Title: Todays Youth Tomorrows Workforce
1Todays YouthTomorrows Workforce
- Burlington County Youth Opportunity Program
2The Workforce Investment Board
- The Workforce Investment Board (WIB) sets the
policy and provides oversight for the Countys
Workforce Development System, mandated by the
State and Federal Government, to address the
needs of youth. - The WIB is a partnership of local education,
community-based organizations and business
leaders working together to ensure the workforce
readiness of today and tomorrows workforce
youth. - The Workforce Investment Board created the Youth
Council to identify duplication and gaps in
services, as well as providing valuable guidance
on the provision of comprehensive services to
meet the needs of complex youth.
3The Youth Opportunity Program
- Members of the Youth Council were given the
challenge of designing a program that would
provide youth with the necessary skills in
becoming prepared for both academic and
employment success. - The Youth Opportunity Program was created using a
collaborative partnership model, so that all
youth entering the program would have the
opportunity to receive a multitude of services
preparing them for lifelong success.
4A Common Mission
- The Youth Opportunity Programs Mission is to
provide youth with the opportunity for
leadership, encourage a sense of personal
identity, broaden a young persons perspective
and provide safe surroundings while connecting
youth with caring adults.
5A Common Vision
- The Youth Opportunity Programs Vision
- Improve the long-term employability of youth
- Enhance educational skills
- Enhance citizenship skills of youth in a
community service environment - Encourage school completion or enrollment in an
alternative setting - Increase the employment and earnings of youth
- Reduce welfare dependency and
- Assist youth in addressing problems which may
impair their ability to make successful
transitions from education to work.
6Services Offered Through the YOP
- Tutoring, Study Skills Training and Basic Skills
Instruction leading to the completion of
Secondary Education, including dropout
prevention - Alternative Secondary School services or GED
- Summer Work Experience directly linked to
academic and occupational learning (i.e. Youth
Job Fair) - Paid and/or Unpaid Work Experience, including
internships and job shadowing - Occupational Skills Training (i.e. Job Search,
Resume Preparation, Job Referral services, etc)
- Leadership Development Activities, which may
include community service and peer-centered
activities encouraging responsibility and other
positive social behaviors - Mentoring by a caring adult
- Comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may
include drug and alcohol abuse counseling - Support services, such as transportation and
child care and - Follow-up services for a minimum of at least
twelve (12) months after completion of the
program.
7Workshops and Seminars
- Job Readiness/Life Skills Workshop
- Budget Your Money Seminar
- Handheld PALM Seminar
- Financial Aid Workshop
- Income Tax Assistance Workshop
- First Aide Certification
- CPR Certification
- Swimming Instructions
- Pet First Aide
- Community Service Projects
- Extra Curricular Activities
8Workshops and Seminars Job
Readiness / Life Skills
- Job Readiness / Life Skills Seminars are taught
by the Youth Development Specialist, once per
week for nine (9) weeks. - Job Readiness involves job preparation, career
pathways, resume writing, interviewing skills,
job shadowing, on the job training and job
retention. - Life Skills incorporates the importance of
motivation, ethics, stress, conflict resolution,
time management, team-work and dressing for
success.
9Workshops and Seminars Budget
Your Money Seminar
- Those that attend Budget Your Money Seminar have
already secured full-time or part-time
employment. - Youth learn how to become financially secure
through basic money management, investment,
budgeting funds properly with a checking/savings
account and how to maintain a checkbook. - Upon seminar completion a savings account is
opened for each youth. - Youth deposit their weekly/monthly earnings into
their account that is monitored by the Youth
Opportunity Program until completion of the
program.
10Workshops and Seminars Handheld
Palm Pilot
- Led by volunteers with the Burlington County
Board of Social Services, youth who attend the
Palm Seminar are actively seeking employment. - The Youth Opportunity Program believes that
excellent organizational skills are necessary for
life-long success. - Using the PALM M130, youth will stay more focused
and on track to succeed in academics and
employment. - In the Palm Seminar, youth learn the importance
of keeping key addresses, how to write effective
memos and how to make and remember appointments.
- The Youth Opportunity Program began the Palm
program after receiving feedback from employers
who believe that proper organization is crucial
for job retention. - ALL youth receive a PALM M130 for their
participation.
11Workshops and Seminars Financial
Aid
- The Financial Aid Seminar is for older youth
entering post-secondary education, but family
does not have financial stability. - Guided by Youth Opportunity Program partner,
Burlington County Board of Social Services and
Burlington County College, youth are instructed
on how to obtain financial aid.
12Workshops and Seminars Career
Exploration
- Career Exploration Workshops, such as CPR
Certification, Swim Lessons and Community First
Aid and Safety are necessary preparations for
youth interested in a career in Aquatics or the
Medical field. - Pet First Aid Workshops are typically held for
youth focused on a career in Veterinary Medicine.
- How to Dress for Success and How Much is too Much
(proper make-up application) are essential for
all youth active in Job Search.
