The Buzz - May 2023

A Message from the Agency Director: You Can Never Say “Thank You” Enough

Iwant to express my heartfelt appreciation for your exceptional contributions to the Social Services Agency. Your individual and collective dedication, expertise, and leadership are invaluable to our organization, and I wanted to take a moment to recognize your outstanding efforts. Your passion for the work carried out by the Social Services Agency, combined with your unwavering commitment, has set a remarkable example throughout the County. Your resilience and ability to adapt to changing circumstances were particularly evident during challenging and uncertain times. I am truly grateful that you never lost sight of our shared goals.

On behalf of the Agency Executive Team, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for the significant impact you continue to make in the lives of poor, marginalized, and at-risk families, seniors, children, and individuals who rely on our programs and services. I am fortunate to have each and every one of you as a member of our team.

All the best, Andrea

Ford

10x10: Ten Reasons to Celebrate 10 Years of the CalWORKs Public Service Trainee Program

WRITTEN BY: Aishah Bashir, Administrative Specialist II Mental Health First Aider I CoordinatorCalWORKs Public Service Training Program Workforce & Benefits Administration

We have officially begun recruiting for the 10th cohort of the CalWORKs Public Service Trainee Program. Here are 10 reasons why we are excited for the 10th year and beyond…

1. Since 2014, 179 individuals have participated in this innovative job development program that hires CalWORKs recipients as TAP employees and provides 3 1/2 months of intense classroom training and 12 months of hands-on learning in departments throughout the County.

2. Of those 179 participants, 17 are currently enrolled, 40 have permanent full-time jobs in the County, and 63 have permanent full-time jobs outside of Alameda County (including City of Berkeley, Facebook, and Stanford Hospital), 9 have started their own businesses, and 5 are full-time students

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1 A Message from the Agency Director

1 10x10: Ten Reasons to Celebrate 10 Years of the CalWORKs Public Service Trainee Program

3 SSA Staff Out and About

4 SSA Staff Celebrate Special Older Adults in their Lives

5 IHSS Care Providers Wanted

6 It’s Never Too Late to Make a First Impression: Annual Fair Chance Job and Resource Fair -

County of Alameda Social Services Agency

CalWORKs Public Service Training Program - continued from page 1

3. Average starting salary of participants leaving CPSTP is $27 hourly and after 5 years, $33 hourly.

4. At least 4 individuals own their own homes.

5. In 2023, we added technology training and an internship component in collaboration with IT Biz, Merritt College and East Bay Inter Agency Training Council (EBIATC), whereby 3 current participants are learning the in’s and out’s of working as IT specialists and will, for the first time, be able to do an internship with the County of Alameda’s Information Technology Department.

6. In 2023, we piloted a life coaching component to support participants as they strive toward their goals. Coaching has been integrated into CPSTP in several ways: a) through partnership with Coaching to Discover; b) as part of the IT Biz technology collaboration; c) through the SSA TACT learning collaborative (where 9 TACT trainers are being trained as life coaches); and d) recent certification of the CPSTP Program Coordinator as a certified professional coach.

7. Since 2016, CPSTP has had an unofficial (noncontracted) partnership with a Financial Coach from West Oakland Job Resource Center.

On average, participants have been able to improve credit scores by 50 points and save $5,000. This year’s cohort will participate in a lending circle via the Self-Help Credit Union.

8. Classroom training for participants has been expanded significantly since the start of the program, covering topics such as mental health first aid, CPR, leadership development, life transformation, math for adult learners, grammar and writing, emotional intelligence, peer coaching, and the impacts of poverty on self-development and growth.

9. Employment Counselors and Career Development Specialists continue to refer the most dedicated and committed CalWORKs individuals to apply for the program, and help to interview qualified applicants.

10. CPSTP is more than just a job development program. Year after year, participants say they have most appreciated the support they have received, for learning how to overcome obstacles, for being heard and listened to, for help in overcoming mental challenges, and for the many, many tools they take with them after they graduate from the program.

Recruitment for Cohort #10 began April 3 and interested candidates were invited to attend information sessions on how to apply in early May. If you as an SSA staff member would like to provide support to CPTSP, here are a few ways to get in touch: success@acgov.org or 510-383-5249.

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CalWORKs Public Service Training Program - continued from page 2

Building Success: Staff Reflections on CPSTP

When asked about how her engagement style helps clients succeed, Employment Counselor Rachelle Bolton says: “When I am assigned a new case, I look at it with a fresh pair of eyes; remembering to leave all biases and past experiences at the door. I meet the clients where they are and ask open-ended questions to determine the best way to engage them, so they can take full advantage of the Welfare-to-Work program. Lastly, I conduct weekly to monthly check-ins with my participants as their accountability partner to ensure they are meeting the goals they set for themselves and have all the resources they need to overcome their barriers.”

Employment Counselor Gizelle Calvin says, “I’m a firm believer in accountability and I am an active listener. I try to find out what their barriers are along with what their goals are. We must tackle many of their barriers to get to their end goal. We work as a team in Employment Services. We are composed of Employment Counselors, Career Development Specialists, service providers, community-based organizations, Family Stabilization staff, social workers, and clerical staff. We put together the puzzle pieces of each case and communicate with each other to best assist our participants. The most important contributor to the participant’s success is the participant themselves. We are here to be supportive and to follow up with our participants on a regular basis.”

