Expanded Summer Youth Program

1
Expanded Summer Youth Program

• Tools for Implementing
• Americas Recovery and
• Reinvestment Act

2
Workforce Development, Inc.

• A Private, Non-Profit Employment Training
  Agency
• Serving over 5,000 participants each year
• Located in 10 Southeast Minnesota counties,
  primarily rural
• Annual budget of 8.5 million dollars (state
  federal)

3
Program Design

• Objectives
• Infuse communities with spendable cash
• Provide practical work-based learning experiences
  for youth
• Improve career awareness for unemployed youth
• Assist youth to shape an initial adult identity
  that includes the development of work-related
  skills

4
Program Design

• Orientation
• Knowledge of work environment with short- and
  long-term indicators (golden opportunity..door
  to your future is wide open)
• Knowledge of target audience
• 14 to 24 year olds (changes for 22-24 year old
  age group)
• Low-income or a documented disability
• At-risk youth (significant barrier)

5
Program Design

• Use of key program elements
• Summer jobs (70 of funds)
• Community work teams
• Individual work experience
• On-the-job training (primarily older youth)
• Occupational preparation Healthcare/Manufacturin
  g Academies
• Scrubs Camp for juniors/seniors, partner with
  work experience
• Summer Camps for 14-15 year olds (Math/Career
  Camp)
• Partner with colleges to provide college prep
  classes with 19-24 year old participants
  partner with employment
• Career Readiness Certificate to validate career
  readiness skill

6
Program Design

• Outcomes
• Work Ready Certificate (only required measure)
• Career Awareness ownership of skills goals
• Completion of GED or Diploma
• Academic credit or Service Learning credit

7
Program Planning

• Decide available
• Decide average amount per youth (2,000)
• Decide caseload size (??)
• Determine number of contractors to secure/staff
  to hire.
• Develop timeline for major components
• Identify existing programs to utilize
• Design safety training for youth and supervisors
• Design marketing materials for worksites

8
Program Planning

• Design marketing materials for youth
• Design application process
• Determine eligibility process and data validation
• Design budget/payroll process
• Number of work hours
• Minimum wage (7.25 Federal effective 7/24/09)
• FICA
• Insurance Work Comp

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Marketing Outreach

• Rural communities are primarily relationship
  based. Build on community partnerships already in
  place ask them to help spread the word.
• Send out letters to worksites used previously
• Be clear about expectations and obligations
• One page fact sheet work well for this
• Use successful participants and worksites from
  previous summers to tell their story in print or
  in media interviews

10
Performance

• Create a career portfolio for each youth
• Assist them to articulate their skills
• Guide them as they identify career paths that
  match their skills
• Help them to list their values and job
  satisfaction indicators
• Prepare for employment interviews
• Youth will list practical examples from
  work-related activities
• Youth will discuss relevant work experience
• Youth will be prepared to identify indicators of
  work maturity

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Successful Strategies

• Getting youth connected with themselves and the
  community they live in.
• Take time in the assessment portion to help youth
  know their strengths and marketable skills
• Identify skills and competencies gained
• Give certificates and incentives
• Work one-on-one, then two-on-two and then move to
  small groups to build social skills in youth
• Plan and participate in valuable community
  projects the youth can feel proud to be involved
  in

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Monitoring
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Evaluation

• Worksite evaluation form (sample attached)
• ACT Career Readiness Certificate (supported with
  incentive )
• Youth who obtain High School Diploma or GED
• Youth who earn high school or college credit
• Youth who earn occupational skill certification

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Green Jobs

• Weatherizing low-income homes
• Energy audits
• Assist with Habitat Homes
• Recycling projects

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Contact Information

• Marge Kuethe, Youth Program Coordinator
• Workforce Development, Inc.
• 1302 Seventh Street NW
• Rochester, MN 55901
• Phone [phone]Cell 507-259-3906
• mkuethe_at_wfdi.ws