Today & Tomorrow Conference sounds a call to action

Kevin Braunskill said he wanted action as he discussed the lack of transportation during a breakout session at the 26th annual Sussex County Today and Tomorrow Conference Oct. 30 at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown.

Braunskill, human resources director at Mountaire Farms, said while the company provides bus transportation for two shifts from Salisbury, Md., to its Selbyville plant, there are still many unmet transportation needs, and not just for 4,000 Mountaire employees at two plants in Sussex County.

Braunskill said Mountaire is developing new routes for its own transportation system including a route to cover parts of western Sussex County.

“The biggest question is where is DART?” he asked. “They are the long-term solution.”

He said DART provides little to no service from western Sussex County, no service to the Selbyville area and does not run at night for shift workers. DART is responsible for bus service throughout the state.

Braunskill's words sparked a transportation official attending the session to speak out.

DART planner Tremica Cherry-Wall said DART officials are looking to revamp the entire Sussex County bus-route system.

“I'm willing to meet with you,” she said, adding she wants to revive the Sussex County DART working group. “We need to be part of the conversation, and many times we have not been.”

Braunskill agreed to meet with her. “We can't wait any longer. We need to collaborate and figure something out. We need to buckle down and get it done,” he said.

Braunskill said he would rather invest the $300,000 the company spends on the bus route into larger transportation solutions for all workers.

Erin Willis, director of business development at SUN Behavioral in Georgetown, said it became apparent early on that the hospital would also have to provide its own transportation. She said DART offers service from the Lewes area to Georgetown, but there was no way for patients without cars in western Sussex to get to the hospital, which opened a year ago along Route 404 across from Del Tech.

The facility provides a bus route in western Sussex along the Route 13 corridor Monday-Friday for adult outpatients suffering with mental health or substance abuse disorders. “The van is full with 17 people every day,” she said. The hospital is adding two more vans for patients in southeastern Sussex and another route from Dover Air Force Base.

She said they are also looking at transportation for inpatients as well. Now, they call 911 for police transport or the Mobile Crisis Unit for transportation to the facility.

Modeling a successful transportation program is the CHEER program. CHEER's Carolyn O'Neal said a major component of the program is transportation for seniors, adding it's the reason many join the organization. A fleet of 14 vans bring members to CHEER centers for lunch and take them on shopping excursions and to local pharmacies. Some drivers are hired to transport individuals to doctor's appointments.

She said these options address seniors' needs, but even so, many seniors in western Sussex County are forced to rely on family members for transportation.

What is social mobility?

The conference, with the theme, Social Mobility: Making Changes. Moving Forward, featured remarks from Del Tech President Mark Brainard, Del Tech Vice President and Owens Campus Director Bobbi Barends, a keynote address from United Way of Delaware President and CEO Michelle Taylor and closing remarks by Delaware Secretary of Labor Cerron Cade.

Four breakout sessions included presentations and discussions on affordable housing, education and training, transportation and the future of the workforce that fosters mobility. “We need to stay focused on action. What will you do with what you learned today?” Barends asked.

Social mobility is the ability of individuals, families or groups to move up or down the social ladder.

Taylor said where people are born is a key factor in future mobility.

Taylor, who grew up in an impoverished community, said moving to another ZIP code made a difference in her life.

She said it's a harsh reality, but whether a child reads on grade level by third grade is a strong indicator of where they will end up. She said United Way is partnering with other agencies to make sure children catch up in school.

“Collective impact is key to improving social mobility, and it starts with kids,” Taylor said.

In addition, she said people need to make a livable wage and not just jobs but have careers that allow for financial stability.

“My challenge to you is to ask what you can do different. In a year from now, we need to talk about how many more people moved up in Sussex County. How can we help more people win the social mobility marathon?” she asked.

New look at training

Cade said nearly all Department of Labor programs are geared toward the unemployed and underemployed, with little attention paid to people who are working.

“We know people are transitioning from job to job, and they are willing to learn more, but they have to keep working. We need programs to help them develop new skills while still at their jobs,” he said. “It's something we are focused on.”

Cade asked conference attendees to raise their hands if they had worked in the hospitality or food service industry. Nearly 80 percent raised their hands.

“Because these jobs are typically low paying with high turnover, they have been considered not worthy of investment, but they are really an internship for most of our workforce. We need to use that industry to direct our training,” he said.

Cade said he spends a lot of time in schools, talking with middle school students. “Kids need to be able to adapt. The workforce needs problem solvers and those who can work in collaborative groups. We need to build social communication skills,” he said.

In addition, he said, every person in the room had a task. “I challenge each of you to talk to your clients and students to highlight the good things in Sussex County and Delaware. We need talk about Sussex County as a place to grow and prosper. People want to be where they are wanted,” he said.

Need for affordable housing

Tyler Berl, Delaware Housing Alliance manager of community development and advocacy, said in Sussex County the chances are slim to none for low-income families to move to a higher economic bracket. Affordable housing is one of the main factors.

He said nearly 60 percent of low-income families are cost burdened, paying more than twice what they can afford for housing costs.

That sets off a chain reaction, forcing those families to make choices to spend less on food and medical care.

“And people are told to move west where it's cheaper to live, but if they have to travel for their jobs, they end up spending more than if they lived in eastern Sussex,” he said.

Berl said part of the solution is to provide more affordable housing closer to where people work. He said he supported the recent recommendations presented by a housing consultant to Sussex County Council.

Those include modifying zoning to allow for multifamily housing in areas of highest opportunity, investing in more housing through a trust fund, regulations that force developers to set aside affordable units, reduction or elimination of fees developers pay to cut down costs, and providing legal assistance to renters who are evicted.

In addition, Berl said, incentives should be provided to nonprofit housing agencies. “For most profit developers, affordable housing is not their game,” he said. “It's taken years for people to look at this, and it's finally getting some attention.”

Conference takeaways

• Post-secondary and vocational education must provide courses in skills that are needed in Sussex County, including jobs in the healthcare and construction industries.

• Sussex Technical High School and the Department of Labor have teamed up to offer English classes with an occupational focus in the welding and electrical fields.

• SUN Behavioral has announced a program to place therapists in schools, starting with the Indian River School District.

• The 211 state referral hotline receives 25,000 calls a year in Sussex County from people needing immediate assistance.

• The Stand by Me program in Sussex County has helped 2,500 families with financial planning, and 200 participants have purchased homes.

• Highlighted as Sussex success stories were the county's numerous nonprofit organizations, county libraries, First State Community Action Agency and Habitat for Humanity.