ELL in all major communities in the region, including Warm Springs. Plaza Communitaria now in Redmond and Bend schools. Navigator in place for Bend/Redmond with 22 active clients Karen and I are working on an application to Meyer Memorial Trust for Navigators for Madras and Warm Springs (3 year funding), after a successful meeting with them in Portland. Brought in consultant from Portland Community College to work with COCC and Latino Community Association regarding Latino Business Advisor for Navigator Clients who want to start their own small business. Steering Committee formed, including Crook County: Chamber of Commerce, EDCO, Prineville City Councilor, high Desert ESD Vocational Training Coordinator, Region X Workforce Investment Board Staff, and the Partnership. Case Statement formulated. Next Step: Obtain funding for coordinator for Crook County as a demonstration project.
Opportunity Cars for Work Wendy Car purchase program for working low-income people, including assistance in obtaining loans, financial education and discounted car repair.	Completed Pilot Program. 27 cars sold; 17 cars repaired. Discussing transition to a nonprofit that can include case management (met with Lutheran Community Services and Neighbor Impact). Agreed to continue discussions in January.
Regional Transportation Wendy COIC led program using call center to provide shuttle service from home to work; Partnership investing in DHS riders.	17,313 rides provided to low-income riders 23% or 4,012 rides were to and from work: Cost of each ride to PEP was $4.11 All of these rides plus all ridership will leverage to ODOT funding next year.
Culinary Technician Certificate Training Wendy Partnership with COCC, School Districts and Voc. Rehab. to provide training for developmentally disabled young adults to move them to work and greater independence.	6 students currently enrolled. First Quarter: Basic Safety, Basic Hygiene, Dining Room Preparation, Hosting, Bussing & Serving If PEP Board members have contact with Restaurants, Convention Centers, Hospital Food Service, etc, who may want to send someone into the classroom for this program to discuss these operations, the coordinator would love to have contact information
Warm Springs Digital Inclusion Wendy One Economy in partnership with Tribal Leadership, Partnership and Warm Springs Community Action Team re: computers for tribal youth that lead to learning, & asset building. Eagle Tech receives technical assistance for connectivity, and then Education and Workforce Development would lead future applications.Focus on youth.	10 Warm Springs young people graduated from summer program. Created an Asset Map for tribe, and a Community Digital Blueprint. Coordinated by Tribal Council and One economy with help from am Americorps coordinator and an OMEN Vista volunteer. Special section on the Beehive for tribal members. Computer purchase program sponsored by One Economy.One Economy consulting to Eagle Tech and Ventures. Program completed.
FINANCIAL ASSETS
Project	Update
EITC Sarah Earned Income Tax Credit for low income families.	Dates being set. 21 dates set thus far. Communication opened with Bend- La Pine Schools 15 volunteers signed up thus far Safeway will begin counseling all new employees about the Advanced EITC
IDA Sarah Individual Development Accounts for low income people: housing, education, on-the-job training, continued education, mobility devices, specialized computers and workforce certification.	Presented to COCC ABE instructors Officially accepted into VIDA collaborative Beginning list of interested participants Beginning partnership with Heart of Oregon Financial Education calendar & curriculum created with Neighbor Impact & Housing Works
Rural Business Services- Wendy Support for rural micro enterprise and cooperative business models Made at the Kitchen Table and Cooperative Small Business support for low income people. Funded by Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and USDA Rural Development Community Program grants	The final report was submitted to Rural Development, USDA (RCDI Grant). Staff will make a report to the Board in December.
Warm Springs Karen Partnership investment in the Warm Springs Community Action Team to create:1) Community Development Financial Institution & Small Business Development Revolving Loan Fund; 2) Individual Development Account (IDA) Program for adults and youth; 3) Earned Income Tax Credit and tax aide; 4) adoption of a Uniform Commercial Code for the Tribe.	Lonnie James processed 5 IDA applications and continues to recruit participants. Financial education classes in conjunction with the IDA Program begin next week. Lonnie is developing the Warm Springs Economic Summit with the intent to foster an alignment of tribal policy, operations and enterprises with a focus on a more supportive environment for small business growth and economic development. Lonnie attended IRS training in Portland, and Oregon Microenterprise Network's Summit on Entrepreneurship, and presented Warm Springs potential to Oregon Community Foundation Regional Initiative Forum.
HEALTH CARE
Project	Update
Health Services for Underserved Wendy Following Partnership investments and outcomes in:Ochoco Health Systems, Volunteers in Medicine.	Facilitated Annual Board/Senior Staff Retreat for Mosaic Medical; set priorities for next two years.
Health Matters of Central Oregon Wendy Health Collaborative dedicated to finding solutions for unmet health needs of low income families:affordable health insurance for working people; coordinated care for children with special needs; workplace health promotion; chronic disease management.	Attended Community Health Collaboratives for Change Conference in Portland on 11/13/08. Represented Health Matters as member of the Board. Presentations from board chair, Mike Bonetto, Exec. Dir. Alisha Hopper, and Exec. Comm. Member Chris Telfer were well received. Business models for Three Share Insurance product are already in existence and have been proven to be sustainable.
