Using Using Intermediary Intermediary

Organizations to Organizations to Gain Access to Gain Access to

Quality Quality InternshipsInternships

Presented by:

Deanna Hanson, California Director, NAF

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Panel Members

Mark Karapatian, Urban Education Partnership, Los Angeles, CA

Randy Wallace, Tulare County Workforce Investment Board Youth Council, Visalia, CA

Brenda Gray, New Ways to Work Chris Smith, Boston Private Industry Council

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What is an Intermediary?

An independent non-profit agency dedicated to providing resources and building

relationships between businesses, schools and community to provide all students with opportunities for success in school, in work

and in life

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Intermediaries Typically Are…

Involved with – Developing multiple career linked pathways for secondary schools, – Strengthening involvement with and by businesses and employers for

workforce preparation– Identifying and aligning with the economically developing sectors within the

community which will yield the best employment opportunities; Staffed with resources identified to support intermediary activities and

functions; Performing brokering activities and resource development ; Serving more than one program in more than one school or

organization; Valuing full participation in a national network of peer organizations for

continuous learning and resource development; and Striving to work systematically, performing two and seeking to address

all four strategic intermediary functions:

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Convene

Convene local, regional and/or state leaders, practitioners and customers across sectors to ensure youth success. Intermediaries:

– Identify and engage leaders– Convene a leadership body to address issues and

opportunities– Share quality practices among partners– Build and sustain a common vision among key stakeholders– Engage constituents across sectors and communities – Create a forum for building a comprehensive system

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Connect

Connect and provide services to youth, workplace and community partners, education, government, social service and community organizations, and families and neighborhoods. Intermediaries:

– Create demand and build awareness– Address partner needs and support involvement – Provide training and professional development– Map services and support cross-agency collaboration– Place and support youth in developmental experiences– Promote quality work-based and classroom learning

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Measure

Measure results to improve the quality and impact of local efforts. Intermediaries:

– Set goals and measure success– Build partner capacity – Use data to improve performance and promote equity– Set quality standards based on promising practices– Conduct regular, formal reviews and external evaluations– Share and apply research, strategies, and results

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Sustain

Sustain successful efforts through advocacy, progressive policies and practices. Intermediaries:

– Build public awareness and support– Influence national, state, and local policies– Connect and align local youth-serving systems

Generate, leverage, and distribute resources Promote the long-term commitment to youth success Align workforce development, economic development and

educational improvement efforts

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Intermediary Examples

Workforce Investment Boards WIB Youth Councils County/Regional Offices of Education School to Career Agencies Youth Development Agencies School Restructure Technical Assistance Providers Chamber of Commerce Education Committees Regional Foundations What else?

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What’s In It For You?

Engaging business partners for:– Internships– Advisory Board members– Classroom speakers– Mentors

Helping recruit students for the academy Communicating to parents and community members about your

academy Providing various technical assistance and professional development

opportunities Providing links to post secondary education, business and other

employer partners, community based youth initiatives and government entities

Helping identify funding opportunities for academies

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What’s In It for the Intermediary?

Strong relationships to allow them to more easily and efficiently provide their services

Source of qualified students for future workforce needs

Interns and youth employees with positive attitudes, eager to learn, reliable

Ability to impact student success in their community Relationship with strong national organization –

Increase credibility for future funding

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Panel Questions

Introduce yourself and a bit about your intermediary How are you connected to schools now – what do

you provide? What are you looking for from school partners and

how do we contact you? How do you find business and community partners

that can work with us? What roles do we/you play in a strong partnership?

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How Can I Get Connected?

Meet with local agencies that may provide these services

Check www.intermediarynetwork.org website for intermediary members in your community

Contact your NAF Regional Manager (www.naf.org; 212 635-2400); Charlie Katz (charlie@naf.org; 517 896-0515) or Deanna Hanson (dhanson@naf.org; 916 296-4131)