City of Lincoln approves $30,000 for CAPCIL work readiness program

[July 19, 2017]  LINCOLN -  At the Monday evening meeting of the Lincoln City Council, aldermen approved investing $30,000 in a program offered through the Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois. The “Strengthening Working Families Initiative” (SWFI) has been on the council radar since last year, when CAPCIL representatives presented the cash request to both the city of Lincoln and the Logan County Board.

The Logan County Board voted in 2016 to support the program with $30,000 for its first year of operation. The city of Lincoln, chose to put the topic on hold for a number of reasons, most significantly because the request came at the wrong time for budgeting, and the city did not have available funds to designate to the CAPCIL program.

While the topic was set aside at that time, it returned to the council during the budget planning process for the fiscal year 2017-18. Alderman Tracy Welch asked that the city include a provision for supporting the program tagged by CAPCIL as “Jobs for Life.” Having the item placed in the new budget did not mean the program was automatically approved, but that there would be funding available if the city chose to call the item back up for vote.

At the June 27th Committee of the Whole, Katie Alexander and Shawn McIntosh from CAPCIL addressed the city, once again asking for financial support of the program.

Earlier concerns voiced by aldermen had included a shortage of proof that the program works. Labeled by CAPCIL as a ‘pilot’ for Logan County only, the council wanted to know how the program is benefiting the recipients. On the 27th, Alexander offered the council an overview of the success of the program to date, and offered McIntosh as a program participant who has improved his professional life as a result of the program.

Alexander said that Jobs for Life is an eight week training program. The program teaches resume writing, developing interview skills, and “overall good work ethic.” The program also offers financial literacy and debt management classes. Alexander said the students participated in the Financial Peace University program, housing counseling, and importance of establishing good credit.

Alexander noted that for years Community Action on the whole had been recognized as an extension of welfare, offering food and utility payments, but doing little to nothing to move clients away from welfare and into the workforce. She said that the goal is to move away from that practice, and offer clients opportunities to better their financial position through employment.

The Jobs for Life program also offers educational advancement by providing scholarships. “We are able to underwrite GED, undergraduate, and technical certifications which help them get to a living wage.”

After graduation CAPCIL offers a minimum of one-year of case management services to keep informed on the progress of the recipient, and offer assistance as needed in obtaining jobs or gaining admission into secondary education.

Alexander also announced that CAPCIL is partnering with Heartland Community College, and the college is looking to give accreditation to the SWFI programs.

Alexander reminded the council that in 2016, CAPCIL had sought $60,000 for the program; $30,000 from the county and $30,000 from the city. The county approved its request in 2016.

With that funding that was awarded in January of 2017, Alexander reported that 20 families had been served through the SWFI. Four families are in a GED program, five are on a GED waiting list. Three participants are enrolled in a trade school and one has completed a trade school program. Four are enrolled in a post-secondary education program, nine have obtained employment and two have increased their employment.

Alexander moved on to introduce McIntosh. She explained that he was a graduate of the Jobs for Life program who had been hired by Community Action after his graduation. He now works at the Lincoln office as an Intake Coordinator.

McIntosh began by explaining his history. In 2012 he was a student at Lincoln College. The death of his father changed his financial position, and he had to drop out of college. He found work, making just pennies over minimum wage at a retail business in Lincoln, so he could help his mother.

McIntosh enrolled in the SWFI and Jobs for Life and enrolled in the Financial Peace program where he soon began making financial progress. He learned skills through the program that he said made his life better.

McIntosh said in addition to the formal training, one asset of the program is what he called the “power of peers.” He said that in his classmates he saw people who were in far worse circumstances than his own, and they were progressing. He noted the value of the services wrapped inside the program such as child care and transportation to classes, as well as on-site meals while at class. All these things he said enabled students to perform well with less pressure, because they had the baby-sitter or the ride or even the balanced meal.

McIntosh wrapped up saying that he would like to see the aldermen attend a Jobs for Life graduation and hear the success stories of the students.

Alexander added that McIntosh is now a class “champion” where that he offers support to the students in the classroom.

On the 27th, Alderman Ron Keller asked if there was a lot of need in the community, and was there a student selection process? Alexander said that the students are clients who are enrolled in the Energy Assistance or have children in the Head Start programs.

She said the first step was in the intake process, where they talk with clients about participation in the SWFI programs. She explained that the CAPCIL “Hands Up” program is funded through a Community Services Block Grant, which is federally funded. However in that grant, employees have to be at or under 125-percent of the poverty level. Jobs for Life fills in the gap between those who are income eligible, and those who need but cannot afford this type of help.

Keller asked about follow up with the student/client. Alexander explained that there is what is called a “self-sufficiency matrix” that is used to measure the progress of the program. However, this is a young program, so long-term outcome data is not yet available.

Alderman Steve Parrott said that he was in complete support of the program, and he sees this as a move in the right direction, not just putting a band-aid on the problem, but offering a solution.

Welch commented that he was a big supporter of the program and would support the city being involved.

Aldermen Rick Hoefle said that his primary concern was to be certain there was accountability from CAPCIL. He noted that he wanted to be able to show the taxpayers how the city is using their money.

This week, the motion to grant $30,000 to the SWFI and Jobs for Life program was the only significant action item on the agenda. The motion was made by Welch, and for a moment it appeared there would be no second, then Keller offered the second on the motion.

Keller commented then that he had spent additional time with CAPCIL and McIntosh after the meeting of the 27th and he had heard some amazing success stories. He said that he felt the program was very successful.

Alderwoman Michelle Bauer voiced some hesitation, saying that she had questioned a year ago what the city’s role should be in supporting this program. She said that Alexander and McIntosh had done a nice job of talking about the program. She noted, “I do hesitate in earmarking funds without seeing it have a broader potential fiscal impact moving forward. But I want to give them the opportunity to continue this program. If we can participate in that initially and make that happen it is something we should consider.”

Hoefle said he agreed with Bauer, but he also wanted to see an accounting of each person. “I would like to see an accounting for each and every person, so that we know, so that we can look at our citizens and say, ‘this is what they are doing, and this is how they are doing it. And all the money that we give them is spent solely on this program.’”

Aldermen Heidi Brown, noting that she was new to this topic, said she wanted to know where the money will be spent. Will the city’s $30,000 benefit Lincoln residents only?

Bauer said the money would benefit Logan County residents only, but that the county was contributing $30,000 as well. She went on to explain that the Jobs for Life is still considered a pilot program and if successful it may be spread to other counties in the CAPCIL service area, but this $30,000 will stay in Logan County.

The last person to comment before the vote was Keller, who noted that the success of the program will increase the odds of CAPCIL being awarded other grants for future funding.

The vote was taken with seven aldermen present: Bauer, Browne, Hoefle, Jeff Hoinacki, Kathy Horn, Keller, and Welch all voted ‘yes’ with Steve Parrott being absent for the evening.

[Nila Smith]