The Able Trust - Grants Committee Meeting May 2023

GRANT Committee Meeting Agenda – May 17, 2023 – 10:00AM – 11:00AM

Virtual Meeting

Zoom Link

Meeting Call-In Number: 929 205 6099 US, Meeting ID: 876 2073 3477 Passcode: 765283

Directors are reminded that all Able Trust Board and Committee meeting are open and publicly noticed. Under Florida Sunshine Law, any meeting of 2 or more Able Trust Directors must be publicly noticed. Directors are prohibited from discussing Able Trust business outside of official meetings of the organization.

Directors are reminded of conflict of interest provisions. In declaring a conflict, please refrain from voting or discussion and declare the following information: 1) Your name and position on the Board, 2) The nature of the conflict, and 3) Who will gain or lose as a result of the conflict.

I. Call to Order and Roll Call

II. Grant Committee Consent Agenda - Action

a. Meeting Agenda

b. February Committee Minutes

III. Grant Committee Regular Business

a. FY23 HSHT Grants Review – Action

• HSHT Staff Recommendations

• HSHT Overview

• FY23 HSHT Quality Program Recognition

b. Collective Impact Grant - Action

c. USF Student Camp Experience

d. HSHT Site Expansion FY24, 25, 26

IV. Unfinished Business New Business Matters from the Board Matter from the President/CEO Matters from our Partners Public Comment

Next Grant Committee Meeting: August 15, 2023 10:00-11:00 AM Adjourn

Document

Mavara Agrawal, Committee Chair

Mavara Agrawal, Committee Chair

Mavara Agrawal, Committee Chair

Joey D’Souza, VP

Mavara Agrawal, Committee Chair

Please Note: Agenda subject to revisions and additions per the discretion of the Chair of the Board of Directors. Notification will be sent of any such revisions or changes.

Members of the Public: Please notify Arnaldo Ramos at Arnaldo@abletrust.org if you wish to make public comment on particular agenda items no later than 1-hour prior to beginning of the meeting.

Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation, dba The Able Trust DRAFT Grant Committee Meeting Minutes

Grant Committee Meeting – February 14, 2023 9:00am Virtual Meeting

Members in Attendance

Mavara Agrawal, Brent McNeal, Lori Fahey, Alexis Doyle

Members Absent None

Staff in Attendance Allison Chase, Joey D’Souza, Arnaldo Ramos

Item Action/Discussion

Call to Order and Roll Call Chair Agrawal called committee to order at 9:05 am

Approval of Agenda

Upon motion by Director Doyle seconded by Director McNeal the agenda was unanimously approved for the meeting with one item added to NEW BUSINESS, Able Network Impact Project.

Upon motion by Director Doyle seconded by Director McNeal the agenda was unanimously approved for the meeting as presented Grant Committee Regular Business

Approval of Minutes

a. Review of OIG Audit

b. Review of prior Able Trust grant program (FYs 20, 21, 22)

a. Staff member D’Souza and Chase provided the Directors an update to the audit conducted by of Inspector General of Florida Department of Education. The audit had one finding, related to grants issued by The Able Trust.

The Able Trust Board of Directors did not provide effective annual evaluations of funded programs pursuant to statutory requirements.

D’Souza explained, while the Board has in the past reviewed all grants issued by The Able Trust, the process was not codified anywhere. Staff has proposed a grant review process for the committee to review, amend and vote on during the New Business portion of the meeting, Directors McNeal and Fahey commented on the positivity of the audit only having one finding, and while serious, did not demonstrate incompetence or malice on part of the staff.

b. D'Souza provided an overview of the types of grants and their outcomes during fiscal years 20, 21 and 22. He then outlined the direction of potential new grant making for the organization that is aligned with their role as a Direct Support Organization to DVR, and one that supports the work done by the organization and complements it activities. FYI

UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was none. NEW BUSINESS

a. Approval of Grant Review Process Action

b. Approval of Collective Impact, Impact ProjectAction

a. D’Souza referenced the draft Grant Review Process in the meeting materials. He gave an overview of the process and outlined how the Grant Committee and Board will take part in reviewing grants issues by The Able Trust.

