LA CROSSE COUNTY W-2 COMMUNITY STEERING COMMITTEE

 

Thursday, August 30, 2007

La Crosse County Human Services

7:45 a.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Paula Egge, Jackie Helgeson, Marcia Jagodzinske, Beverly Mach, Tom Miller, Mary Ellen Prinsen, Ed Ryan, Vicki Truscott, Ying Vang, Jodi Widuch  

 

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Lisa Hahn 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Tina Heyer, Richard Sage, Peter Thao             

 

OTHERS PRESENT:   Lorie Mueller, Diane Parduhn                            

 

CALL TO ORDER

Vicki Truscott, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:50 a.m.

 

Tom Miller asked about changing the day of the week that the W-2  Steering Committee meets.  It was decided that the meeting day will be changed to Tuesday starting with the next meeting.  The November meeting will be Tuesday, November 27, 2007, at La Crosse County Human Services, Administrative Conference Room. 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of May 31, 2007.  MOTION passed.

 

PUBLIC INPUT

None

 

INTRODUCTIONS

Tom Miller updated the committee regarding the W-2 Steering Committee’s membership.

 

Paula Steadman took a new position and resigned from the committee.  Vicki Truscott will replace Paula as Chairperson.  Paula Egge, Goodwill, will replace Paula Steadman.  

 

Judith Erickson retired.  Jackie Helgeson, WTC, will replace Judith.

 

Mary Lansing from Legal Aid of Wisconsin is no longer on the committee. 

We need 15 people on the committee.  If anyone would like to suggest someone for the committee, please contact Tom Miller.  It was suggested that someone from the grocery business or Kwik Trip be invited to be on the committee.  Tom will send a letter to their Human Resource Departments to inquire about their interest.

 

SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT

Tom Miller passed a letter around for the committee to review.  The letter was sent to Wisconsin Representatives regarding the cuts in funding for child care assistance.  This sub-committee was formed in response to Bev Mach’s email from the League of Women Voters.  In regard to this, Lorie Mueller stated the State took W-2 funds from several counties in 2007 for under spending to bridge the gap.  La Crosse County is not hurting this budget year; however, some counties that were cut are not happy.  Dane County and others are pursuing this further.  

 

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

Vicki Truscott asked about the current role and mission of the committee.

 

Diane Parduhn stated that the committee determines the direction and mission.  Diane cited examples to help W-2 participants such as mock interviews, application/resume reviews with participants to build skills, and an assessment tool to determine the participant needs.  Other suggestions from committee members were mentoring programs and finding more employers willing to accept W-2 and FSET participants.  Also mentioned was providing support to employers. 

 

Diane Parduhn talked about the new federal requirements focusing on participation rate and finding things they can do to participate in the program. 

 

Question asked about acronyms being used:

FEP – Financial Employment Planner.

FSET – FoodShare Employment and Training Program

 

More discussion is needed regarding the committee’s direction.  This will be added to the November agenda.

 

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK REPORT

Ed Ryan distributed five handouts showing local employment and unemployment trends.  La Crosse County has the 8^th lowest unemployment rate in the State.  The metropolitan statistical area (including La Crosse County, WI and Houston County, MN) unemployment rate is 4% for July.  The number of jobs located in the La Crosse metropolitan area exceeds the number of employed La Crosse metropolitan area residents by more than 2,400.  This indicates that a significant number of non-resident employees commute to the La Crosse metropolitan area for employment.

       

CURRENT W-2 CASELOAD DATA

Tom reported 21 to 25 on the W-2 caseload.  Caseload is steady.  It will be interesting to see what effect the new job search CSJ (Community Service Jobs) has on the caseload.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

None.

 

AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING

Current Role and Mission of W-2 Steering Committee.

Child Care Resources for La Crosse County/State – Jodi Widuch 

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 a.m.

 

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 7:45 a.m. at La Crosse County Human Services, Administrative Conference Room.

 

The above minutes may be approved, amended, or corrected at the next Committee meeting.

 

Nancy Gardner, Recorder