P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network
Meeting Summary
November 2005


The California Employment Development Department (EDD) coordinated and hosted an extremely topical and informative November 2005 P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network (PCN) meeting, where the presenters delivered like a radio show broadcast.  We extend great appreciation to all of the EDD managers that assisted with welcoming the PCN members to the Crenshaw Job Service Center.
The PCN wishes to thank Portia Smith, our coordinating EDD host, Gloria Smith, Manager for the Crenshaw Job Service Center and Davi Dancy Assistant Manager for the exceptional management organized for this meeting.  Everyone greatly appreciated the words of encouragement given to the PCN members by Michael Dolphin, Los Angeles Central South Job Services Division Chief for EDD.  Mr. Dolphin recognizes the importance of sharing information among job service providers and ensuring a “warm hand-off” to clients commonly exchanged between agency programs.  He is impressed with the accomplishments of the PCN and extended much success with its work in the coming years.

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Inside this Summary:

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Michael Van Essen is the Group Facilitator with the AIDS Service Center.  Mr. Van Essen explained new legislation that affects most low-to-moderate income Americans, particularly social security retirement recipients, disability by SSA, and other Medicare recipients.   This newly established expense program of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage goes into effect January 1, 2006.
There are 171 California medical plans that will change their respective subsidy plans in for this target group and their cost with prescription drugs.  The enrollment period begins November 15, 2005 and ends May 15, 2006.  Private insurance companies provide the coverage; however, it mandates considerable client out-of-pocket expense.  There is extra help to cover these expenses, but you have to understand how to go after it.
Mr. Van Essen provided sufficient written and verbal background information on this new change and recommends that anyone wanting more information to visit the Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare, at www.medicare.gov.  In addition, you can contact the AIDS Project, Los Angeles, where John Reilly at (213) 201-1659, or Joe Burgos at (213) 201-1471 can provide additional information. Michael Van Essen can be reached by phone at (626) 441-8495, or email at MVE@aidssc.org

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Nancy Carter presented extremely informative data on mental illness in the workplace and its effect on loss productivity.  Ms. Carter is the President of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Inglewood that serves as a support and advocacy organization to help improve lives of people with brain disorders.  NAMI is the community’s voice on mental illness, advocating for people working and living with illnesses such as schizophrenia, clinical depression, panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders, and stress.  There is a lot of work needed to resolve the misperceptions and fears that exist in the workplace about people with mental illnesses.
Mental disability ranks on the lowest rung when it comes to the rights of people with disabilities in the workplace.  People with mentally ill diseases face many barriers in receiving care.  NAMI is serving to help employers understand that mental health is essential to overall health.  NAMI wants to eliminate disparities in mental health provisions offered by employers.
The annual cost for loss productive due to mental illness is $80 billion dollars.  The high rate of mortality accounts for $12 billion and needless incarceration totals $4 billion annually of the $80 billion cost to business resulting from mentally ill employees.  Employees are reluctant to admit to specific mental disorder due to the negative ramifications that normally accompany people identified with a brain disorder.  All other vital organs such as the heart, stomach, liver, eyes, limbs, etc., receive coverage and get little or no negative attention.  Whereas, the brain remains the last frontier for better understanding about the human body and awareness that the diseases associated with it are treatable.
Anyone wanting to know how to volunteer with NAMI or learn more about mental illness in the workplace can reach Nancy Carter at (310) 203-7851, or email: nami-inglewood@verizon.net.  Also, please visit the NAMI website: www.namiinglewood.org.

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Roger Williams, with Advanced Computing Institute, that specializes in vocational Computerized Drafting and Computer Numerical Controls gave an innovative presentation about building businesses to create jobs.  Job placement following vocational training has been largely unsuccessful due to ineffective placement of graduates.  The placement is normally limited to existing g job found in public listings and relationship with employers and their respective needs.
In order to turn that around, Advanced Computing Institute has established working teams to evaluate employers with growth potential and serves to create jobs for its students.  Advanced Computing Institute develops bidding opportunities for employers with public and private agencies.  Giving technical assistance helps the employer to secure new contracts (increased revenue) and can thereby conduct on-the-job training that meets the new labor needs to the growing business.
Mr. Williams is quite versed in the business technical assistance arena, and wants to help PCN members augment their employer relationship with this service.  Should you want more information, please contact Mr. Williams at (213) 383-8999, email: Roger@acilearn.com.

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For more information about PCN go to: http://bizpartnership.biz/events.htm


Our host for the next PCN meeting is Phyllis Mack, Association for Better Living and Education (A.B.L.E.), on Monday, December 12, 2005.