Employment Counselor Percival Arcibal observes that “determining families for the program has actually gotten easier over the past few years as the word is getting around among the participants and community and I’ve encountered a few who are expressing their desire to be a part of CPSTP. If the participant didn’t already know about the program, I informed them during the EC Introduction process. This way, they know there’s an actual path to self-sufficiency through the County.”

SSA Staff Out and About

In celebration of Older Americans Month, more than 60 staff in the Department of Adult & Aging Services volunteered up to 4 hours in support of community partner organizations, including SOS Meals on Wheels/Mercy Brown Bag, JSei, Alameda County Community Food Bank, Open Heart Kitchen, Oakland LGBTQ Center, Age Well Center, and Life Elder Care.

“Great experience to help the senior community, plus I got to meet coworkers from other units that I probably wouldn’t ever meet. ~ Mary Laso, Specialist Clerk I

SSA Staff Celebrate Special Older Adults in their Lives

In honor of Older Americans Month, The Buzz newsletter is highlighting stories and anecdotes shared by SSA staff of special older adults in their lives, who have made an impact on their families and communities. This year’s theme, Aging Unbound, means exploring the array of aging experiences without being boxed in by expectations and stereotypes. Thank you to all the staff who sent in submissions!

Uncle David: The Dancing WWII Hero

My Uncle David just had his 103rd birthday on March 1, 2023. Our family celebrated with a big party with music and dancing and, yes, Uncle David LOVES to dance.

He served in WWII in the army as a combat medic and came back a hero. He keeps busy going to local high schools in Salinas talking to the students about the historical events of WWII.

He was married to his sweetheart for 62 years and has a beautiful family and many grand- and great-grandand great-great-grandchildren.

He beat melanoma and a triple bypass a couple years ago. We continue to be blessed and inspired by Uncle David’s wisdom and love.

Christy Manning, Specialist Clerk II Department of Children & Family Services

Mother Bernice: Public Service Runs in the Family

My mother Bernice Randle is special to me because she is my mother and has set a great example for my siblings and me.

I am grateful for her 83 years. She adds value to me and our family by exemplifying strength, resilience, dedication, commitment, and a love for people. After retirement, she has given to the community by leading a feeding program for many years in the West Oakland area where, ironically, we would end up serving the same individuals yet in different capacities. I received many compliments about her and her great cooking from my customers when I worked with them at my job. She has played a huge role in the work that I do for the Agency. She should be celebrated for her qualities alone.

Vera Hutton, Employment Counselor Supervisor Eastmont Self-Sufficiency Center Department of Workforce & Benefits Administration

Great-Aunt Earnestine: A Kind Soul

I have a beautiful great-aunt, my granny’s sister: her name is Earnestine Hayes, and she is 100 years old. She is amazing, such a beautiful woman, and phenomenal. She is so loving and caring, her spirit so warm and welcoming, her words always encouraging. She is my example of how I want to be when I am older: a kind soul. I am so blessed to have her in my life.

Elissa Graham, Specialist Clerk I Department of Children & Family Services

Making Memories with Grandpa Mikey

Grandpa Mikey – in actuality – was my Aunt’s Stepfather, who had been separated from my GreatAunt long before I was born. Yet he always stayed close to the family and was the closest person I ever had to a Grandpa. He was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. He would give the shirt of his back, the last money in his pocket - that was the type of man he was. He taught me how to fish – and that is one of my fondest memories. We spent many great times at Lake Chabot whether we caught something or not.

It has been well over 15 years since he passed away from lung cancer. The last time I saw him was in the VA Hospital in Livermore. One lung was fully gone, the other only half functional (he had picked up smoking in the war, back when they would give cartons to soldiers). But he still could crack a joke and tried his best to not let on how bad he was. I had a black eye at the time; I remember him joking that he hoped that the other guy looked worse than I did. I told him, you know he did.

Time is the most precious thing we have. Choose how you spend it wisely. I know that he did - he made a big impact on all the lives that he touched.

Michael Medeiros, Social Worker III In-Home Supportive Services Department of Adult & Aging Services

It’s Never Too Late to Make a First Impression: Annual Fair Chance Job and Resource Fair - April 26, 2023

The saying goes that opportunity knocks but at the April 26 Fair Chance Job and Resource Fair, it took on the sound of ringing bells as job seekers receiving onthe-spot offers were invited to the stage to celebrate. With more than 850 job seekers in attendance and 80 employers and organizations on hand to hire or offer their services, the event was the culmination of many hours of hard work by dedicated SSA staff and partners Oakland Private Industry Council and Alameda County Probation Department. Thank you for your support!

SSA Staff

Brenda Barber

Rochelle Baxter-Green

Carlotta Bell

Rachelle Bolton

Antionette Burns

Monica Contreras

Danielle Flewellen

Katrina Green

Troy Gonzalez

Marilyn Kan

Stephanie King

Lauren Lewis

Mark Mithaiwala

Yolanda Moreno

Shannon Murphy

Sabrina Nelson

Kimberly Nutting

Maria Potter

Donna Saffold-Williams

Angelica Salmeron

Tiffany Sanders

Brandi Simpson

Charles Turner

Tosha White

Jackie Wilson

Sharice Wynn

Oakland Private Inidustry Council

Annette Cary

Germaine Davis

Michael Davis

Shawnayia Davis

Tonja Fuller

Anjelica Garcia

Ellery Graves

Mayra Ramirez

Rahni Stewart

Yawo Tekpa

Alameda County Probation Department

Janene Grigsby

Shadeequa Smith

Photography by Katrina Green