13Workshops and Seminars Winter and Spring Break
- The ASPIRE Leadership Seminar, lead by ASPIRE
founder Curtis Myers, provides youth with
leadership and interpersonal skills that educate
youth on teamwork and reaching personal
potential. - ASPIREs model on How to Foster a Sense of Self
assists youth through self assessment, reflection
and problem solving essential in youth
development. - All activities and curriculum are directed to
promote cultural and ethnic awareness. ASPIRE
utilizes the elements of the Points of Light
Youth Leadership Institute (PLYI) curriculum,
which features interactive learning and role play
exercises. - Through self-directed learning youth engage in
activities, showcase their work/skills learned,
while gaining valuable experience for college,
employment community involvement and everyday
life.
14Workshops and Seminars Winter and Spring Break
- The Dress for Success Workshop offered through
MCM Consulting, instructs youth on the How Tos
of proper attire. - Style Classifications, International Sizes and
Physical Body Types are discussed so that youth
understand, adopt and maintain an expected
professional image in order to be successful in
their career. - For the male youth, a lesson on How to Tie a Tie
101 is given on the four (4) different ways to
tie a tie. The females are given a tutorial on
how to and how much make-up to apply.
15Community Service Projects
- The Youth Opportunity Program believes that
community service projects are a way to give
back while assisting youth foster a sense of
worth. - Projects include
- -Winter Gift Bags for Elderly Patients at
Buttonwood Hospital. - -Bingo Day for the residents of Alterra
Sterling House of Willingboro. - Community Service Projects help youth become
valued resources and not just a collection of
problems.
16Extra Curricular Activities
- In the Summer of 2001, the Youth Opportunity
Program (YOP) held a Logo Design Contest. - The purpose was to have the youth involved in a
project that would ultimately brand the
program. - The winning YOP logo was designed by one of our
disabled students.
17Field Trips
- In 2002, 35 youth took a cultural trip to the
Battleship New Jersey, where youth learned about
the Ships history. - Youth participated in an etiquette challenge as
they dined at the PUB in Maple Shade. - Other educational trips include, the County
Animal Shelter, Buttonwood Hospital, Burlington
County College and the County Court House.
18Job Shadowing
- On Job Shadow Day, youth are given the
opportunity to follow an employee within a
place of business that interests them, such as
Animal Hospitals, the FBI, Cosmetology and
Jewelry Centers, Salons and Computer Formatting
and Repair to name a few. - Youth have job shadowed at Olde World Bakery and
at ACME Markets Bakery. - Youth were afforded the opportunity to work
hands-on with bakers and are now attending
classes in the Culinary Arts.
19Youth Summit
- The Annual Youth Summit is an educational forum
for teens between 13 and 17 years old. - The Summit provides awareness and instruction on
HIV/AIDS Awareness/At-Risk Behaviors, Alcohol and
Tobacco, Teen Violence (gangs), Unplanned
Parenthood/Risks and Responsibilities, as well as
issues of morality and responsibility. - The Master of Ceremonies for 2005s
Be Anyone, Be Anywhere, Be a Survivor was Gervase
Peterson from the first season of Survivor.
20Youth Job Fair
- The Youth Job Fair is open to all youth in
Burlington County, 16 years and older. - Approximately 25 employers, including Shop Rite,
Wal-Mart, Target, McDonalds and CVS/Pharmacy, etc
are ready to hire motivated youth. - Each year, over 350 youth attend the Job Fair.
- Several youth, hired as a direct result of the
Job Fair are currently employed with the same
employer.
21Summer Work Experience Program
- The Summer Work Experience Program is typically
for youth 14 to 15 years old that have
significant barriers to securing employment, such
as learning disabilities or other mental health
challenges. - In order for youth who wish to participate in the
Work Experience Program, youth MUST attend the
nine (9) week Job Readiness/ Life Skills Classes. - All Youth complete applications and participate
in interviews with prospective employers.
22Youth Graduates
- Since 2001, over 800 youth have successfully
completed the Youth Opportunity Program. - Celebrations are held for youth who
successfully earn High School Diploma/GED or
complete Occupational Training, such as Certified
Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Commercial Drivers
License (CDL). - Most youth enter College, the Military or
Occupational Training upon completion of High
School.
23Eligibility Requirements
- Youth must be between 14 and 21 years of age,
Certified as economically disadvantaged with at
least one or more of the following obstacles in
order to be eligible for the program - -High School Dropout
- -Homeless, Runaway, Foster Youth (DYFS)
- -Pregnant or Parenting Teen
- -Involved with the Juvenile Justice System or
- -Needing assistance to complete an
educational program or to secure
employment due to a severe disability.
24Youth Certification
- The Youth Development Specialist with the Youth
Opportunity Program determines economic
eligibility of youth through parent/guardians
income (household income/pay stub). - Parents are required to verify residency (utility
bill). - Parent/Guardians are required to provide the
One-Stop with their childs Birth
Certificate and Social Security Card. - If youth are in a group home or in foster care, a
Letter of Support from the programs director
will be sufficient.
25Our Commitment
The Burlington County Youth Opportunity Program
is committed to prepare of todays youth for
tomorrows success. With the provision of the
skills necessary to become prepared for academic
and employment success, youth will ultimately be
rewarded with the careers they want for a
successful life.
26Important Contacts
- Youth Opportunity Program
- Liliam Thompson
- (609) 518-0149
- Or Barbara Weir
- (609) 265-5603
- Office Address 795 Woodlane Road
- Mt. Holly, NJ
- Mailing Address P.O. Box 228
- Mt. Holly, NJ
27Assuring a Bright Future for Todays Youth