Director Fahey asked about “site visits” of grant recipients to ensure compliance. Director McNeal commented site visits are important and effective.

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MATTERS FROM THE BOARD

MATTERS FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEO

MATTERS FROM OUR PARTNERS

PUBLIC COMMENT

NEXT MEETING DATE

ADJOURN

Director McNeal made a motion to vote on the process with the inclusion of a site visit for ensuring grant compliance. Director Fahey seconded All voted yay.

b. Staff D’Souza referenced the draft Collective Impact Grant RFP in the meeting materials. He then provided an overview of the VR system for a person with a disability to move into employment, and how the intent of the grant is to adjust the system to become more employer reactive leading to an increase in employment placements for people with disabilities. The intent of the grant is to encourage collaboration among employment service providers and increase their capacity through training. The proposal is for two grant opportunities for a combined value of $70,000 or $35,000 per grant. Staff is recommending RFPs be issued in Duval and Hillsborough counties for the grants.

Director Doyle made the motion. Director Fahey seconded. All voted yay.

There was no discussion.

There was no discussion.

There was no discussion.

There was no comment.

May, 2023, 9:00a.m.-10:00a.m.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:27am Director McNeal made the motion and Director Fahey seconded.

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Mavara Agrawal, Committee Chair

High School High Tech (HSHT) Grants FY23

• The Able Trust had 43 active HSHT grants in FY23. Two of the grants Pinellas LiFT, HSHT 23-43 and Suwannee County, HSHT 43-34 were executed mid-year.

• Each year The Able Trust enters into an MOA annually with a local partner that executes HSHT. The MOA outlines the contract deliverables that must be met to ensure contractual obligation.

• There are two options by staff for HSHT programs: Renewal; Do Not Renew. If a site is not recommended for renewal, a reason is listed.

• There are five possible notes to accompany the staff recommendation on continuation of the HSHT contract for FY24. These notes are: Met contract obligations; Did not meet contract obligation; New site, Hurricane Ian affected; Anticipated Quality Program.

o If a site did not meet contract obligations, the obligation it not met is listed.

o Quality Program is a recognition that HSHT programs can receive for meeting listed criteria. Sites earning the recognition meet and exceed the contractual obligations.

o Sites affected by Hurricane Ian were provided flexibility with contract obligations and expected outcomes.

Non-HSHT Grants

• The Able Trust did not have any other grants in FY23

High School High Tech Staff Recommendations

High School High Tech Programs

HSHT Schools/Total Schools

*excludes virtual and DJJ

2022-2023 School Year

Students with Disabilities (HSHT served counties)

County

**District total does not include all charters

Total Student with Disability Population: 93,470 (FLDOE)

By Grade: 9th-26,319, 10th-22,610, 11th-21,418, 12th-23,043

Total HSHT population: 1112*

*Suwannee HSHT has yet to enroll students; contract executed Qtr 3.

1(private school)/40 Escambia 1 (DJJ facility)/12 Flagler 1(Transition program)/2 Foster Care Does not apply

Students served through Pre-ETS by FL DVR: 10,000 (2021-2022 year, per VR/FRC Annual Report)

FY23 Quality Program Recognition Criteria

To earn the Quality Program Recognition for 2023, programs must complete the following requirements:

Must complete all requirements in gray section

1. Attend HSHT Annual Conference to be held in February/March 2023

2. Enroll a minimum of 15 students no later than October 31

3. Hold an annual student recognition event (i.e., Kick-Off, Year-End Celebration, Graduation event)

4. Submit quarterly program, financial reports, including required student enrollment VR data, to Able Trust in a timely manner (October, January, April, July)

5. Have an active Business Advisory Council and submit member contact information to Able Trust (as defined in MOA)

6. Place a minimum of 50% of enrolled students into Career Experiences (defined in MOA)

7. Provide the opportunity for students to participate in HSHT activities an averagetwotimesper month

8. Achieve a graduation rate of 80% of all active, enrolled seniors

9. Submit annual data at end of contract year (as defined by MOA)

10. Conduct at least 2 post-secondary institution tours and 2 job site tours during the year (1 of each can be virtual)

11. Connect HSHT State Director with one community partner (i.e., business contact, BAC member, organization board member)

