Tulare County

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Tulare County
Youth Transitions Program
Voyage to Independence
NAWB ForumFebruary 23-26, 2008
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Tulare County
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Aging Out

• Issues faced by many youth aging out of foster
  care
• High dropout rates
• Lack of advanced degrees or technical skills
  training
• High unemployment rates
• High poverty rates
• High birth rates
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome

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Beating The Odds

• Youth Transitions serves foster and vulnerable
  transition aged youth (16-21 years of age).
• Youth centered
• Connect youth to multiple services
• Leverage resources
• Develop a pipeline into county jobs
• Support from community leaders

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Program Partners
HHSA
ILP
WIB
Tulare WORKS
THP-Plus
CSET
CWS
Mental Health
Probation
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Program Evolution

• Goal Increase services to foster and other
  vulnerable youth
• Objective 1 Dedicated staff
• Objective 2 Increase funding, build
  collaborative, leverage resources
• Objective 3 Meet an employer need

• PY 2004-2005
• Foster Youth Connection
• WIA 15
• WIA Formula

• PY 2006
• Career Connection Summer
• County General Funds
• WIA Formula

• PY 2006-2007
• Youth Transitions
• HHSA (multiple sources)
• WIA Formula

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Program Goals
Education Vocational Training
Career Preparation Jobs
Goals
Community Services Support
Youth Leadership
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Initial Services

• Referral
• Orientation
• WIA Program Eligibility
• Assessment
• CASAS
• Customer profile
• Interview
• ILP transition plan
• Career Counseling

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Case Management

• Shared Case Management
• ILP
• Probation
• Weekly contact the first month
• Monthly contacts / evaluation
• Long-term support services and guidance

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Workshops

• Workshops
• Career Preparation
• Life Skills
• Work readiness
• Workplace ethics
• Budgeting for life
• Climbing the career ladder
• Job retention
• Leadership

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Job Placement

• Candidates are placed based on
• Initial assessment
• Individual Service Strategy goals
• Candidates are assigned a mentor
• Separate from supervisor and program staff
• Mentor training provided by CSET
• Spring Fall Conference
• Training for youth and mentors
• Transparent services

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Educational Services

• Basic skills development
• Assistance with school completion
• High school diploma/GED
• Tutoring and Fast Math
• College entrance requirements
• Financial Aid application
• Occupational skills training (ITA)
• Monitor school progress

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Support, Leadership, Retention

• Support Services
• ILP and CSET (WIA)
• Leadership Opportunities
• Youth Transitions Advisory Council
• Transitional Housing Program Plus Committee
• Retention Services
• Enrichment workshops
• Monthly evaluations
• Case management

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Outcomes
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Lessons Learned

• Administrative support (BOS, Directors)
• Confidentiality issues
• Mentors
• I-9 requirements
• Meet more often with youth
• Communication early intervention on the job
• Continuous quality improvement

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Youth Experience

• Personal experiences from youth participants

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CSAC Award

• California State Association of Counties
• 2007 Challenge Award
• Most Replicable Program

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Contact Information
Christina Jones Staff Services Analyst Tulare
WORKS (HHSA) 5957 S. Mooney Blvd. Visalia, CA
93277 [phone] ext. 2156 CJones_at_tularehhsa.o
rg Bonney Parks Youth Transitions Program
Coordinator CSET 312 NW 3rd Ave., PO Box
1350 Visalia, CA 93291 [phone] Bonney.Park
s_at_cset.org

• Michelle Reynoso
• Program Supervisor
• Tulare County ILP
• 26500 S. Mooney Blvd.
• Visalia, CA 93291
• [phone]
• mreynoso_at_tularehhsa.org
• Eldonna Caudill
• Program Coordinator
• Tulare County WIB
• 4025 W. Noble Ave., Suite A
• Visalia, CA 93277
• [phone]
• ecaudill_at_tcwid.org