6.2: Building Employment Capacity for Homeless Families Presentation by Marianne Pelletier.

1. It Takes a Village Strategies to assist families move toward economic self-sufficiency Marianne Pelletier, Director of Workforce Development Massachusetts Community Colleges Executive Office 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1310 Boston, MA 02114 617-542-2911

2. Brief History of MA Community College’s Work with Disadvantaged Populations Department of Transitional Assistance Grant – 15th year Pilot Program for residents of shelters 2008 COMPASS Community College Collaborative 2008 Heading Home, Inc. 2009 Dept. of Housing & Community Development 2009

3. Outline of CCCC Individualized Incentives Structured Participant - active Staff – supportive & positive, not judgmental or negative Ultimate goal – economic self sufficiency Time line - unique

4. Issues/Barriers to Employment & How We Address These Lack of education Lack of training Lack of role models Childcare Transportation Health Problem Solving

5. Readying for Employment Trainings – site differences Job Readiness – interviewing, appropriate dress, resumes, cover letters, thank you letters, job search etc. Internships/Mentoring Follow-up

6. Partnerships Community Outreach Funders Strategy to Create Partnerships Staff Bartering Sustaining these relationships

7. What have we learned? Success rate: over 70% long term employment Follow-up/case management necessary Encourage – don’t enable Differences within our State: regions, common issues, ways of addressing differences Replication