12. Participate in Project Venture

Must complete four (4) of the five (5) requirements in yellow section

13. Collect a minimum of four (4) parent/family testimonials about the impact of HSHT

14. Organize or participate in one community service project. Must collect pictures and student testimonials.

15 Host at least one summer activity for students (anytime between school year ending and beginning)

16 Make at least 10 social media post per FY on any of the following accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn; #FloridaHSHT, #HSHT, @AbleTrust

17. Have at least 1 newspaper article write-up about your HSHT program

The Able Trust Grant Application Cover Page

Organization Name: The Grow Group, Inc.

State of Florida Charitable Registration#: N/A

Employer Identification#: 27-3549225

Mailing Address: 412 E Madison St. Suite 1104 Tampa, FL 33602

Executive Director/CEO/President Name: Devin O’Connor

Phone Number: 813-402-4018

Email: admin@thegrowgroup.org

Primary Project Contact Name: Devin O’Connor

Phone Number Email: 813-843-1324 devin@thegrowgroup.org

Statement of Need: describe why your local area needs a collective impact project to improve collaboration and system as a whole to achieve more and higher quality VR employment outcomes.

Within the Greater Tampa Bay area there are 50+ community resource providers that offer employment-focused services to Florida’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the individuals with disabilities it serves. Organizations often develop their own relationships, programs, and practices without sharing resources or best practices. The field is fragmented and practitioners spend most of their resources creating relationships with employers that result in one-off or limited job placements. Additionally, the performance-based payment structure, with no option for interagency communication, has created a competitive and individualized environment for providers. Ultimately, this impacts job seekers with disabilities and VR outcomes. These conditions also present a challenge for employers who may be in contact with multiple agencies providing similar services with no clear message about how they can receive support when hiring individuals with disabilities.

With the employment rate for people with disabilities at 21% in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and an increased desire for employers to hire them as part of their overall DEI efforts, VR providers are in a perfect position to bridge this gap through a unified and collective effort. Provider collaboration has been explored and successfully implemented in a handful of other states which can maximize efficiency around job placement and provide clarity for employers who are working with a network of providers who offer a shared message. Grant-funded projects and technical assistance centers are the driving force for resource sharing and raising awareness about evidence-based practices with universities and colleges leading

much of the training, certifications, and professional development opportunities. A similar model could be introduced within the state of Florida, in partnership with The ABLE Trust, which is naturally positioned as both a partner to the state's Vocational Rehabilitation program and its community resource providers.

Describe how your organization will provide oversight and coordination of the project (i.e., act as the backbone of the project).

The Grow Group will interview leaders and participants of existing provider networks across the county to learn about their struggles, outcomes, and best practices. The organization will interview local providers to hear their ideas about how the network could support their needs while considering any concerns they may have about the collaboration. The Grow Group will assist with drafting participation or interagency agreements, share best practices, and coordinate regional meetings with participating organizations. The Grow Group will also lead employer focus groups, conduct research, and survey local employers to learn how the network of providers can streamline communication, meet their needs and support their efforts in hiring more individuals with disabilities.

Describe how other VR employment service providers and community partners will be recruited for the project. www.abletrust.org

The Grow Group has existing relationships with local providers in VR Area 4 and will invite these organizations to participate in the pilot. Additionally, with The ABLE Trust's help, The Grow Group will reach out to organizations it is not currently working with to invite them to participate. The goal will be to have providers of all sizes, experience levels, and areas of expertise represented in this network so that similar projects can be implemented in other areas across the state.

Initially, lunch-and-learn sessions could be used to bring providers together to share initial information about the network, answer questions and begin to establish shared trust. Once providers have joined the pilot, The Grow Group could host in-person and virtual meetings to share strategies, business leads, and best practices in addition to any training The ABLE Trust would provide.