HOUSING
Project	Update
Ten Year Strategy to End Homelessness Cindy A Regional strategic plan (the first of its kind in this region) to put an end to homelessness.A partnership of governmental, social service and private partners.	Ben Westlund, Tammy Baney, Alan Unger, Bruce Abernathy, Chris Telfer, and other public servants gathered at the opening ceremonies of Project Homeless Connect to publicly lend their support to the beginning process of the 10 Year Strategy Crook County endorsed the implementation of the 10 Year Strategy, we are waiting for Jefferson The State Council on Ending Homelessness is working on medical liability limitations for volunteers as well as release of armories and granges for Projects to operate in should it be necessary. This is important for the eastern side of Oregon.
Manufactured Home Park Cooperative Jim Using a cooperative ownership model, this project will prevent the dislocation of low income residents from a manufactured home park that was slated for development.	Plans are progressing. Residents (n=51) and orgainzers are working with Deschutes County and the City of Redmond to work out a plan with the Redmond Humane Society.
LEADERSHIP
Project	Update
211 Jim Establish phone and web based information and referral (housing, health care, emergency services, food, shelter, counseling, etc.) for low income families in our region.	Oregon Community Foundation awarded $25,000 for the launch of 2-1-1 contingent upon report. Soft roll out January 2009 and hard roll out February 11, 2009. A multi-agency team developing the marketing plan.
Project Homeless Connect Cindy Patterned after successful projects around the country, a project culminating in an event in the fall (at the fairgrounds) for organizations and the community to deliver services to low-income families at one time.Financial, employment, medical and dental care, housing assistance and referral, employment opportunities, IDA and asset building, plus much more.	1838 guests attended the Project 400 guests received medical care, with an estimated savings to local emergency rooms of over $11, 000. The free dental provided had a value of $10,478. Two hundred and forty five immunizations were given with a value of $8, 328. Guests received free prescriptions worth $1,254 dollars. 152 haircuts were given, 80 hot showers taken, 31 people registered to vote, and 60 animals were immunized. 52 people had credit pulls along with credit counseling. Over 60 families were given access to housing assistance. We received the “Glass Slipper” Award from the Source for the Project, as well as very good press throughout the region. The date for the next PHC will be Saturday, September 19, 2009
Communication Plan Jim/Sarah Power Point presentation for service clubs/community organizations Closing the Gap Film Series Sarah Opening up community dialog about poverty	Wendy Presented to the Bend Sorptomist Club in October Two screenings of first film in November. Two more the first week of December in Madras and Prineville 65 people attended the first screening in Bend 80 people attended the COCC screening 100% found the film interesting (4 or 5 on 5-point scale) 93% said they would recommend the series to others ((4 or 5 on 5-point scale) 95% said they would attend the next film in the series (4 or 5 on 5-point scale) 91% said the venue was appropriate (4 or 5 on 5-point scale)
Fund Development Karen Works with Partnership Staff to apply for grants and partnerships that support program financial sustainability and financial leverage. NWAF Reports Karen Gathers data from Partnership staff and develops first drafts for review for many required reports Evaluation Karen	Meyer Memorial Trust has invited the Partnership to submit a full proposal for the Navigators for Warm Springs and Madras. Wendy and Karen met with Barbara Gibbs, Senior Program Officer, in Portland on October 21st and answered detailed questions about the proposal. Meyer representatives will be paying a visit to the Partnership in November. Cynthia Addams, VP of Collins Foundation, is considering our initial inquiry for a Navigator in La Pine. Staff met with Meyer Memorial Trust, Collins foundation, Oregon Community Foundation and the Murdock Charitable Trust on November 20th and 21st. Our purpose was to distinguish who we are now, our accomplishments and our initiatives since our restructuring. The staff learned about the intersection of the foundation strategies and our own. Our partner in 211, the United Way of Deschutes county received notification from Oregon Community Foundation about the award of $25,000 to launch 211. Additional news at the board meeting on Nov. 19th. Staff is researching with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council for grants to promote the Business/School Alliance. Staff is researching a model for the Al Jubitz Foundation. Al Jubitz is a philanthropist with whom we are conversing about a major grant. We are still waiting to hear from the Jubitz Family Foundation about the Youth Individual Development Account Proposal. Fundraising trends in the current economy: The Partnership has received letters from several funders notifying us of some changes due to the economic downturn. For example: Samuel Johnson Foundation is taking a fiscally conservative position and will be working with existing grantees only, and not taking on any new projects. More trends from reliable sources such as the Foundation Center say that Foundation giving priorities will remain consistent during the economic slowdown, that corporate giving is expected to remain flat and that philanthropists are increasingly focused on policy advocacy. Non-profit leaders are speculating the role of non-profit sector for advocacy in the Obama Administration. Karla Miller of the NWAF told us that a sustainability plan is not due at this time. Annie Armstrong, our Evaluator, will be visiting in early December to continue assessment of organizational outcomes.