TranslateWheel Plus
The Santa Rosa Chamber promotes Wheel (Worksite Held Employee English Learning) Plus: Family-Friendly Workplace Policies is a program to educate the business community about the importance of family-friendly policies and services and the associated benefits. The goals of Wheel Plus are to successfully outreach to businesses, increase productivity and engagement in the workplace, and to also improve family function and financial sufficiency, and early childhood development. The target population of this division of Wheel Plus are Sonoma County businesses that have significant numbers of low-income and English Language Learner employees.
Family-Friendly policies and services offered by Wheel Plus include: information on high quality child care, providing lactation accommodation, flexible scheduling, and assistance with the Earned Income Tax Credit (Eitc). The information given by Wheel Plus explains the benefits of implementing these policies and services and orchestrates communication between businesses and employees. Appropriate Chamber staff meet with a minimum of 15 business representatives a year with the goal of a minimum of five businesses adopting these policies and services. Outreach includes meetings with Chambers throughout the County, other county membership organizations, and directly with employers. An informative brochure and website assists in the outreach effort along with being able to speak the language of businesses.
Accepted to the Portfolio: August 2016
Target Outcomes
Short Term Outcomes
- Businesses become aware of available services that benefit employee families and the business
- Employees become aware of helpful, personal services available in their workplace
- Businesses and employees gain knowledge of research-based information on family-friendly policies, services, and benefit
- Positive attitudes, higher morale, and increased trust from employees result
Long Term Outcomes
- Increase financial self-sufficiency among low-income working families
- Lower health care costs
- Increase in early childhood education
Target Population
Demographics
- Adult (25 - 60)
Service Area
County-wide:
- Southeast (District 1)
- Southwest (District 2)
- Central (District 3)
- Northeast (District 4)
- Northwest (District 5)
Information
Program Funders
Many thanks to the following funders for making this program possible.
Local Funders
- First 5 Sonoma County
- Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce
