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Peckham and GCARD outline workforce, reentry and senior services for Genesee County
Summary
Peckham presented two Department of Labor–funded programs and local partners to reduce recidivism and connect justice-impacted youth to employment; GCARD presented midyear Head Start and nutrition metrics and described a successful audit and meal-distribution totals.
Peckham and Genesee County's anti-poverty agency delivered midmeeting briefings on workforce, reentry and senior services that detailed program outcomes and funding.
Peckham representatives described long-standing juvenile reentry and vocational training services, and a growth-focused GOAL program for 18–24-year-olds impacted by community violence. Program staff said Peckham received a $2 million Department of Labor award in 2023 and a second $2 million award in 2025 for GOAL programming in Genesee County, bringing roughly $4 million in grant funding to the community for workforce and violence-prevention supports. Presenters highlighted measurable outcomes (credential attainment and sustained employment) and supplemental assistance available to participants (car repair and vehicle purchase support up to $5,000, housing and childcare referrals).
Casey James, Peckham’s HOPES employment specialist, outlined a $625,000 Department of Labor award funneled through the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation to serve justice-impacted participants through occupational training and work experiences tied to local employers.
Pamela Coleman, director of GCARD (the county’s community-services agency), presented a midyear report on Head Start, neighborhood services, and nutrition programming. She reported Head Start capacity and enrollment figures (Head Start funding to support 318 students, currently 315 enrolled; Early Head Start capacity 426, 374 currently enrolled) and summarized USDA commodity distribution metrics (more than 12,500 CSFP boxes distributed as of March 31 and 28,325 emergency food boxes under TFAP in the fiscal year to date). Coleman also noted a zero-findings audit from Plante Moran and detailed how GCARD leverages CSBG and ESG awards to prevent homelessness and support utility/foreclosure interventions.
Why it matters: The presentations documented active federal grant investment serving justice-impacted youth and seniors, described measurable local outcomes and clarified program capacity constraints (teacher shortages, wait lists for senior meals). Several commissioners asked about partnerships and enrollment trends; staff directed commissioners to packet materials and offered follow-up tours and outreach materials.
What's next: Peckham and GCARD staff will continue outreach and collaboration with local partners, and commissioners asked staff to email the presentation materials to the board for follow-up.