Provide a description of the project (i.e., 4-month planning period) and how it will meet the required project deliverables and outcomes. o Include in your description the capacity building needs of project participants and how The Able Trust’s technical assistance and support will be used.

During the four-month planning period, The Grow Group will work with The Able Trust team, as well we the organization piloting the program in Area 2, to gather and share information with stakeholders. The Grow Group will partner with The ABLE Trust to host interviews, focus groups and information sessions with these stakeholders while communicating objectives and desired outcomes.

Provide a timeline for Project Implementation.

Month 1- Interview Groups- interview provider networks in other states, post-secondary institutions, national organizations, and other groups to learn about existing best practices.

Month 2- Interview Employers- interview local employers and conduct research to learn more about employer preferences and needs to identify how a network of providers could best support them in hiring, training, and retaining individuals with disabilities.

Month 3- Interview Providers- to information sessions to discuss findings, introduce the pilot, gauge interest, and listen to concerns. Communicate with providers about any updates to the pilot based on their feedback and offer

Month 4- Invite Providers- Share final pilot details, best practices, participation agreement, training schedule, etc.

Provide a Project Budget for the $25,000 allocated for this grant. Note: we encourage using a portion of the grant funds as financial incentives to partners. Project

University of South Florida College of Nursing

USF Nursing Scholars Summer Pathway PROGRAM SCHEDULE

A Registered Nurse will provide a brief background, history of nursing, insight into what to expect from the nursing profession, the levels of nursing practice, and types of nursing careers.

10:00 am – 11:00 am Hands-on CPR

The activity involves teaching the student how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), an emergency life-saving procedure done when someone's breathing, or heartbeat has stopped.

11:00 am – 11:15 pm Break

11:15 pm – 12:00 pm

What Does a Healthcare Team Consists of?

The session will consist of a panel of guest speakers representing the various healthcare team members (MD, pharmacist, social worker, and RN/APRN) nurses work with. Speakers will discuss how each discipline supports the other in providing patient care. Scholars will have an opportunity to ask speakers questions in a short questions and answers session at the end of the panel.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Lunch

with Bull Nurses

Scholars will be paired with a student who is currently in the nursing program at the University of South Florida. Throughout lunch, they will have an opportunity to ask the students about, their experience with the program, advice on preparation for nursing school, and other topics about their experience as nursing students.

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Conversations with Advent Health RN staff

University of South Florida College of Nursing

The Scholars will engage in meaningful conversation with registered nurses who currently work at Advent Health. The conversations could include day to day responsibilities of a nurse, challenges and rewards, or the educational path taken by the nurses.

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm Windshield

Survey Introduction

Scholars will be invited to conduct a Windshield Survey, which is a survey performed by health professionals to collect data to assess people and the environment to develop a Community Health Plan. This activity will assist in the case studies presented the next day.

Day 2 – July 15th, 2023

The scholars will be assisted by the RN to apply critical thinking skills in the presented case studies and learn how a nurse would respond to these situations in everyday life at the bedside. Case studies will vary but focus on health aspects students may be familiar with or which may impact their community, such as diabetes.

10:00 am – 11:00 am Ph.D.

Project Presentation

In this session, a Ph.D. student will discuss their doctoral project and share their research experience in nursing with the scholars. After the presentation, scholars will be encouraged to ask questions and consider topics they might want to research in their community.

11:00 am – 11:15 am Break 11:15 am – 11:45 pm

Knowing what it takes?

An educator with K-12 administration experience will discuss how to prepare for college and the educational tool available to support college students with learning disabilities. The educator will also answer questions and help clarify any misconceptions they may have regarding the difference between high school and college courses.

University of South Florida College of Nursing

11:45 pm – 12:30 pm What now? Next steps to applying and preparing.

The USF College of Nursing Student Success academic advisors and recruiters will host this session. In the first part, recruitment will address qualifications, requirements, and expectations for acceptance into USF and the College of Nursing. In the second part, academic advisors will answer questions and provide insight into the application process. In addition, Scholars will be receiving a point of contact to who they may reach out with application questions.

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Completion Celebration

Scholars and their families will receive invitations to a celebration luncheon in honor of the completion of the program.