Working Together: A Collaborative Approach to

Employment Success

Shelly Ralyea, Heritage CentersJim Scutt, People Inc

Lani Churley, Southeast Works

Partnerships between Agencies, Alliances and Consortiums

• Shelly is co-chair of the Western New York Employment Consortium as well as Associate Director of Community Employment at Heritage Centers

• Jim is co-chair of the DDAWNY Transition committee as well Director of Vocational Services for People Inc

• Lani is co-chair of the Employment and Meaningful Activity committee of DDAWNY as well as Director of Community Services at Southeast Works.

Western New York Employment Consortium“Partners in Employment”

History: Established in 1989

Membership: Our membership consists of approximately 23 members including WNY non-profit agencies, as well as, state VR representatives and the county Office for the Disabled. (See attached Membership dues form)

Sponsored events:Yearly sponsor and coordinate the National Disabilities Employer Awareness Month (NDEAM) event.Underwrite trainings identified by the members: MH 1st aid certification offered at ½ cost to members.

Monthly Meetings:See attached example attached

2015 Membership Dues January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015 Yes, I intend to continue/begin involvement and participation in the Western New Your Employment Consortium. Date: ___________________________ Name:_____________________________________________________ Title:_______________________________________________________ Agency:____________________________________________________ Address:___________________________________________________ City:_____________________________________Zip:_______________ Telephone:_______________________________Extension:__________ Email:__________________________________Fax:_________________ Amount Enclosed: $_____________ New Member (Y) (N) (Circle One) Make Checks in the amount of $40.00 per member to:WNY EMPLOYMENT CONSORTIUMMail Checks to: WNY Employment Consortium

C/O Heritage CentersATTN: Shelly Ralyea 101 Oak StreetBuffalo, NY 14203

Western New York Employment Consortium“Partners in Employment”

Western New York Employment Consortium“Partners in Employment”

AGENDADate Friday, April 10, 2015

Welcome- Shelly Ralyea

Introductions-

Review of Feb meeting

Presentation-

Networking

Hard to Place-

Job leads-

Training Opportunities-

PR/Special Events-

7.) Treasurer’s Report-

8.) Grant Opportunities

9.) Old Business/New Business

Next Meeting:

Friday, May 8, 2015 •

Western New York Employment Consortium“Partners in Employment”

WNYEC- March 13, 2015 Present: Pam Blake, Bryan Devans, Ramona Estrada, Fran Gullo, Donna Haefner, Charles Lloyd, Dennis Martinez, Mark McHale, Tin Polito, Shelly Ralyea, Petra Saunders, Paula Wachowiak, Terry Eisenman, Hannah Mattazzo, Tomika Hunter, Sean Lindstrom, Robin Thuman Welcome & Introductions-- Shelly Ralyea February Meeting - Meeting was cancelled in January due to weather and there were no minutes from February Joint Meeting with DDAWNY.Shelly gave a brief overview of the joint meeting. She said that the meeting focused heavily on OPWDD issues revolving around Medicaid Waiver funding. Presentation- No presentation this month. Next Month: Moog- Director of Veterans Diversity. Future presentation topics include the NYSDOL employer tax credits (WOTC, WETC) and Home Depot. More information to follow. Extremely Difficult to PlacePetra presented a case of a hearing impaired individual who was ordered by the courts to become employed. The consumer is interested in animals and has no felonies. Suggestions were made about doggie day care centers and stores such as PetSmart.Paula said that she is working with an individual who has Asperger’s , he has an AAS degree, is good with numbers and drives, but difficulty with social skills, Inventory work or mail room were suggested as a possible areas to explore. Job Leads WNY ILC is looking for a van driver for the WNY area, must have time flexibility, 7a to 12midnight availability 3 days on, 4 days off. Must have a CDL License with passenger endorsement, job posted on WNYILC web site.Old Country Buffet is also hiring. Darien Lake is hiring for seasonal workers.Training Opportunities Shelly PR/Special Events – DD Day is May 28th at the Niagara Falls Conference Center http://www.ddday.org/ . Discussion ensued about the Consortium buying a table and the opportunity to develop new brochures. The current model is about ten years old. Shelly put

Western New York Employment Consortium“Partners in Employment”

out the word for volunteers for a brochure committee. If you are interested please let Shelly know.Training Opportunities- Shelly said that the APSE is offering two opportunities to take the exam for the national credential http://www.apse.org/certified-employment-support-professional/ Treasure’s Report/Membership – Treasury had $7487.97 as of January 7, 2015. Tina also reminded everyone the renewal of membership dues is due now. If you are new and want to join up , now is the time to do it. For more information contact Tina at tpolito@people-inc.org Old Business/ New Business- Shelly announced that we are looking for nominations for the vacant Co-Chair position. Responsibilities of this position include preparing meeting agenda, facilitating monthly meetings taking turns with other co-chair, scheduling presenters, participating in NDEAM event in October. Time requirements are fairly minimum. NDEAM event probably requires the most time commitment. If anyone is interested in nominating another or volunteering themselves, please contact Shelly or Tina. Similarly, if you are interested in the recording secretary position, you may proceed in the same manner. Remaining meetings for 2015 . All are on the second Friday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Galleria Community Room, unless otherwise noted.4/10/15; 5/8/15; 6/12/15; 7/10/15; 8/14/15; 9/11/15; 10/9/15; 11/13/15; 12/11/15

Western New York Employment Consortium“Partners in Employment”

2015WNY Employment Consortium Committee Schedule

Location: Galleria MallCommunity Room

9am-11am

1/9/152/13/15 *Joint Meeting with DAWNY Adult Day & Transition/ People Inc. Location to be announced

3/13/154/10/15

5/8/15- EMPLOYER PRESENTATIONS MOOG & HOMEDEPOT6/12/15- TAX INCENTIVES W/ GREG CARROL, DOL

7/10/158/14/159/11/15October

National Disability Employer Awareness Month10/9/15

11/13/1512/11/15

All meetings are held at the Walden Galleria’s Community Room @ 9am unless otherwise noted.

DDAWNYDevelopmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York

MissionThe Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western

New York is a collaborative group of member voluntary agencies that provide services to people with developmental disabilities. While honoring individual agency missions, it is the intent of the

Alliance to assist agencies to develop relationships, promote unified strategies and share risks for the

mutual gain with and for the benefit of people with developmental disabilities.

DDAWNYDevelopmental Disabilities Alliance of

Western New York Committees

(each committee has multiple subcommiitees)

Adult ServicesAdministration

Workforce DevelopmentChildren’s Services

Public RelationsGovernment Affairs

Family